The property currently contains two joined buildings and two others, all constructed between 1960 and 1970, which aggregate 960,349 sf. It is zoned to accommodate up to an additional 1.2 million sf of office development.

Unisys once occupied the entire complex, but has downsized to approximately 540,000 sf and sublet another 220,000 sf to Merck & Co. One 200,000-sf building is currently vacant, Clay Hamlin, vice chairman of Corporate Office Properties, tells GlobeSt.com. "The Unisys lease expires on July 1, 2009," he says, "but has two five-year options to renew at pretty attractive rates," which he did not disclose, but says, "are well below market. Although Unisys might extend, that's doubtful. Merck has made a substantial investment in its space and would have the option to extend, but we're not sure what either is going to do."

The property is on the market, Hamlin says, "because it's our only property in the Philadelphia area, and we tend to sell 'outliers,' that is, properties not in areas where we have a heavy presence, such as the Baltimore/Washington area. We have a plan for this park," he adds, "but have not exercised it while it is under lease to Unisys."

There is no asking price, although Hamlin says he anticipates it will reach nine figures. "If we don't get the price we want, we'll keep it. We might take a JV partner, or someone may want a piece. There is no land of this developable size available in this market, and it provides the opportunity for development of a really first-class park that is two to three times larger than any other here. We'd have to be crazy to not find out what someone's willing to pay, but, if it's not what we want, we don't have to take it."

Andrew Scandalios, managing director of HFF in New York, heads the marketing team. He tells GlobeSt.com, "interest is very good from local, regional and national firms that see a lot of possible scenarios for the property." He agrees, "the price will be well into nine figures." The average asking rental rate in the Blue Bell/Plymouth Meeting submarket is $24.64 per sf, according to second-quarter data from the Philadelphia office of Jones Lang LaSalle.

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