DarwinPW Realty/CORFAC International Managing Broker George Cibula is pleased to announce that Bryce Cerkleski has joined its team as an associate. In his new role, Mr. Cerkleski will focus on tenant and buyer representation as well as investment analysis and sales. (more…)
DarwinPW Realty/CORFAC International Principal Ed Wabick and Vice President Chris Mergenthaler represented Lampshades, Inc., a manufacturer and distributor of lamp shades, in its new lease of 16,950 square feet at 5009 W. 66th Street, Units H and I in Bedford Park, IL. The tenant is relocating from a previous location along Ogden Avenue in Chicago. (more…)
DarwinPW Realty/CORFAC International is pleased to announce that Thomas Engel has joined the firm as an associate. In his new role, Mr. Engel will be responsible for ownership representation, tenant and buyer representation, and investment analysis with a focus on the O’Hare area.
DarwinPW Realty/CORFAC International is pleased to announce that Associates Marc Hale and Ali Nix represented the landlord in a 20,300 square foot warehouse lease at 4848 W. Lawrence Avenue in Chicago. Meeting Tomorrow, an audiovisual equipment rental company, leased the property to expand its footprint and grow its business. (more…)
DarwinPW Realty/CORFAC International is pleased to announce that Principal Jerry Sullivan represented Apex Industrial Automation, an industrial equipment and motor supplier in its acquisition of a 14,400 square foot building at 222-224 Williams Street in Bensenville, IL. Apex will occupy over half of the building and the balance of the building will be occupied by an existing tenant.
DarwinPW Realty/CORFAC International is pleased to announce that Vice President Mandy Lewandowski and Vice President Chris Mergenthaler represented Welbic IV as the landlord of 2701 S. Western Avenue in Chicago in the renewal of a 36,956 square foot lease to Moody Bible Institute (Moody Publishers). (more…)
DarwinPW Realty/CORFAC International is pleased to announce that Vice President Mandy Lewandowski represented Welbic III Broadview 21 LLC and Speedwagon Capital Partners in the renewal of a 43,175 square foot lease for the entire building at 2101 W. 21st Street in Broadview, IL. The tenant, Arrow Pneumatics, Inc. manufactures and distributes air preparation products. (more…)
DarwinPW Realty/CORFAC International is pleased to announce that Vice President Terry Lynch, in conjunction with SVN Chicago Industrial Representative Sean Sloan, represented building owner Knox Avenue Realty LLC in its lease of 45,621 square feet at 4350 Knox Avenue to Phoenix Fabricators LLC dba Boomerang Exhibits. The exhibit and display manufacturer are moving operations from their previous location on the southwest side of Chicago. (more…)
DarwinPW Realty/CORFAC International is pleased to announce that Associate Marc Hale represented an undisclosed HVAC manufacturing company in its acquisition of a 50,000 square foot building at 2500 Production Drive in St. Charles, IL. The business is expanding and will be moving from a location in Elk Grove Village.
“This property allowed the purchaser to expand into a larger facility and own their own property,” says Hale. “With the larger facility, the purchaser is now able to grow their business beyond what was possible at their previous location.”
The Class B facility features 21-foot clear height, seven docks, one drive-in door, heavy power and 1,500 square feet of office space with 55 parking spaces. The new facility will accommodate the HVAC company’s growing business and workforce for years to come.
The seller, Hill & Smith, was represented by SVN Landmark’s Brian Lindgren.
