Real Deals: Starpower takes showroom award

Starpower

Starpower Home Entertainment Systems Inc., was awarded “Best Showroom in America” at the 2017 CEDIA Awards on Sept. 10 for its recently opened Southlake showroom. The ceremony took place aboard the USS Midway in San Diego, California.

Starpower was amongst 32 nominated competitors from the United States, Canada and Mexico. Showroom submissions were voted on by a global panel of judges from the worlds of architecture, interiors, property, IT, smart home journalists and custom installation.

“This award is a high honor for us. We respect CEDIA and we’re proud to be nominated for our incredible Southlake Showroom,” said Daniel Pidgeon, chairman of Starpower, in the release. “We believe people want to actively engage when making buying decisions for their home. Our showrooms provide a physical design space where we can meet this inherent need.”

Its 15,000 square foot showroom in Southlake features high-end appliances from Ed Kellum & Son, a Dallas-based appliance retailer, and architectural and interior design from Limited Brands architect Phil White of Columbus, Ohio.

- FWBP Digital Partners -

The space also features various interactive technology displays right alongside working kitchens and major appliances.

“In a time when many retailers are floundering, Starpower is thriving. Our innovative showrooms and lifestyle displays focus on solutions rather than just products,” Pidgeon said in the release. “Our Southlake showroom reflects our passion and creativity, a foundation of our company since its inception in 1995. Beyond the multi-million-dollar investment, this showroom unlocks the imagination and allows our clients’ dreams to become a reality.”

CEDIA is the international trade association and central touch point for 3,700 member companies who design, manufacture, and install technology for the home.

– Nealie Sanchez

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Como/Sunset Heights may get empowerment zone

A plan to revitalize the Como neighborhood will likely go to a vote at the Sept. 19 Fort Worth City Council meeting.

In the pre-council session Sept. 12, the Fort Worth City Council received an informal report on the proposed adoption of the Como/Sunset Heights Neighborhood Empowerment Zone (NEZ) Strategic Plan.

The NEZ projects promote the creation or rehabilitation of affordable housing, an increase in economic development, and an increase in the quality of social services, education, or public safety provided to residents of the designated neighborhoods.

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“The Como Neighborhood Empowerment Zone has been a critical tool for continuing to revitalize the Como area with single-family home development,” said District 3 Council Member Brian Byrd. “Moving forward, it our desire to see the NEZ used to spur commercial economic development in the heart of Como and Sunset Heights, including Horne Street.”

Public hearings were held on Aug. 3 and 23 concerning the plan. A resolution for the plan is expected to be on the council’s Sept. 19 agenda.

Since late 2014, Como stakeholders have participated in a planning process that included two workshops, seven public meetings, surveys and polling, and 18 advisory committee meetings. The advisory committee, comprised of the officers of the Como Neighborhood Advisory Council (NAC) and other Como residents, helped identify and refine the goals and recommendations of the plan.

The plan provides a guide for the revitalization of the Como/Sunset Heights Neighborhood Empowerment Zone,” said Randle Harwood, director planning and development. “It seeks to identify strategies and partnerships that will enable the growth of small business and enhance and diversify the housing stock in a way that seeks to respect the history and heritage of the neighborhood while looking forward to a diverse and promising future.”

– Rick Mauch

SALES

Weitzman has negotiated the sale of a prime 40,075-square-foot tract in downtown Fort Worth, located at 401 East Weatherford St., to Tarrant County for an undisclosed price.

Eddie Liebman and Matthew Rosenfeld with Weitzman handled negotiations for the seller. Todd Burnette of JLL represented the county.

The site, with almost one acre of land and formerly used for a drive-thru motor bank for Chase Bank, occupies a full city block bordered by East Weatherford Street, North Jones Street, East Belknap Street and North Grove Street on the northern edge of Fort Worth’s Central Business District. Tarrant County provide options for future growth.

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plans to use the location to build a multi-level parking garage with some ground-level office space.

Fort Capital LP has purchased a 116,000-square-foot building on 5.65 acres of land at 2901-2951 Suffolk Drive in Fort Worth. The seller, Suffolk LP, was represented by Wynn Tucker. Fort Capital was represented by Gary Vasseur and Nathan Vasseur of Vasseur Commercial Real Estate Inc.

Custer Commons LP sold 1.3 acres at the corner of Beach Street and Thompson Drive in Fort Worth to SD Beach Street LP for an upcoming retail development. Marty Neilon with CBRE in Dallas represented the seller.

Tasman Hide Processing Inc. has purchased a 14,200-square-foot building at 3816 N. Grove St. in Fort Worth from J. Blum Co. Inc. Gary Vasseur of Vasseur Commercial Real Estate Inc. represented the seller.

Marcus & Millichap has sold College Plaza, a 6,590-square-foot retail property located in Arlington at 1302 S Cooper St., near the University of Texas at Arlington, according to Kyle Palmer, regional manager of the firm’s Fort Worth office.

Philip Levy, senior managing director of investments in Marcus & Millichap’s Fort Worth office, had the exclusive listing to market the property on behalf of the seller, a limited liability company. The buyer, a private investor, was secured by Chris Gainey, senior associate, Levy and Juan Cuevas, senior associate in Marcus & Millichap’s Dallas, Fort Worth and Houston offices.