MINNEAPOLIS (Jan. 16, 2020) – United Properties announced today that Scott Peterson has been named vice president of hospitality and office development, effective Jan. 1, 2020.

Peterson joined United Properties in 2019 as vice president of hospitality and residential development. In this role, he quickly made a noticeable impact on the company’s RBC Gateway project and other hotel pursuits. In his revised role, Peterson will focus on hospitality and office development, including site acquisition, project underwriting, design, development and construction. His hospitality projects include the upcoming Four Seasons Hotel and Private Residences Minneapolis at RBC Gateway.

“Scott has brought considerable depth and experience to us from his work in the hospitality area before joining United Properties,” said Bill Katter, president and chief investment officer, United Properties Development. “He has also been assisting me with several new office pursuits, and I am confident that Scott’s new role will capitalize on his talents and continue his positive impact on the company’s hospitality and office development projects.”

Prior to joining United Properties, Peterson served as senior director of development and construction for CSM Corporation in Minneapolis, bringing more than 13 years of residential and hotel experience across various markets. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in business management from Montana State University and an Executive Master of Business Administration degree from the Eller College of Management at the University of Arizona. He is an active member of the NAIOP Minnesota chapter and also dedicates his time to mentorships at the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management and several other community organizations.

VERO BEACH, Fla (Jan. 21, 2020) – Watercrest Senior Living Group and United Properties are pleased to announce the grand opening of Watercrest Naples Assisted Living and Memory Care in Naples, Fla.  The 128-unit luxury senior living community is now welcoming its founding residents to their new home.

Watercrest Naples is a signature Watercrest product, offering 96 assisted living and 32 memory care apartments with premium accommodations, resort-style amenities, and world-class care. Residents enjoy pampering in elegant Spa W, savor private label Watercrest wines at the bistro, and relish the flavors of locally grown, seasonal ingredients and organic fare whether dining outdoors, bistro-style, or in the chef’s private dining room.

The exceptional architecture and design boast a stunning promenade, fireplace, signature water wall, multiple dining options, pool, salon and spa, grand balconies, and Florida-style outdoor living spaces in a peaceful setting.  Watercrest’s uniquely designed Market Street Plaza showcases an ‘outdoor’ streetscape with numerous LifeBUILT programming touches; a highlight and crucial element of their multi-sensory memory care programming.

“It is with much anticipation we celebrate the opening of this truly spectacular community,” said Marc Vorkapich, Principal and CEO of Watercrest Senior Living Group.  “We are grateful for outstanding partnerships with United Properties and Walker and Company in bringing this project to fruition and providing the seniors of Naples with an exceptional senior living community.”

Ideally located at 9015 Bellaire Bay Drive, Watercrest Naples is just minutes from sandy white beaches, and casually elegant shopping, dining and cultural venues.  The city offers nature lovers and sports enthusiasts unlimited opportunities to enjoy their favorite pastimes, while the grand architecture, friendly people, and pleasant year-round climate make Naples an extraordinary place to call home. For community information, contact Dawn Osterweil, Executive Director at 239-734-5639.

Watercrest Senior Living Group was founded by Marc Vorkapich, CEO, and Joan Williams, CFO, to honor our mothers and fathers, aspiring to become a beacon for quality in senior living by surpassing standards of care, service and associate training. Watercrest senior living communities are recognized for their luxury aesthetic, exceptional amenities and world-class care, and their innovative and artfully designed Market Street Memory Care Residences offer unparalleled service to seniors living with Alzheimer’s and dementia.

“Watercrest Naples is an incredible new community with resort-style amenities and activities that will help seniors experience the joy of living,” said Ray Oborn, President, Cherrywood Pointe Investment. “We’re proud to partner with Watercrest Senior Living to create a community that is unparalleled in the area.”

Watercrest Naples is one of two senior living development projects partnered between United Properties and Watercrest Senior Living Group.  Their second project, Watercrest Sarasota Senior Living, is currently under construction and scheduled to open in 2020.

Founded in 1916 and based in Minneapolis, United Properties has developed nearly 200 projects totaling more than 20 million square feet and nearly $1 billion over the last 30 years. Since 2004, United Properties has developed 15 senior housing communities in the Minneapolis/St. Paul and Denver markets, with seven more under development. For information on United Properties, visit http://www.uproperties.com.