DarwinPW Realty/CORFAC International newly promoted Vice President Mandy Lewandowski represented Welbic Investments, LLC, of which Speedwagon Capital Partners is a partner, in several recent lease transactions throughout the Chicagoland area. Nine transactions totaled 118,609 square feet in the Chicago area. (more…)
DarwinPW Realty/CORFAC International Vice President Dan Prendergast represented Ladi Investments, LLC, in 10 recent lease transactions totaling 33,181 SF in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Ladi Investments, LLC purchased the eight-building, 277,982 SF light industrial complex last fall and Prendergast has negotiated lease extensions and new leases with 10 companies since taking over the leasing in 2022. (more…)
DarwinPW Realty/CORFAC International is pleased to announce that Dan Prendergast and Mandy Lewandowski have been promoted to Vice Presidents at the firm. (more…)
(Elmhurst, Illinois) – DarwinPW Realty/CORFAC International is pleased to announce that T.J. Feeney has joined its team as an associate. Mr. Feeney joins the team after more than two years working at Smith+Nephew, a global medical technology company. (more…)
DarwinPW Realty/CORFAC International Associate Mandy Lewandowski represented Welbic Investments, LLC, of which Speedwagon Capital Partners is a partner, in several recent lease transactions throughout the Chicagoland area. (more…)
DarwinPW Realty President Rick Daly, Principal and Managing Broker George Cibula represented Automobile Mechanics’ Local No. 701 Union in its sale of a 24,000 square foot building located at 450 Gunderson Drive in Carol Stream, IL to the Illinois Fraternal Order of Police Labor Council. The union is relocating from Western Springs. (more…)
DarwinPW Realty’s Principal Jerry Sullivan and Axiom Advisors represented the seller, NDSM Franklin Park, LLC, in the disposition of a 102,950 square foot building on a 10.16-acre site at 3600 River Road in Franklin Park, IL. JLL’s Brian Carroll represented a private investor as the buyer in purchasing of the property. (more…)
DarwinPW Realty’s Vice President Terry Lynch SIOR, and Associate Marc Hale represented the seller with the disposition of an investment property located at 1285 N. Ellis in Bensenville, IL. The property is an industrial service facility, which is fully leased to World Fuel Service Corp. (more…)
(Elmhurst, Illinois – JUNE 22, 2022) – Darwin Realty/CORFAC International today announces that beginning July 1, the Chicago-based PW Commercial Real Estate/TCN Worldwide team will join their firm. Following the merger, Darwin Realty/CORFAC International will change its name to DarwinPW Realty. PW Commercial Real Estate’s eight brokers and two staff members will move to the Elmhurst headquarters, and the DarwinPW Realty team expands to 20+ brokers. In 1975, the two firms each started as offshoots of Pain & Sutherlin and are now reuniting to expand market reach and provide shared expertise. (more…)
(Elmhurst, Illinois – June 7, 2022) – Darwin Realty/CORFAC International is pleased to announce that it has promoted two of its commercial real estate professionals to new roles within the firm. Erin Cibula has been named CFO, and Matt Lewandowski has been promoted to Principal.
“Our business has continued to grow throughout the pandemic as businesses have increasingly needed more warehouse space and more functional office space, and our brokers and property managers have worked hard to keep Darwin on top of our game,” says Darwin Realty/CORFAC International Managing Broker George Cibula. “We are very proud of these two individuals and all that they have accomplished.”
In her new role as CFO, Erin Cibula will continue to manage Darwin’s asset management and accounting departments, as well as lead its operations, finances, and human resources. At Darwin, she has procured more than $450 million in loan and equity funds for Darwin’s investment portfolio. She is a licensed real estate broker in the state of Illinois. She holds an MBA from Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management.
Mr. Lewandowski will continue to work on investment sales, owner representation, and tenant representation as he has in the last 20 years at Darwin. He has participated in more than $940 million in transactions with the firm since 2002.
(Elmhurst, Illinois – May 11, 2022) – Darwin Realty/CORFAC International is pleased to announce that Chris Mergenthaler has been promoted to vice president. Mr. Mergenthaler joined the team as an associate in 2017. For the past five years, Mr. Mergenthaler has worked closely with Rick Daly in the West Cook and O’Hare industrial submarkets offering a range of services including tenant representation, owner representation, build-to-suit project, site acquisitions and investment acquisitions and dispositions.
“Chris has been involved in many significant transactions at Darwin and has made a great impact on our West Cook and O’Hare industrial team,” says Darwin President Rick Daly. “We’re looking forward to seeing how he does in a more leadership oriented role as he moves forward in his career.”
A Chicago native, Mr. Mergenthaler joined Darwin after graduating from Florida State University with a degree in Finance and Entrepreneurship. Outside of his work in real estate, Chris is an avid outdoorsman; especially enjoying hiking, fishing, and skiing.
