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Local Commercial Real Estate Expert Kirk Rich Joins Invest Atlanta Board

ATLANTA (Aug. 18, 2014) - Invest Atlanta, the city's economic development arm, knows first hand that real estate is at the heart of most of what it does. So, it makes total sense that local real estate executive and expert Kirk Rich has been appointed to its board of directors.

The Atlanta City Council already has approved Rich's addition to the board of Atlanta Development Authority, whose dba is Invest Atlanta. In photo above, Rich is on the right. He is with Paul Aase of Roberts Commercial Real Estate Services and Jeff Pollock of Pollock Commercial.

The Invest Atlanta board will approve its fiscal year 2015 directors at Thursday's meeting.

There's also an item about bonds for the National College Football Hall of Fame on the agenda, so I bet Mayor Kasim Reed, who chairs the Invest Atlanta board, will be there to join in affirming the City Council's action. Plus, we were the first to call Reed the "Real Estate Mayor," and now that the local paper of record seconded, it must be true.

Kirk founded Rich Real Estate Services in 2001. His commercial real estate credentials stand up against anyone in the city, and his knowledge will help Eloisa Klementich, Kevin Johnson, Ernestine Garey and whomever is chosen to replace former President and CEO Brian McGowan, who left earlier this year to be COO at the Metro Atlanta Chamber. He now also heads economic development efforts at the Metro Chamber.

McGowan shifted Invest Atlanta's focus to one centered on attracting companies and people prepared to make investments in the city. The Wilbert Group helped communicate the organization's new mission during the years we served as Invest Atlanta's public relations agency of record.

Commercial real estate brokers play a key role in corporate relocations, expansions and development, so Rich's insight will be especially helpful to Invest Atlanta's board, which includes ex official members from local governments (City Council, Atlanta mayor's office, Fulton County Board of Commissioners, Atlanta School Board) who likely are not in commercial real estate.

According to his bio, "Kirk has completed more than 1,100 commercial leasing, property acquisition and disposition transactions during the past 23 years. He currently serves as Board President of the Georgia Chapter of The Society of Industrial and Office Realtors (SIOR). SIOR is a prestigious global organization of the top 2% of commercial Realtors. Kirk also is a Director with the Atlanta Commercial Board of Realtors and is a member of CCIM, NAIOP, NAR and the Atlanta Board of Realtors. He has consistently ranked in the NAIOP and ACBR Million Dollar Clubs annually throughout his career."

Here's the official word from Councilman Alex Wan's Facebook page: "Congratulations to my friend Kirk Rich for being unanimously confirmed by Atlanta City Council to serve on the board of Invest Atlanta! You're going to be great, and thank you for your willingness to serve the City of Atlanta."

In turn, Rich responded (via Facebook, of course):  "I look forward to serving and doing my part to keep Atlanta the best city ever! Very excited and honored to be appointed!!!"

 

 

Good News from #CarterBfast: Atlanta Mayor Reed Will Serve Entire Second Term if Re-Elected

ATLANTA (Nov. 8, 2012) - Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, fresh off helping President Obama retain his spot in Washington, has no plans to head to the Nation's Capital himself before 2017 if he's also re-elected next year.

Reed said he will serve every day of a second term if he wins re-election as Atlanta mayor in 2013. Reed said it's the "best job in the world." The mayor's anser was in response to Atlanta Business Chronicle Publsiher Ed Baker, who asked, "Are you guaranteeing us you're sticking around till 2017?"

(In photo at left, Carter President Scott Taylor, right, interviews Mayor Reed during the 2012 Carter Breakfast.)

The question came during the Carter Breakfast at the Atlanta History Center. One of the nation’s leading investment, development and advisory firms, Carter reintroduced the breakfast event this year to introduce its new brand and "Built on Bold" tagline. (Carter is a Wilbert News Strategies client.)

Reed acknowledged he's heard the rumors that he is considering taking on U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambless or a position in the Obama administration and heading to Washington before his second would expire. But that won't happen, the popular mayor told the crowd.

“He’s been pretty clear on that,” Sonji Jacobs, who heads communications for the mayor, told The Saporta Report today. “He is running for re-election, and he wants to be mayor for second term.”

"Yes" Vote on Amendment 2 Would Save Georgians $66 Million Over 10 Years

A Guest Post By Brad Alexander, Senior Vice President, McGuire Woods Consulting

ATLANTA (Nov. 1, 2012) - The argument has been made numerous times that if government were run more like a business, taxpayers would benefit, as tax dollars would be spent more efficiently.  This election, we have the opportunity to make that happen and hopefully, we will. 

Amidst Hurricane Sandy and the presidential race at the top of Tuesday's General Election ballot, it is disappointing that more Georgians have not heard about Amendment 2, which will allow the state to enter into multiyear leases. 

Those of us who work in the real estate industry tend to shake our heads in wonder that the state of Georgia would not enter into multiyear leases for the office space leased to house hundreds of government workers.  The reason is because of an antiquated law that forbids the state from signing anything beyond a single-year lease.

So what does this mean?  It means taxpayers pay much higher rates than other “market” renters.  It means landlords are less likely to make needed improvements for 365 day leases.  It means that Georgia taxpayers are spending more than necessary foroffice space each and every year.

If Amendment 2 passes, the State Properties Commissionestimates taxpayers will save $66 million over 10 years, with potential ofmore future savings.

The average amount of time the state stays in leased office space is 10.7 years.  If voters approve this amendment, it will not extend occupancy.  Instead, it will lower the amount paid for currently leased space.  Essentially, we’ll be paying less to have the exact same need met.

In order to make sure there is real accountability, multiple oversight mechanisms are in place that are far greater than anything a private sector business would go through before signing a lease.This will allow the taxpayer to reap the benefit of savings without any meaningful risk of abuse.

Multiyear leases have already worked in other states.  Sadly, Georgia is one of only two states with an AAA bond rating that require single-year leases.  

I plan to vote yes for Amendment 2 because it is one of the most common sense changes to make government run a bit more like a businessthat I’ve come across in a long time.  Republican and Democrat state leaders agree, which is why this bill passed with near unanimous support in the General Assembly.  Please join me in voting yes for Amendment 2 and together, let’s save taxpayers dollars in a way that makes sense.