JWA Companies

BIRMINGHAM, AL | JAN 18, 2012–RockBridge announced a preferred equity investment to recapitalize and reposition the 329-room, full-service Wynfrey Hotel in Birmingham, AL (the “Wynfrey” or the “Hotel”). The Hotel will undergo a comprehensive multi-million dollar renovation, after which it will be reflagged as The Hyatt Regency Birmingham – The Wynfrey Hotel. The developer of the Hotel and the adjoining Riverchase Galleria and Galleria Tower, Jim Wilson & Associates, LLC, retains an ownership interest in the project. Davidson Hotels & Resorts has managed the landmark property since 2009 and facilitated the transaction and branding on behalf of ownership. James T. Merkel, President and CEO of RockBridge, made the announcement.

HUNTSVILLE, AL | MAR 01, 2011–Ground was broken in October on the largest, single real estate development in the country, set to transform Hunstville over the next two decades into an epicenter of military research, development and procurement. Redstone Gateway, the $1 billion development of a 486-parcel adjacent to Huntsville’s Redstone Arsenal, will offer 4.6 million square feet of office space, two hotels, limited, service-based retail operations and an academic campus upon completion. The office park, representing a joint venture between Columbia, Md.-based Corporate Office Properties Trust and Montgomery-based Jim Wilson & Associates, LLC, is designed to supplement expansions related to the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure order.

HUNTSVILLE, AL | JAN 31, 2011–According to the Best of Alabama Business 2010 in the January 2011 issue of Business Alabama magazine, Redstone Gateway was named the largest commercial development. Recently, Huntsville hosted a ground breaking for Redstone Gateway, an Army Enhanced Use Lease (EUL) project, which will be developed and managed by L.W. Redstone. Redstone Gateway, a $1 billion development of a 486-parcel adjacent to Huntsville’s Redstone Arsenal, will offer 4.6 million square feet of office space, two hotels, limited service-based retail operations and an academic campus upon completion. The office park was designed to supplement expansions related to the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure order, and it represents a joint venture between Columbia, Md.-based Corporate Office Properties Trust and Montgomery-based Jim Wilson & Associates, LLC. Completion of the fist building should come in the fourth quarter of 2011. COPT, as a long-term owner/operator, will develop, lease and manage space with its own local professional staff.

HUNTSVILLE, AL | AUG 23, 2010–Military officers joined area civic, business, and political leaders Monday morning for the official groundbreaking for the new Redstone Gateway project. Over the next few years it is projected the facility, to be built on hundreds of currently unoccupied acres around Gate 9 at Redstone Arsenal, will include dozens of buildings housing up to 15,000 workers. Redstone Gateway’s 4.4 million square feet of office space is crucial to accommodating missions and related federal contractors moving to Redstone Arsenal and Huntsville as a result of recommendations made by the BRAC Commission.

MONTGOMERY, AL | JUNE 8, 2010–Jim Wilson & Associates, LLC (JWA) is pleased to announce that it has signed a lease with Earth Fare, the healthy supermarket, for a new store location in Montgomery, Alabama at EastChase, the ALFA Properties / JWA 330 acre mixed use development at Taylor Road and Interstate 85.

MONTGOMERY, AL | APR 14, 2010–New Park, the city’s newest neighborhood in East Montgomery off Ray Thorington Road, is pleased to announce that Alabama Power is partnering with Hugh Cole Builder, Inc., in constructing the City’s first ENERGY STAR home in New Park, which will feature high energy efficient heat pumps and a Marathon electric water heater. Other energy efficient features are increased wall, ceiling and attic insulation and proper sealing of all exterior penetrations such as plumbing and electrical work. As well as any plumbing and electrical work that needs to be completed to the exterior of the homes, aspects like the windows and doors may also need to be fitted.

MONTGOMERY, AL | MAR 10, 2010–The head of one of Montgomery’s largest real estate development firms said the financial crisis means it will be far more difficult for such companies to construct huge projects. Jim Wilson III, CEO of Jim Wilson & Associates, was named the Auburn Montgomery Outstanding Business Leader of the Year on Tuesday. The company that built such Montgomery landmarks as EastChase and Wynlakes could well be reduced to the role of real estate agent if current trends continue, he said. “We will be nothing but a broker,” he said. “The risk profile will come off of us. “Today, I can’t sell the dream of an EastChase being built.”

MONTGOMERY, AL | MAR 23, 2010–Jim Wilson & Associates (JWA) is pleased to announce the formation of a joint venture with Corporate Office Properties Trust (COPT) for the development of Redstone Gateway, a 468 acre land parcel adjacent to Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama. To be developed as a business park, this site will be home to over 4.6 million square feet of office, retail and hotel space upon completion. With land owned by the U.S. Government and leased to the joint venture pursuant to a long term ground lease through the government’s Enhanced Use Lease (EUL) program, the business park is planned to be developed in three phases and will feature three to six story office buildings containing 80,000 to 165,000 square feet. Meeting also a need for secured office space, over 1.2 million square feet will be within the secure area of Redstone Arsenal.

MONTGOMERY, AL | JULY 07, 2008–Elected officials, community leaders and representatives from the Montgomery Public School System joined on July 10 to celebrate the commencement of construction of the Johnnie R. Carr Middle School in east Montgomery. The new 119,000, $22 million facility will open in August of 2009 serving 800 students. Montgomery School Superintendent John Dilworth stated that it is fitting that the school will bear the name of one of the most influential civil rights icons who worked to unite our community. Located on Ray Thorington Road, the new school is adjacent to the New Park neighborhood where there will be convenient walking access via neighborhood sidewalks directly to the new school facility. For information about home sales in New Park, call 334-215-9215.

MONTGOMERY, AL | JUNE 10, 2008–Construction on the James W. Wilson, Jr. Elementary School commenced at New park on May 29, 2008. The Montgomery Public School System held a groundbreaking ceremony for Montgomery’s newest Elementary School located within a neighborhood, with over 100 people in attendance. Clay Slagle, Montgomery Public School Chief Operating Officer, reports that the $14.5 million kindergarten through sixth-grade school will be completed for occupancy in August 2009. “Six hundred boys and girls will soon have a beautiful place to learn,” Slagle said.