A certified Great Place to Work, Watercrest Senior Living Group specializes in the development and operations of assisted living and memory care communities and the growth of servant leaders. For information, visit www.watercrestseniorliving.com.

Kathryn Vorkapich
772-539-4553
kathryn@chandonnicholas.com

MINNEAPOLIS (Jan. 21, 2020) – West Monroe Partners, a national business and technology consultancy, today announced that its Minneapolis office will relocate to new space in the North Loop neighborhood to accommodate its expanded local team and future growth projections. The firm has agreed to lease more than 42,000 square feet at The Nordic, a unique mixed-use development at 729 Washington Avenue, and expects to move into the new space in April 2020.

“West Monroe joins other fast-growing companies on the leading edge of their industries that have selected The Nordic as their home because it offers an ideal location and a variety of amenities their employees can enjoy.”

West Monroe, which has nine offices across the United States, doubled its local team in October 2019 through the acquisition of Minneapolis-based digital product studio, GoKart Labs. The new office will have more than two times the space of West Monroe’s current local footprint, allowing the firm to bring more than 100 employees together in one location and still have room to grow. Based on increasing demand for consulting services from the region’s upper-mid-market and Fortune 1000 companies, West Monroe expects to double the size of its local workforce again between now and 2025.

“Already, we are seeing tremendous impact from integrating the respective consulting, creative, and technology talents of West Monroe and GoKart Labs, so it has been a priority for us to find space where we can bring everyone together. The Nordic not only enables us to do that; it also offers a modern, efficient, human-centered environment that is very much aligned with our people-first culture,” said Tom Ewers, managing director and Minneapolis office leader. “We are excited to find a space that enables us to collaborate and do ground-breaking work for category leaders committed to differentiating themselves and creating value in a digital marketplace.”

West Monroe opened its Minneapolis office in 2013. Today, the office provides technology-enabled consulting solutions for clients across the Upper Midwest in key industries, including healthcare and life sciences, financial services, consumer and industrial products, and private equity. The firm’s Minneapolis-based digital product studio serves clients nationally as West Monroe builds out additional studios in other offices.

West Monroe earned 35 awards for its unique, people-first company culture in 2019. Nationally, the firm has been recognized as a leading company at which to work by Great Place to Work and Fortune, as well as by Vault Inc. and Consulting magazine. Both West Monroe and GoKart Labs have been named a Star Tribune Top Workplace and a Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal Best Place to Work.

“Collaborating to create value through multi-disciplinary teams is at the heart of what we do, so it is important for us to have space that inspires that, while also being an attractive destination for our current and prospective employees. The Nordic offers a space and location that exemplifies our unique culture, while also proximity to both of our current offices so as not to disrupt people’s current commutes,” said Don Smithmier, co-founder of GoKart Labs and now a senior director with West Monroe. “Just as important, we are eager to have our entire Minneapolis team together in one space so that everyone has exposure to and can learn from each other’s skills and diverse perspectives. This creates career growth opportunities for all and helps us fulfill our mission to build the next generation of leaders.”

The Nordic, led by United Properties, is one of Minnesota’s first registered projects employing the WELL Building Standard^TM (WELL), a global movement focused exclusively on the health and wellness of building occupants. It features full-service restaurants, retail, micro-unit housing, parking and bike storage, and gathering areas, including a unique four-season plaza and a rooftop patio.

“We’re pleased to welcome West Monroe Partners to The Nordic, our unique mixed-use development in Minneapolis’ vibrant North Loop neighborhood,” said Gordy Stofer, vice president, capital markets for United Properties. “West Monroe joins other fast-growing companies on the leading edge of their industries that have selected The Nordic as their home because it offers an ideal location and a variety of amenities their employees can enjoy.”

West Monroe currently occupies space at 123 N. 3^rd Street and 110 N. 5^th Street. Peter Fitzgerald of Cushman Wakefield represented West Monroe in the deal.

West Monroe is currently hiring for an array of positions in Minneapolis. For career opportunities, visit https://www.acceptthechallenge.com.

About West Monroe Partners

West Monroe is a national business and technology consulting firm that partners with dynamic organizations to reimagine, build, and operate their businesses at peak performance. Our team of more than 1,400 professionals is comprised of an uncommon blend of business consultants and deep technologists. This unique combination of expertise enables us to design, develop, implement, and run strategic business and technology solutions that yield a dramatic commercial impact on our clients’ profitability and performance. For more information, visit www.wmp.com.

