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First Development Corporation ("FDC") has been
in business since 1978 and is primarily a developer of specialty and
convenience shopping centers in the Chicagoland area. FDC develops
properties primarily for the personal portfolios of its principals
and is compensated on a fee basis. FDC has developed a number of new
strip shopping centers anchored by White Hen Pantry, the premier
Chicago area convenience grocery store that is one of the largest
convenience store chains in Chicagoland. FDC has also re-developed
in-city street-front retail strips. We also act as a land assembler
and re-developer. By example, we purchase key parcels, then assemble
adjacent properties to create larger development opportunities, and
assist with whatever municipal approvals and/or re-zoning is
required for the parcels. Recent efforts resulted in development of
new freestanding Target and Walgreens stores in the Chicago suburbs
of Villa Park and Hillside. Our company is also in the process of
subdividing and completing site improvements for a four-acre
commercial parcel fronting on a new exit ramp for the Tri-State
Tollway (I-294) in the Chicago suburb of Alsip, Illinois. One of the
parcels will be developed with a new motel facility and another with
a full service sitdown restaurant that FDC will be developing on a
build-to-suit basis. FDC is also embarking upon its first
residential development. Semi-custom single family homes are planned
for a parcel which FDC has had in inventory and which is now ripe
for such development. FDC has also purchased and successfully
cleaned-up several former gas station sites, which have been
developed into convenience retail centers.
Walter Daniels is president of FDC and is also the owner
of Walter Daniels Construction Company, Inc., a commercial general
contractor for over 35 years in the Chicagoland area, who has built
or remodeled all FDC shopping centers, and whose primary business is
building restaurants for clients such as McDonald's, Chi-Chi's, Bob
Evans, Wendy's, Denny's, Big Apple Bagels, Applebee's, Caribou
Coffee, Popeye's Chicken and Burger King, as well as various on
going municipal construction for the City of Chicago at O'Hare
Airport, both restaurant and non-restaurant, as well as White Hen
Pantry Plazas, and facilities for NBD Bank, Little City Foundation
and numerous municipal facilities. He is a member of the Northwest
Builder's Association.
James V. Persino is vice president of FDC and an Illinois
licensed real estate broker who owns Jasper Realty Corporation.
Since 1971, he has been actively involved in property management,
lease negotiations, brokerage and development. He has completed
millions of dollars in transactions with such clients as Payless
ShoeSource, Radio Shack Corporation, Bedding Experts, New York Life
Insurance Company, Moore Business Forms, General American Life
Insurance Company, White Hen Pantry, Baskin-Robbins, Caribou Coffee,
FlatTop Grill, Ultimate Exposure and Einstein's Noah Bagels. He is
also past president and founding member of the Chicagoland Association of
Shopping Center Owners (CASCO), which represents many Chicago
area strip shopping center owners. He is past president of the Building
Owners and Manager's Association (BOMA) of Suburban Chicago and
holds the Real Property Administrator (RPA) designation from BOMI. Mr. Persino
is also a member of the International
Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), National Association of Realtors
(NAR) and Northern Illinois
Commercial Association of Realtors (NICAR) and is chairman of
the Economic Development Commission of the Village of Lincolnwood, a
suburb north of Chicago.
Angela Ortega has been with the company since 1986 and is
our property manager and administrative assistant. She handles all
accounts payable/receivable, monthly and annual property reports,
tenant and lender relations, available properties information
including maintaining multiple listing updates, in addition to
clerical duties. Her duties also include occasional property
showings to prospective tenants and periodic property inspections.
Angela oversees our custodians' duties to be sure all maintenance
work is performed to our high standards and that of our fine
tenants. Ms. Ortega is our liaison with our property maintenance
contractors such as snow plowers, roofers, electricians, plumbers,
HVAC companies and suppliers. She also interacts with our insurance
agent, attorneys, accountants, environmental consultants,
architects, engineers and other professionals.
Walter Kramer is our project administrator and
newest staff member. He is a graduate of the University of
Denver and holds a B.S. degree in Business Administration with a
major in Real Estate Construction Management. He is currently
handling our new home residential division where he is overseeing
completion of all site improvements on an 11-lot subdivision which
will result in buildable lots being available in late 2005 or early
2006. He is also researching possible retail development sites
and retail buildings requiring rehab for us to purchase and
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