Darwin Realty/CORFAC International Associate Mandy Lewandowski represented third party logistics provider Betters Trucks Last Mile, LLC in its lease of a 30,826 square foot space in Norcross, GA, and a 40,000 square foot lease in Arlington, TX. The growing trucking company is based in Chicago and expanding across the country. For both transactions, she worked in conjunction with CORFAC International network brokers in out-of-state offices. (more…)
Darwin Realty/CORFAC International Associate Mandy Lewandowski represented Master Cut EDM, Inc., in its long-term renewal of a 5,000 square foot lease at 1025 Lunt Avenue Units B and C in Schaumburg, IL. The tenant, which services electrical discharge machining equipment, is leasing two of the buildings five 2,500 square foot units, bringing the building to 100% occupancy. (more…)
Darwin Realty/CORFAC International Associate Mandy Lewandowski represented Welbic Investments, a private investor made up of members of the Cibula and Lewandowski families, in the renewal of six leases in its properties throughout Chicago’s western suburbs. As industrial space becomes increasingly hard to find, many tenants are remaining in place to save time and money by remaining in well-maintained buildings. (more…)
(Elmhurst, Illinois) – Darwin Realty/CORFAC International Rollo Dace, Associate represented Garage Door Supplies in its sublease of 30,000 square feet at 6558 W. 73rd Street in Bedford Park. The manufacturer and distributor of garage doors and related parts was looking for a building with good access to highways in the Chicago area (more…)
(Elmhurst, Illinois) – Chicago’s industrial real estate market has remained strong throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, says Darwin Realty/CORFAC International Associate Mandy Lewandowski, who completed 44 transactions totaling more than 400,000 square feet in 2020. Many of the transactions were leases that brought buildings to 100% occupancy, and many were renewals with rent increases of 3% or more bringing additional revenue to building owners. (more…)
(Elmhurst, Illinois) – Darwin Realty/CORFAC International Mandy Lewandowski, Associate represented Welbic III Palatine 641 LLC in two leases to Roadster Salon, an automobile restoration firm in the northwest suburbs. (more…)
(Elmhurst, Illinois) – Darwin Realty/CORFAC International President Rick Daly negotiated a sale and two leases in the western suburbs during the month of February. The transactions in Elk Grove Village and Carol Stream were to businesses growing or adding space in a competitive industrial market. (more…)
(Elmhurst, Illinois) September 15, 2020 – Darwin Realty/CORFAC International is pleased to announce that Speedwagon Capital Partners, a Chicago-based private real estate investment firm has purchased an interest in a real estate portfolio owned by industrial real estate veterans George Cibula and Matt Lewandowski of Darwin Realty/CORFAC International. The industrial real estate portfolio was valued at $130 million and consists of 2.2 million square feet across 41 buildings located in the greater Chicagoland area and southern Wisconsin. (more…)
(Elmhurst, Illinois – July 10, 2020) – Darwin Realty/CORFAC International Managing Broker George Cibula represented building owner Welbic III Racine 6200 LLC in a 115,823 square foot lease to Budd Van Lines. The building at 6200 Regency Drive in Racine, WI, is owned by the investment company co-owned by Cibula and Darwin Realty/CORFAC International’s Matthew Lewandowski. (more…)
(Elmhurst, Illinois – April 8, 2020) – Darwin Realty/CORFAC International’s Rollo Dace has been selected by the Village of Franklin Park to market two vacant industrial buildings they have acquired through forfeiture. The buildings, located at 9800 Franklin avenue and 9150-58 Grand Avenue, will require extensive improvements to bring them up to the Village standards. However, they are located in a prime location near O’Hare Airport and offer value for intrepid investors looking for properties.
“Industrial and commercial real estate make up 50% of Franklin Park’s land area, and these properties could be a prime investment for someone looking to spruce them up and create modern amenities for interested tenants or buyers,” Dace says. “There’s a tax exemption of 10% on building materials to be used on properties with the Franklin Park Enterprise Zone.” (more…)
(Elmhurst, Illinois –October 28, 2019) – Darwin Realty is pleased to announce the firm facilitated a lease between Axis Warehouse Management and CenterPoint Properties for the third party logistics company’s new 174,178 square foot space at 500 Country Club Drive in Bensenville, Il. CenterPoint Properties’ Senior Vice President of Asset Management Danielle Radtke and their attorney Jerome Richman of Richmond Breslin, LLC supervised the transaction. Axis Warehouse executives Frank Pagone, Ed Louis and Daniel Goldberg, along with their attorney John Chitkowski of Chitkowski Law Offices, worked with the brokerage team. Darwin Realty President Rick Daly led the transaction, with assistance from Managing Broker George Cibula. (more…)
(Elmhurst, Illinois –September 18, 2019) – Darwin Realty is pleased to announce the firm’s President Richard G. Daly and Associate Chris Mergenthaler represented a private partnership in the lease of its building at 1701 Birchwood Avenue in Des Plaines to Amphenol EEC. The tenant, a manufacturer of electrical, electronic and fiber optic connectors, is relocating its facility from Chicago and Mexico.
