Eastman Office Center, 651 W. Mount Pleasant Ave., Livingston, NJ Eastman Office Center, 651 W. Mount Pleasant Ave., Livingston, NJ

LIVINGSTON, NJ—Eastman Cos. says it signed nearly 344,000 square feet of new leases and renewals during the first half of 2016. The company also introduced its PreBuilt by Eastman small office space program and continues making substantial investments throughout its property portfolio.

“2015 was a very successful year for Eastman Cos. and that momentum has continued in 2016, both in terms of executing lease transactions and enhancing our real estate assets to accommodate existing and future tenants,” says Michael Schofel, Eastman’s co-managing partner.

Significant office and retail transactions year-to-date include new leases, renewals and expansions by existing tenants. Highlights include:

  • Verizon renewed and expanded to approximately 200,000 square feet at Eisenhower Corporate Campus. Energy Technology Savings Inc. also leased 6,000 square feet.
  • At Eastman Office Center, law firm Morgan Melhuish Abrutyn, a tenant for over 30 years, renewed and expanded to 18,600 square feet.
  • BenefitMall, a payroll processing and tax compliance firm, renewed and expanded to 10,500 square feet at Eisenhower Plaza. Accounting/consulting firm Crowe Horwath also renewed its 10,700-square-foot lease.
  • At Regent Park, GenPsych, a provider of outpatient psychiatric and substance abuse services, renewed and expanded to 16,200 square feet.
  • As part of the PreBuilt by Eastman program, AveNew Funding leased 825 square feet at 23 Vreeland.
  • Key Food Marketplace supermarket leased approximately 49,200 square feet at Lyons Plaza in Irvington. At The Shoppes at the Livingston Circle, fast-casual restaurant McAlister’s Deli leased 3,000 square feet.

Eastman’s director of leasing, Eric J. Maurer, worked in partnership with a number of brokerage firms to execute these transactions. They include The Garibaldi Group, Jones Lang LaSalle, Perlmutter Properties, CBRE/FAMECO, Cushman & Wakefield, Ripco Real Estate, Space Realty Services, and Mohr Partners.

Responding to demand among professionals, solo practitioners and start-ups in search of turnkey, business-ready office space, Eastman Companies launched PreBuilt by Eastman. PreBuilt spaces range in size from 500 to 6,000 square feet, and many units are fully built out and furnished.

“A streamlined, more flexible lease structure allows tenants to move in and start working in a matter of days,” says Schofel. “PreBuilt tenants benefit from a range of amenities and in-house services, as well as from conducting business in an upscale, professional environment.” The program is available throughout Eastman Companies’ office portfolio in Essex, Morris and Bergen Counties.

Eastman also is expanding and upgrading on-site amenities in its office properties. The new Amenity Court at Eisenhower Plaza includes “354fit”, a new state-of-the-art fitness center, as well as Living Fitness, which offers one-on-one personal training and Pilates. In addition, the building’s conference center and café are currently undergoing renovations.

Eastman’s Eisenhower Corporate Campus gained a new fitness amenity with the addition of Hills Fit, an indoor cycling studio that is open to the community. Tenants also have access to an on-site fitness center, one-on-one personal training at It’s Beyond Fitness and appointment-only massage services from New Jersey Massage.

Other portfolio enhancements include construction of a new conference facility and full service café at Eastman Office Center, the firm’s headquarters, as well as upgrades to the conference room and café at 70 South Orange Avenue. All properties are located in Livingston.

Eastman Companies’ retail properties continue to evolve. The 93,000-square-foot Shoppes at the Livingston Circle – anchored by The Fresh Market supermarket – welcomed McAlister’s Deli to its tenant roster in April, marking the fast-casual restaurant chain’s first New Jersey location. The center, located at the intersection of Route 10 and Eisenhower Parkway in Livingston, was rebranded last year. National home furnishings chain Bassett Furniture also celebrated its grand opening this spring at the nearby Eastman-managed shopping center adjacent to the Route 10 Circle.