By: Deborah Johnson Wood
Financial advisor Shannan Denison of Ameriprise Financial needed more space for her growing business. Her new office in the Waters Building provides the needed space, and it was ready to move into after just a coat of paint, some new cabinetry, and new signage. Altogether the relocation cost less than $2,000.
Denison's former office was a 300-square-foot room in Heritage Hill. Her new space is 50 square feet larger with two separate rooms—and that means space for an assistant.
"I didn't want a six-month or year lease, I wanted a longer term," Denison says. "I ended up with a three-year lease, and I was able negotiate on price, too."
She declines to say what she pays per square foot, but because her lease includes a cleaning service she no longer has to retain one. That savings
helps make her overall monthly costs slightly lower than before.
One of Denison's main concerns was client parking.
"During the day there's always a meter available on Ottawa, Pearl, or Lyon," Denison says. "I got a prepaid in-car meter, and I meet clients at their car and set up the meter in their car. It's a win/win—a little customer service in meeting them down there, and the meters are the least expensive parking."
Denison offers a lunch and learn program on investing, and says that being downtown will make the program easier.
"There are so many restaurant choices, and you can tap into the employee base downtown or go to their offices and have the lunch and learn there."
Amber Z. Kilpatrick of Grubb & Ellis Paramount Commerce brokered the transaction.
Source: Shannan Denison, Ameriprise Financial; Amber Z. Kilpatrick, Grubb & Ellis Paramount Commerce; Chris Beckering, Grubb & Ellis Paramount Commerce
Deborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth. She can be contacted at [email protected].
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