“The tenant was attracted to this building because of its heavy power and open floor plan,” Daly says. “The company’s relocation shows that the Midwest, and specifically Chicago, is once again becoming a desirable location for manufacturers because of its labor pool and ease of distribution.” (more…)
(Elmhurst, Illinois –April 30, 2019) – Darwin Realty is pleased to announce the firm’s Associate Rollo Dace represented GDS Garage Door Supplies, Inc., in its new lease of 23,375 square feet at 9405 River Street in Schiller Park, IL. The garage door parts supplier was looking for a larger space in the same area to expand its growing business.
GDS is relocating and expanding from a 5,000 square foot location at 4027 Fleetwood Drive in Franklin Park, IL, more than doubling its existing space. The tenant selected the new location because of its easy access for its customers and ability to retain its employees by staying in the same region. The property is close to O’Hare International Airport and several major highways. It has a 14’ clear height ceiling, two docks, and one drive-in door.
“As a growing company, GDS was looking for a much larger location with good access to supply its customer with the garage parts they need,” Dace says. “This O’Hare warehouse gives the tenant a good central location from which to do its business.”
Paine Wetzel’s Terry Lynch represented the building owner, Schiller 9405 LLC, in the transaction.
Darwin Realty announced that Chicagoland Quad Cities Express has renewed their lease for a 412,405 square foot distribution compound in Bridgeview, Illinois.
Chicagoland Quad Cities is a 50-year-old third-party logistics and transportation company that specializes in warehousing and transportation services for many well-known companies. Chicagoland is a warehouse affiliate member of the National Association of Chemical Distributors. They also operate a food grade facility in Bolingbrook, Illinois. Between their Bridgeview and Bolingbrook locations, Chicagoland has 501,000 square feet of warehouse space in the Chicago-market.
Katie Michel, Sr. Vice President of Pritzker Realty Group negotiated the lease on behalf of ownership. Terri Wintermute, President, and Gary DiGrazia, Senior Vice President of Chicagoland Quad Cities Express negotiated the transaction on behalf of Chicagoland Quad Cities.
George Cibula, SIOR, represented Chicagoland Quad Cities Express.
(Elmhurst, Illinois – May 8, 2018) – Darwin Realty is pleased to announce the firm’s President Richard G. Daly represented Apex Warehouse Systems, LLC in its new lease of 107,600 square feet at 631 W. Park Avenue in Aurora, IL. The warehouse will serve as additional storage space for the materials handling and storage equipment company.
“This is a large crane-served facility that will help the tenant serve its existing client base and any new clients it may bring in,” Daly says.
The 342,268 square foot building features ceiling heights of up to 40 feet, outdoor storage space for vehicles and equipment, 10 exterior docks, 10 drive-in doors and seven cranes. With easy access to I-88 via Route 31, the building boasts low Kane County taxes.
The building owner, Transbulk Real Estate Limited Partnership, was represented by Transwestern’s Joe Karmin and Justin Lerner.
(Elmhurst, Illinois – September 4, 2017) – Darwin Realty is pleased to announce that Chris Mergenthaler has joined its team as an associate. Mergenthaler recently graduated from Florida State University. He also owned his own business that focused on aerial photography for commercial construction and development. He will concentrate on a variety of brokerage services including tenant representation, ownership representation, build-to-suit projects, site acquisitions, and investment acquisitions and dispositions.
Mergenthaler holds a bachelor’s degree from Florida State University College of Business, where he studied finance and entrepreneurship with a specialization in real estate. Outside of his work in real estate, he enjoys fishing, hiking, and woodworking.