Media Contact
Christina Galoozis
Media Relations Manager
cgaloozis@wmp.com
312.447.6623

MINNEAPOLIS (Jan. 21, 2020) – United Properties announced today that Brandon Champeau has been promoted to market leader for the Minneapolis commercial development group. The promotion was effective Jan. 1, 2020.

In his new role, Champeau is responsible for directing and managing the execution of all office, industrial and commercial mixed-use projects in the Twin Cities market. Champeau joined United Properties in 2004 as a retail leasing broker. He was hired by Keith Ulstad as a retail project manager in 2006 and was promoted to assistant vice president in 2012, vice president in 2014 and senior vice president in 2017. He has been instrumental in many key United Properties projects, including the historic renovation of the Ford Center, the Penn & American redevelopment in Bloomington, Midway Stadium Business Center — the first USGBC LEED Silver speculative industrial building in the state — and Northcross Business Park, a highly successful industrial development in Brooklyn Park. In the last five years, he has delivered more than 2.5 million sq. ft. of industrial space to the market, and since 2016, he has been leading the master planning of Upper Harbor Terminal.

“Brandon has continued his own growth and success by demonstrating repeated, disciplined work across all commercial property types,” said Bill Katter, president and chief investment officer, United Properties Development. “I am confident he will continue to have a meaningful impact in this expanded role and am very excited to see his efforts expand into our office development efforts.”

In addition to his role at United Properties, Champeau is deeply involved in the commercial real estate industry, most recently serving as the president of NAIOP Minnesota, the local chapter of NAIOP, the Commercial Real Estate Development Association. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in entrepreneurial studies and finance, with a minor in marketing, from the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management.

MINNEAPOLIS (Jan. 13, 2020) – United Properties announced today that it has completed construction of a new hotel at 501 Sixth Ave. N. and music hall at 525 Fifth St. N., located at Target Field Station in the North Loop of downtown Minneapolis. The 150,000-sq.-ft. building features the Fillmore Minneapolis music hall and Element by Westin hotel.

“Fillmore Minneapolis will be the destination for people looking for an evening of live music with great food and drinks. Whether you are at Fillmore Minneapolis for a show, attending a Twins game with family, or in town for business, Element by Westin offers a fresh, comfortable and convenient place to stay while visiting Minneapolis,” said Rick McKelvey, senior vice president, development. “We are very proud that United Properties was able to deliver this incredible mixed-use project to the city.”

“We are particularly grateful to Hennepin County and the Minnesota Twins for the support they’ve provided us throughout the development process. Their bold vision for Target Field Station will provide great benefits to our community for decades,” McKelvey said. “We are confident that United Properties’ addition to Target Field Station brings wonderful new amenities that will further enliven the area.”

United Properties worked with Live Nation’s House of Blues Entertainment division to bring the popular Fillmore music hall to Minneapolis. The venue occupies 36,000 sq. ft. and features an intimate, 1,850-guest-capacity venue for music performances. The music hall is enhanced by signature Fillmore aesthetics, including chandeliers and vintage concert posters.

United Properties worked with Lion Hotel Group to develop the Element by Westin hotel, which features 156 guest rooms. The Element by Westin hotel is a unique concept that suits both short- and long-term stays and incorporates eco-conscious design elements and wellness programming. Project partners include Tushie Montgomery Architects and Weis Builders.

Both the music hall and hotel will open shortly.

Target Field Station caps the company’s commercial real estate development activities in the Target Field Station area, which includes the Ford Center, Be The Match headquarters and Caribou Coffee.

DENVER (Dec. 3, 2019) – United Properties announced today that Matt Oermann has moved to a new role as senior development manager within the senior housing group, effective Nov. 1, 2019. As senior development manager within senior housing, Oermann will play an integral role in the expansion of United Properties’ senior living business in the Colorado market.

“Senior housing is a fast-growing area within United Properties, and we’re pleased to have Matt on our team as we build on the success of our first senior housing collaboration in the Colorado market, Balfour of Littleton, and introduce Colorado residents to our successful senior living co-op model, Applewood Pointe,” said Mark Nelson, executive vice president, residential development, United Properties.

Oermann joined United Properties in 2015 and was promoted to senior development manager in March 2019. He has worked on various aspects of development, from construction management, sales, acquisitions, sourcing, underwriting and more, working primarily on the INOVA developments. Oermann will continue to oversee the initial phase of INOVA Aero development while he transitions to senior housing.

