Commercial broker Jones Lang LaSalle growing in Richmond area

Jones Lang LaSalle is expanding its commercial brokerage services in the Richmond region.

The Chicago-based firm, which started operations locally in July, has hired 13 more people to its local team -- all formerly with GVA Advantis.

Jones Lang LaSalle was able to grow rapidly here because it took advantage of the closing of the local office of GVA Advantis, one of the largest commercial real estate companies in the Richmond area. GVA Advantis still has offices elsewhere in the country that remain open.

The 13 new brokers and property managers join Charlie Polk, who started working for Jones Lang LaSalle in July as managing director for its Richmond region. Polk had been GVA Advantis' top regional producer.

"When this opportunity came along, it was great timing for us," said David McGarry, Jones Lang LaSalle's mid-Atlantic director.

Opening an office in the Richmond area has been part of the company's strategic plan for some time, McGarry said. "It has been a goal of ours to grow in Richmond," he said. "We know that Richmond has a significant market in the office and industrial areas."

The firm's mid-Atlantic operation has 750 employees and manages more than 24 million square feet of property.

Jones Lang LaSalle is looking at the leasing and property-management portfolio of the former GVA Advantis local office and hopes to handle most of those services, McGarry said.

"We're working with Charlie [Polk] and his team to determine which properties," he said. "We're looking at the entire portfolio."

A significant number of signs now bearing the GVA Advantis logo and contact information should change to Jones Lang LaSalle's information starting next month, he said. The company has contacted a sign company to help with the process.

Jones Lang LaSalle plans to expand its market presence in the Richmond area -- and to Hampton Roads -- by eventually adding more leasing, sales and investment sales brokers and property managers.

Contact Gregory J. Gilligan at (804) 649-6379 or .