Challenged with limited exposure and activity, the Baldwin Park office complex faced foreclosure in 2011 and experienced severe tenant loss. Divaris was appointed to manage and lease the properties in August 2011, when the property was only 27% leased.

Divaris engaged Stiles to co-lease and manage the portfolio on behalf of an institutional owner. Stiles moved to launch an aggressive repositioning plan aimed at showcasing the property's distinct identity, area amenities and upscale professional environment.

Stiles and Divaris secured leases including a 28,000-square-foot architecture and engineering firm Rogers Lovelock & Fritz. Momentum continued throughout the year as another nearly 20,000 square feet of space was leased to national tenants including: skincare firm Dermalogica; online home furnishings company Altogether Home; property and casualty company Gallagher Bassett Services; and Allied Specialty Vehicles, which reports approximately $1 billion in annual revenues.

According to Kates, the level of leasing activity in Baldwin Park is unusual for a tertiary submarket like the 436 Corridor. He attributes the surge in activity to the team's focus on marketing the benefits of the area, including Baldwin Park Village Center's restaurants, shops and other amenities. This strategy attributed to the property sale after only 45 days on the market.

“Promoting Baldwin Park as a place where business and entertainment coexist was a key factor attracting tenants and ultimately selling the property,” says Kates. “The combination of the building's quality space and location within an upscale community was the catalyst for our ability to bring real value to the property.”