180,000-SF Former Furniture Store Now High-Tech Hotel

High-tech providers from Cincinnati and Denver are up and running in Dallas’ newest high-tech hotel – the refurbished Levitz Furniture Co. at 1333 N. Stemmons Freeway.

Cincinnati-based Broadwing has leased 72,000 sf of the 180,000-sf structure while Inflow Inc. of Denver has signed for 60,234 sf. Talks are under way with other high-tech providers in the recently renovated structure, owned by the Dallas-based real estate partnership of Irwin Grossman and Jerry Frank. The project, which recently delivered, is the latest in a string of conversions of former retail sites into high-tech portals in the region.

Mickey Ashmore, president and CEO of United Commercial Realty/ChainLinks, told GlobeSt.com the structure’s seven acres are at the forefront of interest for high-tech providers due to its underlying communications loops and fiber optic networks. “We’ve been fielding calls from Internet service providers, web design firms, e-commerce firms and other companies that are heavily involved in technology,” he says.

The structure, built in the 1970s, sits on acreage at the edge of Dallas’ Central Business District and is backed by a warehouse sector. It also is positioned close to major roads, leading to airports and other metroplex business hubs.

In addition to its communications capabilities, the building boasts high ceilings and large floor plans, ideally suited for companies with lots of equipment, personnel and data storage needs. But it’s been the refurbishment that has set the stage to lure high-tech providers into leasing, adding increased electrical capabilities, state-of-the-art HVAC, 24-hour security cameras and improved parking lot lighting. United Commercial Realty hold an exclusive leasing contract for the site.