Hartford, Harris Renew at 2 N. LaSalle St.

CHICAGO-Hartford Fire Insurance and Harris Associates have renewed leases for more than 50,000 sf each at Trizec Properties, Inc.’s 2 N. LaSalle St., which is 97% leased in a submarket where overall vacancy has risen to 17.1%. Meanwhile, the local REIT also has struck renewals with three retail tenants–Syd Jerome, Picture Us Framing, Stevens Maloney and Metromart Newsstand.

Hartford Fire Insurance, a tenant since 2000, renewed a 54,191-sf lease at the 26-story, 692,000-sf building at LaSalle and Madison streets. Investment management firm Harris Associates, a 10-year tenant, renewed a 52,703-sf deal.

Stephen Budorick, executive vice president in charge of Trizec Properties’ Central US operations, credits law firm Neal, Gerber & Eisenberg’s 150,000-sf renewal at the building last year for sparking leasing momentum. “Even in a challenging local leasing market, Two North LaSalle continues to successfully retain its outstanding roster of tenants – both office and retail,” Budorick says.

Occupancy at 2 N. LaSalle St. and Trizec Properties’ three West Loop buildings stands at 95%, according to the REIT’s most recent earnings report. While 120 S. Riverside Plaza is 99% leased, 10 S. Riverside Plaza has an 11% vacancy rate. Meanwhile, occupancy at 550 W. Washington Blvd. is 95.7%.

Vice president of leasing Nancy Fendley and leasing associate Nikki Krohn handled negotiations for Trizec Properties. Dan Maslauski, Jim Kerrigan and Rob Rowe of The Staubach Co. represented Hartford Fire Insurance while Renee Betzelos and Kurt Walsh of ProTen Realty represented Harris Associates.

Jacque Ducharme and Josh Gorin of Julien J. Studley, Inc. represented Syd Jerome in its renewal.