News REIN leases 6,000 SF at The Central in downtown Chapel Hill

Sep 19, 2018
REIN leases 6,000 SF at The Central in downtown Chapel Hill

REIN, an insurance technology company, recently moved in to their new office space; half of the top floor at The Central, previously known as 137 East Franklin, in downtown Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Trinity Partners’ Esther Austin and Alex Dunn represented the landlords, ATCO and Zapolski Real Estate, and Jodi Tata of Morris Commercial represented REIN in the transaction. Trinity Partners’ Project Management team managed the tenant upfit.

“We are thrilled to welcome REIN as the inaugural tenant of the newly rebranded and revitalized Central redevelopment project in downtown Chapel Hill,” Trinity Partners office leasing broker Alex Dunn said. “REIN’s commitment to The Central is proof that the building is a destination for innovative, forward-thinking companies that want to tap into the resources and tenant experience that downtown Chapel Hill offers.”

The Central is delivering a new, modern, technology-oriented workspace to REIN with an open floor concept that encourages employee collaboration. Additionally, The Central will provide common area amenities that will drive interaction among tenants as well as the surrounding community.

“Chapel Hill is pleased to welcome REIN to Chapel Hill and downtown! As Mayor I am excited that they have chosen to locate in The Central where they will join the growing number of startups and new growth companies who are calling our downtown home. We look forward to working closely with them,” said Mayor Pam Hemminger.

“We wanted to provide our staff with a spacious, cutting-edge workspace that would foster brainstorming and teamwork, and that’s what we’ve found on the top floor of The Central,” noted REIN VP of Administration, Rhonda Rodenbaugh.

With direct access to two of the most recognized and well-known streets in Chapel Hill, Franklin and Rosemary, The Central is a point of convergence between the public University and private corporations that call the building home. The property’s prominent location in the heart of downtown Chapel Hill gives tenants walkable access to popular local amenities, from casual and hip new eateries to classic fine dining and retail, that serve as a magnet for tenants and their employees who want to be in the heart of downtown. The building is connected by the recently renovated Porthole Alley, with the University of North Carolina’s Chapel Hill campus sitting at the front door steps of The Central’s newly renovated façade.

“Our location is the link between the heart of the Town at East Rosemary and East Franklin Street to the main pedestrian artery into the University campus,” said Todd Zapolski, Principal of Zapolski Real Estate. “We acquired the landmark site to update the property and position it to be an economic driver for the future of the downtown area of Chapel Hill, and know that REIN will be a catalyst in furthering our efforts. We look forward to making more exciting announcements soon,” said Zapolski.

Along with The Central’s rebranding and major renovations, the property is also now under new management by Trinity Partners’ Property Management team. An additional +/- 90,000 square feet is available for lease at The Central with the ability to accommodate both large and modest-sized office users, including full-floor and multi-floor opportunities. The Central is also seeking tenant-focused retailers to provide on-site amenities to their office tenants and serve the greater Chapel Hill community.