(Elmhurst, Illinois – September 5, 2017) – Darwin Realty is pleased to announce the firm’s Managing Broker George Cibula represented the tenant, Chicagoland Quad Cities, Inc., in its lease of 89,670 square feet within the 320,722 square foot building located at 9 Timber Court in Bolingbrook, Illinois.
According to Cibula, “Chicagoland Quad Cities is a third party logistics company in an industry that has traditionally been a good indicator of the overall economy. Chicagoland’s continued success shows that many of their customers are thriving and looking to expand their warehouse space. The south I-55 corridor continues to be one of the most active submarkets in Chicago.”
Chicagoland Quad Cities chose to stay in the building because of its prime location in the south I-55 corridor, which is one of the most active areas in the Chicago industrial submarket.
The building owner was represented by Jason West and Sean Henrick of Cushman & Wakefield.
(Elmhurst, Illinois) – Darwin Realty is pleased to announce the firm’s Managing Broker George Cibula represented the seller in the disposition of a 160,000 square foot warehouse facility located at 950 S. 25th Avenue in Bellwood, Illinois. In this transaction, 950 S. 25th Avenue LLC sold the building to U-Haul/AMERCO Real Estate Company for use as a truck rental and self-storage facility. This will represent an expansion for U-Haul/AMERCO who represented themselves in the transaction.
“This transaction takes an older industrial building and repurposes it to a higher and better use,” Cibula says. “As the market continues to tighten, we expect to see more reuse of outdated buildings such as this one.”
The building features 11,500 square feet of office space, 5,000 square feet of cooler space, 12.5-foot to 19.5-foot clear height ceilings, 14 exterior docks and two interior docks. U-Haul chose this site due to its proximity to I-290 and the large parking lot on the 8.3-acre site with truck parking. The new owner will take occupancy of the building in October.
(Elmhurst, Illinois – July 10, 2017) –Darwin Realty executives recently donated a day of their time working at Lambs Farm, a non-profit organization that provides residences and jobs for adults with disabilities, in Libertyville, IL. A group of over 20 Darwin Realty team members that included brokers, construction department associates, property managers and administrative staff, worked with Lambs Farm to paint the Magnolia Café building, an on-site restaurant that employs many of its residents, and updated landscaping on the facility’s grounds.
“We were looking for an opportunity where we could really make a difference and helping Lambs Farm beautify this property was a good fit for our company,” said Rick Daly, Darwin President. “It was a great way to get out of our regular routine and give back to the community.”
Lambs Farm has been helping people with developmental disabilities lead productive, happy lives and connecting with the human spirit since 1961. The organization started as a pet store on State Street in Chicago that employed people with disabilities. In 1965, its founders moved the organization to a 70-acre farm where 250 people with developmental disabilities live and/or work in a nurturing, helpful environment.
This is Darwin’s fifth semi-annual philanthropic volunteer day. Darwin selected Lambs Farm as their Spring/Summer charity because they wanted to support a local, small business non-profit with a similar family culture to their own company.
(Elmhurst, Illinois – June 26, 2017) – Darwin Realty is pleased to announce the firm represented the landlord in a new full-building lease at 951 Fargo Avenue in Elk Grove Village, IL. Darwin President Richard G. Daly represented a private institutional investor in the lease to seasonal food gifts distributor Marketplace Brands, LLC.
The tenant selected the 103,987 square foot building because it was recently renovated and features 22-foot ceilings, 11,000 square feet of office space, 10 dock positions and one drive-in door. The building has a Class 6B tax incentive in place and can be served by rail.
NAI Hiffman’s Joe Bronson and Josh Will represented the tenant.
(Elmhurst, Illinois – June 12, 2017) –Darwin Realty is pleased to announce that Printing Arts, a printing production and materials storage company, has signed a 46,973-square-foot lease at 2105 W. 21st Street, a 120,960-square-foot building in Broadview, Ill. The lease represents an expansion for Printing Arts, which currently occupies an adjacent building.
Mandy Lewandowski of Darwin Realty represented the building owner, Welbic III Broadview 21 LLC, and worked directly with Printing Arts.
“We are pleased to able to accommodate the growing space needs of this valued tenant,” stated Lewandowski.
(Elmhurst, Illinois – May 30, 2017) –Darwin Realty is pleased to announce that Running Away Enterprises LLC, has extended and expanded its lease at 901 Corporate Grove Road in Buffalo Grove, IL. Starting June 1, the race event management and multisport retail company will occupy the entire 72,600-square-foot building.