Prior to joining United Properties, Oermann spent 12 years in design and construction management with Project One Integrated Services and Turner Construction. He holds an MBA in entrepreneurship, finance and real estate from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Michigan.

MINNEAPOLIS (Nov. 21, 2019) – The Nordic, United Properties’ mixed-use building located at 729 Washington Ave. N., announced today a series of exciting developments as the project nears completion. Nearly 70 percent of the space is now leased, with just three floors totaling 60,000 sq. ft. remaining.

New tenants now open include FRGMNT coffee shop and Thr3 Jack restaurant and indoor golf venue, and programming at the outdoor public plaza has been in full swing.

FRGMNT, a coffee shop owned by Ben Banse and Sarah Roehl, has opened in the ground floor lobby of The Nordic. The brand was created specifically for The Nordic and features coffee from Monogram Coffee in Calgary, Canada, Heart Roasters in Portland, Oregon, and Saint Frank Coffee in San Francisco. The coffee shop has a partnership with Honey & Rye Bakehouse to provide pastries for patrons. FRGMNT is open 6:30 a.m. – 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

Thr3 Jack, a restaurant and indoor golf venue on the ground floor of The Nordic, had its grand opening Oct. 7. Created by siblings Lucy Robb and Bo Massopust, the venue features six best-in-class simulators for golfers of all levels and a thoughtfully crafted food and drink menu. Thr3 Jack is open 5 p.m. – 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 5 p.m. – 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday.

The outdoor plaza space at The Nordic has begun programming and events with yoga classes, a festive Halloween celebration and other activities. Featuring an outdoor firepit, planning is underway for additional winter outdoor events in the coming months.

Sable, The Nordic’s residential component, represents the first owner occupied condominium building that allows short-term rentals in the Twin Cities. Several units have closed, with just 15 percent remaining. The building features a Members’ Lounge, rooftop deck with downtown views, outdoor firepits and same-floor parking access. Contact Joe Grunnet with Downtown Resource Group at (612) 244-6613 for more information.

The Nordic is a modern warehouse-style building designed to be the living room and backyard of the North Loop. Other tenants include Ovative Group and WeWork, a cooperative office space. A food hall operated by Galley Group on the first floor is expected to open next month. The Nordic is United Properties’ fifth project in Minneapolis’ historic North Loop neighborhood.

MINNEAPOLIS (Nov. 12, 2019) – United Properties has announced its plan to develop Canterbury Distribution Center in Shakopee, Minnesota. The 302,650 sq. ft. building, located at 3200 Fourth Ave. E., will be moving forward as a speculative industrial product.

United Properties purchased the 24-acre property near U.S. Route 169 and Canterbury Road from Canterbury Park in 2015. Site work on the project began in August 2019, with an expected completion in the spring of 2020.

Canterbury Distribution Center is currently the only large bulk space available in the south metro area, and the property is located less than a quarter of a mile from the Amazon Fulfillment Center in Shakopee, noted Connor McCarthy, development manager, United Properties. “We’re pleased to be developing much-needed large bulk space in the supply-constrained southern metro,” he said.

R.J. Ryan Construction Inc. is the general contractor on the project. Kris Smeltzer and Jason Meyer of Cushman & Wakefield are the leasing representatives.

United Properties also recently purchased land in Burnsville at 35 South Business Center located at the corner of Interstate 35 and Highway 13. The 96,000 sq. ft. build-to-suit industrial project represents phase four of United Properties’ 35/13 Crossings project.

MINNEAPOLIS (Nov. 12, 2019) – United Properties announced today that it has broken ground on Cherrywood Pointe of Bloomington, located at 5501 American Blvd. W., within the Normandale Lake area of Bloomington, Minnesota. The senior living community is expected to open March 2021.

This marks the first time United Properties will bring its Cherrywood Pointe concept to Bloomington, a community that is already familiar with another of its senior living options, Applewood Pointe senior cooperatives. “We are delighted to be further serving Bloomington seniors with the continuum of care offered by Cherrywood Pointe, from independent living to 24-hour on-site nursing staff,” said Mark Nelson, executive vice president, residential development, United Properties.

