Forte Represents Bay West in Leasing Two Operational Facilities in St. Paul

Forte Real Estate Partners has successfully represented Bay West, one of the Twin City’s oldest and best environmental services companies, in securing leases for two strategically located facilities in St. Paul.

The leases secured a 13,000-square-foot office space and a separate 25,000-square-foot industrial warehouse, giving Bay West centrally located, highly functional facilities essential to their operations. The company wanted to replace its obsolete office and remotely located warehouse with sites offering better access to the interstate system, a key requirement for meeting its one-hour emergency response commitment for environmental clean-up services. The new facilities, located within five miles of each other, also allow employees to easily commute between them.

The Forte Team of Ericka Miller, CCIM-vice president, Advisory, Wally Tufvander, vice president-Project Management and John Young, vice president-Advisory worked for two years to secure the ideal properties, a timeframe that allowed for thorough market search, construction budgeting, and strategic lease negotiations.

The new office space, secured at a favorable lease rate due to current market vacancy levels, underwent a complete renovation­—including new offices, paint, carpet, and lighting—to create a modern workspace. In contrast, the industrial space was move-in ready with no upgrades required.

Ericka Miller, vice president-Advisory, added, “We are thrilled to have helped Bay West secure the real estate solutions needed to continue their vital mission. Their purpose—‘to solve our clients’ environmental challenges to make the world a better place today and tomorrow’—inspires us, and we’re proud to play a role in supporting the ‘tomorrow’ and the ‘better place’ they are working to create.”

The office renovation was managed by Wally Tufvander.  According to Tufvander, “This was an excellent time to bid out and complete construction. Many general contractors are looking for projects to take on before the summer construction season begins, which gave Bay West the best possible construction experience.”

“Securing the right industrial space was particularly challenging due to high demand and Bay West’s need for outdoor vehicle parking,” said Young. “Although other tenants were often ready to move faster, our extended lead time allowed us to navigate a competitive market and ultimately secure the option that best met Bay West’s operational needs.”

About Bay West:
Bay West is a 50-year-old environmental services company dedicated to solving complex environmental challenges. Specializing in emergency clean-up services and sustainable solutions, Bay West is committed to making the world a better place through expertise and rapid response.