Darwin Realty vice president Matthew Lewandowski and leasing associate Mandy Lewandowski represented ownership in the transaction, working directly with Steve Ginsburg of Running Away Enterprises.
“We were very pleased to be able to keep this great tenant in place and to accommodate their dynamic growth,” stated Matthew Lewandowski.
(Elmhurst, Illinois – SEPTEMBER 27, 2016) – Darwin Realty is pleased to announce the firm represented the seller, JJS Properties, in its disposition of a 53,289 square foot property on 5.6 acres at 1500 Busch Parkway in Buffalo Grove, IL. Darwin’s Dan Prendergast represented JJS Properties. The buyer, Knipex Tools, LP, is the North American sales and marketing organization of the German hand-tool manufacturer. The buyer is expanding and will relocate their operations from Arlington Heights.
“The property was listed in April and sold just four months later, which reflects the strong market for functional real estate in a great location like Buffalo Grove,” said Prendergast.
Brian Properties’ Brian M. Hellgeth was the exclusive representative of the buyer in this transaction.
(Elmhurst, Illinois – June 20, 2016) – Darwin Realty is pleased to announce the firm completed the sale of a 70,796 square foot warehouse at 925-1065 Chase Avenue in Elk Grove Village, Illinois. Darwin Realty Principal Richard G. Daly represented the seller, Hicks Properties LLC in the transaction.
TMI Properties LLC has purchased the two-tenant facility which is divided into 41,000 square foot and 29,000 square foot spaces as an investment. The smaller space is occupied by Filter Services, Inc. with a long-term lease, allowing the buyer to purchase the building with existing income already in place and occupy the balance of the building. The 20’ clear building features 11 docks, three drive-in doors and parking for 115 cars. The offices within the building have been recently renovated.
Colliers’ Jonathan Kohn represented the buyer, TMI Properties LLC.
(Elmhurst, Illinois – June 14, 2016) – Darwin Realty is pleased to announce the firm completed a new lease on a 58,627 square foot warehouse and office space for Porreca Freight at 1850 Greenleaf Avenue in Elk Grove Village, Illinois. Darwin Realty’s President Richard G. Daly represented the tenant in the transaction.
Porreca Freight, a company that provides full local pick up and delivery services throughout the Chicago area, is expanding its warehouse and office. They selected the free-standing building because of its high velocity loading capacity in the heart of the O’Hare market, 11 exterior docks, two drive-in doors, 16’ foot ceiling clear heights andample parking.
According to Daly, “There is a shortage of buildings in the O’Hare market with abundant loading and trailer parking. The new location will give my client flexibility to warehouse and deliver their clients’ product on a timely basis.”
Colliers International’s Jonathan Kohn and Tom Rodeno represented the landlord in the transaction.
Darwin Realty’s Dan Predergast was recently quoted in a Globe Street article about a building sale in Northbrook . Read the entire article by clicking the link below:
(Elmhurst, Illinois – February 10, 2016) – Darwin Realty is pleased to announce that Welbic LLC has purchased 15 industrial properties from Venture One Real Estate. These properties contain approximately 900,000 square feet of buildings located from Kenosha, Wisconsin to Alsip, Illinois. There are 22 tenants that occupy the 15 buildings. (more…)
(Elmhurst, Illinois – December 11, 2015) Principal Dan Fanelli, SIOR, and Managing Broker eorge Cibula, SIOR, of Darwin Realty have completed two renewal leases at a two-tenant property at 2101-2171 W. Cermak Road in Broadview, IL. (more…)
(Elmhurst, Illinois) – Darwin Realty is pleased to announce the disposition of three buildings in Broadview, Illinois to Real Trucking, a subsidiary of Real Group, LLC. The company owns a dry van freight carrier operation that services United States and Canada with locations in Chicago and New Jersey. (more…)
(Elmhurst, Illinois – August 24, 2015) –Darwin Realty is pleased to announce the acquisition of a 48,663-square foot building located at 999 Regency Drive in Glendale Heights, Illinois. Darwin President Richard G. Daly, SIOR represented the purchaser, Robert C. Weisheit Co., Inc. who acquired the property for the expansion and relocation of his high-tech manufacturing business.