The four-story community offers a variety of floor plans and housing solutions, with options ranging from independent living to services with around-the-clock personalized care. Cherrywood Pointe’s 118 units feature 82 maintenance-free independent and assisted living apartments, 24 memory care apartments and 12 care suite apartments. Amenities include a multi-venue dining room, pub room, community room, salon, fitness room and yoga studio, sun porch and outdoor patio, underground parking, and balconies on most units. Community members will have access to daily chef-prepared meals, scheduled transportation services and a comprehensive life-enrichment program designed to create engaging experiences and an active lifestyle.

Great Lakes Management will manage Cherrywood Pointe of Bloomington. Customized health-care services will be provided by Gentle Touch Health, including a 24-hour on-site team of licensed nurses and nurses’ assistants.

Cherrywood Pointe of Bloomington was designed by Kaas Wilson Architects and Henrik & Co Interiors and will be constructed by Weis Builders.

The Bloomington location is United Properties’ sixth Cherrywood Pointe community in the Twin Cities. The other metro locations include Forest Lake, Minnetonka, Plymouth, Roseville on Cleveland and Roseville on Lexington. The company also has a senior living community in Littleton, Colorado, as well as communities under development in Naples and Sarasota, Florida.

Teaming with Habitat to help Twin Cities families create deep roots

One work day.

It’s something very small to give on the individual level. But then one company donates 10 employees’ labor for a day. Then 10 companies donate. Sometimes every year, several times a year. Then future Habitat homeowners contribute their “sweat equity” – 100 hours of homebuilding. Just one work day multiplied means working families in need all over the world can reach their aspiration of homeownership. And that ownership creates deep roots.

Earlier this month, United Properties joined forces with Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity (TCHFH) for two days of homebuilding and teambuilding. More than 30 employees from United Properties and senior living partner Ebenezer traded a day at the office for a day on-site, where 981 Euclid was in its third week of construction. Once finished, the 1800-square-foot St. Paul home will include 5 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, and an 800-square-foot unfinished basement (2600 square feet total) with an egress window. All volunteers will be invited to the housewarming.

“It was a very rewarding day personally, learning carpentry skills and doing tangible work with our hands for a cause we feel good about,” shared Kevin Powell, United Properties IT Director & AVP. “Working together and getting to know your colleagues in a different environment is also very rewarding – you learn things you wouldn’t have expected about them. Plus the Habitat team was brave enough to trust us with power tools…”

To date, TCHFH has constructed more than 12,000 homes for Minnesotan families in need. But what do these homes really mean for local families?

Why Home Matters

According to Habitat, having a stable place to come home to each day is associated with better public health and education outcomes. But what does that look like in the day-to-day? WHY does this work matter? TCHFH engages with past volunteers on a regular basis to help them understand the WHY behind the homebuilding – which isn’t really about the buildings at all:

For those of us who’ve never needed to question where home was, a window into a Habitat family’s day-to-day can be awakening. It helps us start to understand what home means to those who don’t take it for granted, and it helps us see why even one work day matters.

One work day at a time – one home build at a time – adds up to a lot of impact. It means a child can stay at one school long enough to make meaningful friendships and host sleepovers at home. It means making memories that become stories about “the neighborhood” and “the house where I grew up.” Habitat’s work is about more than providing shelter – it’s about how the shelter helps families create deep roots. It’s about the thing that makes a space a place and a house a home. That’s why United Properties is proud to partner with Habitat each year to help lift up families putting down their own roots in the greater Twin Cities.

Further Multiplied

Habitat for Humanity developed several programs that multiply each chapter’s local impact, all of which work toward the central mission of building strength, stability, and self-reliance through shelter:

1. A Brush with Kindness – TCHFH’s A Brush with Kindness Paint and Home Repair Program partners with low-income families, veterans, and seniors to affordably maintain safe, stable homes. Over the last 30 years, the program has touched more than 2,000 families in the greater Twin Cities area.
2. ReStore Home Improvement Outlets – Think Goodwill meets Home Depot. ReStore vets new and gently used home improvement products and building materials and is open to the public. Sales at the Minneapolis and New Brighton locations support Habitat homebuilding initiatives in the Twin Cities area.
3. Age in Place – In partnership with Allina Health, TCHFH launched Age in Place to support older low-income homeowners who wish to age peacefully in the comfort of their own homes. The program provides assistance with seasonal chores, yard work, home modifications (e.g., building wheelchair ramps, installing handrails), and other services that allow homeowners to continue living safely and affordably.

Visit tchabitat.org to learn about other programs and help Habitat multiply its impact for Twin Cities families!