Banker Lopez Gassler P.A. Leases Full Floor at First Central Tower in Downtown St Petersburg

ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA – August 17, 2015 – (RealEstateRama) — Banker Lopez Gassler P.A. is relocating its downtown St. Petersburg office to First Central Tower later this year. The law firm has leased a full floor, 15,296 square feet, at the building. The long term lease was brokered by Mia Jarrell of Colliers International.

“After 32 years in the same building, we’re excited to move to an upgraded space where we can work more efficiently together on one floor. We selected First Central because we could combine the use of our lease space with the building’s amenities, like the tenant lounge and conference center, for an all-around improved experience for our team” said Jeff Winkler, Banker Lopez Gassler’s St. Petersburg Office Managing Shareholder. “We are executing a complete build out and expect for our 55 St. Petersburg employees to move-in during November.”

In less than a year since acquiring the building in November 2014 Feldman Equities has leased over three full floors signing six firms to leases totaling over 85,000 square feet. The office building is currently undergoing a multi-million dollar renovation. “First Central Tower is located in the heart of downtown St. Petersburg on Central Avenue. Larry Feldman, CEO of Feldman Equities, which is a co-owner of the building stated: “We are investing nearly $10 million dollars in capital and tenant improvements. Our goal is to transform First Central Tower into a first class office destination. St. Pete is a truly walkable downtown, with 7 museums, over 45 restaurants, a theater for the performing arts, a major league baseball stadium, soccer stadium and nearly a dozen marinas. It doesn’t get any better than that.”

Banker Lopez Gassler is a law firm of more than 80 litigation attorneys who practice in the areas of admiralty, aviation, bankruptcy & creditor’s rights, employment law, malpractice, products liability, insurance defense, insurance coverage, bad faith litigation and avoidance, nursing home litigation, workers’ compensation, construction litigation, toxic tort, premises liability, trucking & transportation, sports and appellate law. The firm has offices across Florida in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Orlando, Fort Myers, Tallahassee and Fort Lauderdale.

A joint venture consisting of affiliates of Feldman Equities, Tower Realty Partners and Second City Real Estate acquired First Central Tower, a 17-story, 250,000 square foot office building late last year.

Redevelopment plans for First Central Tower include an extensive lobby renovation, upgraded tenant floor elevator lobbies, tenant corridors and restrooms. In addition, ownership will be adding an amenity package which will include a new concierge desk, a state-of-the-art luxury fitness center and conference center. In keeping with current office space trends towards hip, high-tech spaces, one of the lower floors will be converted to a tenant lounge area. The lounge area will be a 24/7 “chill zone” that will have the look and feel of a first class airport lounge. The lounge area will include soft seating, large flat screen TVs, iPad chairs and free WIFI. The building’s air conditioning system is being upgraded. In addition, renovations will include a completely new modern elevator system and new elevator cabs. The parking garage will be upgraded with upgraded lighting, paint and graphics.

First Central Tower is anchored by BB&T Bank whose name tops the building. Tenants on the building’s upper floors enjoy beautiful views of Tampa Bay and the St. Petersburg skyline. Located in the heart of downtown St. Petersburg, First Central Tower sits on the southeast corner of Central Avenue and 4th Street.

PRESS CONTACT
Tammy Youngman, Asset Marketing, Inc. (813)968-1388
Joseph Isabel COO
Banker Lopez Gassler (813)222-2076 JIsabel (at) BANKERLOPEZ (dot) COM