Challenges:
A few years back, a developer I work closely with approached me about a potential office park in Prairieville that had never quite gotten off the ground. The site had one medical office up front, but the rest of the park was stalled — no buildings, no traction. Like many would-be projects, the previous owner had taken a “wait for tenants” approach. But tenants need to see something before they commit. We needed to flip the strategy from passive to proactive.
Actions:
After modeling out the investment potential and weighing the risk, the developer moved forward with building a speculative office building. That gamble paid off: my team leased the entire building to the Baton Rouge Clinic. From there, things picked up. The next opportunity came by way of Atlas Dermatology, a regional medical group with a presence in this market. What began as a typical build-to-suit lease evolved into something bigger. After evaluating long-term plans, the doctor decided to own the real estate — not just lease it. That meant collaborating on everything from combining two pads into one larger site, to customizing the layout of a brand-new 7,767 SF medical office building tailored for his operations.
Results:
The Prairieville Office Plaza gained another premier medical tenant, and the developer successfully executed a custom-designed, ground-up project that led to a sale. Even without the doctor’s prior building selling as expected, the deal still worked — and worked well — thanks to clear communication, creative structuring, and the trust we’ve built over the years. The park now has momentum, visibility, and a growing reputation as the place to be for medical professionals.
Testimonial
"Every deal has its own set of twists and turns, but Justin’s the guy I trust to work through all of it. From concept to closing, he’s in it with me — running the numbers, bringing the right people to the table, and making the whole thing work. We’ve built a strong partnership, and this deal is proof of what that can produce."
- Philip Haddad