Cover Story—

LFT Realty Group, Inc., “The 422 Corridor Experts”

LFT Realty Group, Inc. is a full-service, family owned and operated real estate firm serving South Eastern Pennsylvania. The principal owners, with more than 100 years combined experience in the real estate industry, had a vision to purchase and develop property in the Route 422 corridor, which has become one of the fastest areas for growth in Montgomery County. LFT Realty Group has participated in over $100 million of real estate in the Limerick/Lower Pottsgrove area alone, through both sales and development in the past five years. LFT has positioned itself as a leader in the community, through successful negotiations with both landowners and prospective tenants and with the many departments of township government.

Paul Tornetta, CEO of LFT is proud of the great success of the company in Limerick and surrounding communities. “Our expertise extends into brokerage, land development, and property management, and we are committed to meeting the needs of our clients in a profitable, professional and timely manner,” he said. With in-house expertise in construction, finance, accounting, and real estate and tax law (two of the principals are licensed PA attorneys), LFT Realty Group has tremendous resources to deliver a host of services for the client to achieve his or her goals.

With the fluctuations in the nationwide real estate market, Limerick and Lower Pottsgrove property has remained strong.  Mr. Tornetta has tremendous confidence that the retail and commercial growth in the 422 Corridor will be very consistent through this changing economy. He emphasizes to any landowner, “Our knowledge of the changing marketplace, and your needs, helps us broker your real estate investment.  The multifaceted knowledge base of our professionals enables us to help you identify any and all potential use. Your existing building or undeveloped land, whether owned or leased, will be marketed aggressively using our substantial contacts in the real estate industry.  We will give you a well-reasoned estimate on both costs and time required to relocate your business or home, and market your existing property, including taking your property through township approvals, which some property owners may find overwhelming.”

These services can also be provided to landowners or farmers who wish to maintain ownership of their properties throughout the process, for the purpose of income-producing investment. Adds Tornetta, “Increasingly, we are being approached by farmers whose children may not want to work the land, but who don’t want to sell a property that may have been in the family for generations.”

LFT was instrumental in bringing the Chelsea Premium Outlets to Limerick. Paul Tornetta had visited a Chelsea Outlet mall on a family trip to Florida, and thought that it would be a perfect fit for property that his company controlled in Limerick. It was a deal that was worked on through all phases, from initial contact with the Chelsea Group, through the final ground breaking ceremony this past autumn. LFT recently closed a sale for a landowner adjacent to the Premium Outlets and acted as sole broker in the transaction. In addition to a large contiguous parcel, LFT has successfully assembled a series of smaller properties, both residential and commercial, and has taken the land through zoning change for all commercial zoning. “The highest and best use of the property fronting 422, adjacent to the Premium Outlets, is certainly commercial zoning.” This is a vision that Mr. Tornetta shared with the Township Officials who helped facilitate the zoning change.

LFT Realty group has concentrated its efforts in the Limerick area, but also has many properties throughout Montgomery County that it is involved with.

“We currently manage over one million square feet of investment real estate with a portfolio value in excess of $150,000,000, which includes residential, retail, office and industrial,” Tornetta said. The LFT property management department is fully staffed and equipped to answer the challenges of building ownership. With master electricians and plumbers on staff, they are able to meet the most demanding business issues expeditiously without substantial building down time. “While our competition is trying to find help, our in-house staff is already fixing the problem and ensuring that all business systems operate fully and safely,” Tornetta remarked. “Routine maintenance and snow removal are also handled by our own dedicated professionals and fully owned equipment,” he adds.

Tornetta is most enthusiastic when he describes his work with land development and zoning.  In addition to the properties in Limerick Township, the LFT land development department continues to enjoy success in taking raw ground, often without optimal zoning and other constraints (such as environmental issues), and obtaining all zoning permits, and approvals to maximize profitability of the site. “We have developed many different kinds of projects, including specialized retail and entertainment uses, as well as traditional residential, office, industrial and retail.  We work aggressively to push the project through the approval process, coordinating land planning, legal and engineering to ensure that the project is approved as quickly as possible.  Our clients have benefited tremendously from the expertise we deliver” said Tornetta, beaming with pride.

Taking a plan or blueprint. and building the improvements, is the job of the LFT construction division.  Members of the construction division have built millions of square feet of commercial and residential space in the Tri-State Area. “Whether the job is a large mixed use retail power center, or paint and carpet for a tenant fit out, we can handle it all. Our in-house staff, as well as our approved list of contractors, are more than capable of handling virtually all real state construction projects,” said Tornetta.

What truly defines LFT Realty Group as a standout in the industry, is the additional areas of in-house expertise including legal, with two Pennsylvania licensed attorneys, accounting, construction management and cost estimating for projects large and small. “When you need a professional who understands ALL aspects of your real estate needs, from site selection to document preparation, to final improvements and move-in, the professionals at LFT stand ready to assist you with all the tools at our disposal,” Tornetta said.

For additional information. Please call Paul Tornetta at 610.834.3030, and visit www.LFTRealty.com.

Interchange Marketplace at Limerick

Location

Route 422 Expressway at Township Line Road (Sanatoga Interchange)

Limerick Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania

Demographic Summary

Major Metropolitan Areas

Reading:                    25 miles West

Philadelphia:                        35 miles Southeast

Radius Population:

15 mile population: 706,200

30 mile population: 4,427,500

45 mile population: 7,136,900

60 mile population: 8,767,052

100 mile population: 26,351,165

Average Household Income

30 mile average:                   $60,448

Tourism / Traffic

Philadelphia is the second largest city on the East Coast and ranks fifth in the nation, with a metropolitan population of 5.8 million.  The Pennsylvania Convention Center stands as the second largest convention center in the Northeast with 1.3 million square feet of floor space.  In 2003, Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) processed over 24 million passengers.

Area attractions in the Philadelphia area include the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Valley Forge Park, Longwood Gardens, Rodin Museum and the Philadelphia Zoo.

Limerick Township is situated along the 422 Expressway. Recent statistics indicate Limerick Township to be the fifth fastest growing community within Pennsylvania, and the second fastest growing municipality in Montgomery County.  47,390 vehicles pass the site on Route 422 each day.