Curie Drive
225 Curie Drive, Alpharetta, GA 30005
The Challenge
A long-time partner wanted to invest in real estate, and they asked EpiCity to find an appropriate property. The desirable location, just east of Georgia 400 at the McFarland exit, was intriguing. Although there was not much at the interchange at that time, there was a lot of flex development happening on the east side of 400, presenting opportunities for flex space solutions. Built in 1994, the flex office property had immediate and obvious challenges, including low rents, terrible landscaping, a parking lot that needed to be sealed and striped, and the overall property needed much tender loving care.
Despite the apparent challenges, the property was situated in a proven market for office flex space. Although smaller than many others in the area, 225 Curie Drive made up for its size with curb appeal, featuring a handsome brick exterior, a stylish glass façade, and a functional truck court. It was fully occupied at the time of purchase in December 2007, but up to 50 percent of the leases were expiring soon.
After the purchase, larger problems were discovered. The 30,000-square-foot property was predominantly occupied by a single tenant, who leased one-third of the building. While this arrangement provided stability, it did not fit market demand, as surrounding properties were larger and better suited for tenants seeking bigger spaces. As the economy tightened, the demand shifted toward smaller office spaces, making attracting new tenants without expensive renovations challenging.
It would be expensive to divide the spaces, which would also include adding more restrooms. Plus, there was the elephant in the room – or rather in the parking lot. The cell tower behind the building occupied space right where more dock doors would have been beneficial. The cell tower’s large footprint and its long-term, low-rent lease further complicated the property’s potential.
The Solution
EpiCity demonstrated expertise in commercial property management by reconfiguring the spaces and securing suitable tenants at competitive rates, all while creating the spaces the market demanded. Early on, EpiCity incubated a company that mainly needed warehouse space, starting with 2,500 SF and expanding to 10,000 SF. Following their departure, EpiCity continued modifying bays to make the property appealing for the now boutique tenants in the changing market.
To fill the newly available flex spaces, EpiCity provided significant marketing efforts. These efforts were boosted by a beautification blitz. EpiCity used its industry connections to renovate the interior, improve the landscaping, and overhaul the parking lot. The improvements increased foot traffic for the property, which is situated in an affluent submarket, attracting entrepreneurs in need of flex space solutions.
The area north of town up to 400 continued to grow. Avalon, which had a lot of starts and stops, Alpharetta City Center, and Halycon are all nearby and offer dining, shopping, apartments, entertainment, and a hotel.
When the cell tower lease came up for renewal, EpiCity negotiated with the tenant to increase the rent, ensuring it reflected a fair market rate for everyone involved.
The Results
The area is booming, and so is the property, boasting full occupancy and offering flex space solutions for tenants between 470+ SF to 6,000 SF, most of which are in the 3,000 SF range. Enhanced with fresh landscaping and purpose-built amenities, the property at Curie Drive has become a desirable location for the evolving needs of businesses in the Atlanta area.
EpiCity curated a healthy, diverse, and wonderful mix of tenants, from sandwich shops to circus arts and everything in between!
For more information on the office park, including property details and availability of other EpiCity properties, visit https://curiedrive.com/.
Akrosphere Aerial & Circus Arts Finds a Flex Space Solution with EpiCity
As one of the more diverse tenants at 225 Curie Drive, Akrosphere Aerial & Circus Arts had a lot of unique and quite specific needs. “We needed EpiCity’s team to move the overhead lighting over and up out of the way of the steel truss beams because we needed to use our rigging system to hang from the beams for some of our activities,” said Jen MacQueen, coach and owner of Akrosphere.
Another request EpiCity fulfilled was to create a viewing window from the lobby to the class and performance area, allowing parents to watch their kids practice and perform. The client also wanted to retain the concrete block wall, as it contributed to the ambiance and offered flexibility for future equipment use. Function was the top priority, and this previous warehouse and office space primarily needed reworking to improve flow and enhance daily operations for their business.
EpiCity sprang into action, fulfilling the requests and providing the flex space solutions necessary to bring the client’s vision to life.
“We also wanted a soaring sky-blue ceiling color, some walls knocked down for a more open space, and needed additional fixtures in the bathrooms to accommodate our students,” MacQueen said.
“The team was able to create what I had imagined and more, and it looks fantastic.”