Date: Fri 18-Jul-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: BILLB

Quick Words:

Simm-Lane-Goldblum-Cornerstone

Full Text:

`Flex Space' Attracts Business Owners Who Want To Work Close To Home

BY BILL BRASSARD, JR

David Goldblum, who owns the Simm Lane Business Park with his father, Murray,

said that many people who inquire about renting space live in Newtown and

surrounding towns. And they all have the same thing in mind. "They want to

work closer to home," said Mr Goldblum.

That is the case for Gordon McNeil of Cornerstone Academy Printing (see

separate story) and several other tenants already at the business park.

"It seems like we've touched on something," said Mr Goldblum.

The Goldblums purchased the former Dual-Lite building from Insilco back in

January. They formed a company called Simm Lane LLC that offers rental space

of various sizes. Cornerstone Academy Printing occupies one of the smaller

units at 800 square feet, while another tenant, Lights, Camera, Interaction!

Inc, has more than 10,000 square feet.

"We call it flex space," said Mr Goldblum.

The building is about 85,000 square feet in size and includes everything from

offices to warehouse space, complete with loading docks. "We still have some

large spaces available," said Mr Goldblum, adding, "We offer below-market

rents."

The business park is about one-third rented, a figure Mr Goldblum is happy

with. "We expected it would take two years to fill," he said.

It takes a lot of work to convert a single-tenant building into one usable by

multiple tenants, said Mr Goldblum. He added that Newtown's Economic

Development Commission and Liz Stocker, the town's Community Development

Director, have been "very supportive."

Among the approximately ten occupants of the business park are Kit Master, a

toy puzzle importer; the Betlan Corp, which manufactures metal ductwork; and

the Auros Paper & Supply Company. Roy Scheunemann, of Auros, who moved his

family to Newtown about three years ago, brought his business to Simm Lane on

July 1. "I live three miles away, it's great," said Mr Scheunemann, whose firm

deals in specialty papers for designers, engineers, and architects.

Mr Goldblum and his father have successful flex-space properties in Oxford,

Stamford, and Wallingford. "My father has been doing this for about 40 years,

so it's not really something new," said Mr Goldblum. "The recent economy

presented an opportunity to acquire buildings like this one."

The Goldblums operate out of offices in New Haven and Stamford.