Wentworth Park the future for Small Businesses

By Janet Cyr

For the Journal Inquirer

Commercial condominiums — a new concept that allows small-business owners to buy office space and invest in their communities, has been introduced in South Windsor.

Next month, Generation2inc., a Connecticut-based construction and development company, will begin the construction of 12 two-story office condominiums on a three-acre parcel at 225 Oakland Road called Wentworth Park. According to the plan design, the complex will contain four buildings with three units in each building. The blend of classic architectural elements in a convenient urban setting will provide a residential-like retreat to your workday.

During a town meeting last fall, Craig Stevenson, economic development consultant, said Wentworth Park is a good project because there is a shortage of professional office space in South Windsor. And the development will satisfy the need and attract smaller firms.

That includes, lawyers, accountants, architects, entrepreneurs, and small professional companies. Because of the town’s parking requirements, condos cannot be sold to medical businesses, such as doctors, chiropractors, and dentists.

Commercial condos function much like residential condos where buyers purchase individual units. Wentworth Park has an association where each owner is a director on the board. The association manages the insurance for the site and a management company maintains the grounds and buildings, landscaping, etc. The owner is responsible for the interior of the building only.

Jeffrey Sawyer, founder and president of Generation2inc., says, "By owning a business condo, it will save the business owner money and it allows for more flexibility. There are so many benefits to owning verses leasing."

Some of the benefits of ownership include:

In the Wentworth Park development, business owners have the option to buy a 2,700-square-foot, two-story unit priced in the high $300,000s or a 1,350-square-foot unit on the first or second floor. Prices for the single-story unit start in the low $200,000s. Sawyer says you could purchase a 2,700-square-foot unit for your company and sublease half of the unit. Now you have a lease to help pay for your space.

In addition to the financial benefits of owning your office space, there are other advantages, such as professionally designed and decorated interiors, beautifully landscaped exteriors, convenient parking at your doorstep, and the latest technology in wiring to meet your business needs.

"A lot of thought went into the look and layout of the site," says Sawyer. Farm Brook runs along the perimeter of the property, which helps to create an office-park feel. A stone bridge borders the property that features a waterfall and pond. The bridge will be stained to complement the red rock below.

Generation2inc. has combined the Old New England Row House architectural style and modern building construction to create a unique classic looking office building. The exterior of the office condo will include red brick, cedar shingles, vinyl siding, and full glass front doors with signs for each business. The site will also be professionally landscaped with a boulevard of trees and will have an illuminated entrance monument identifying the office park and names of each business.

For the interior, Generation2inc. has simplified the building process by offering several layouts developed for the needs of most small business owners with optimum efficiency for each space. The owner can custom-design the interior or buy a pre-designed condo. Businesses have a choice of flooring; custom cabinets, trim packages with solid wood doors, kitchen and bathroom fixtures, separately zoned heating and cooling for each level, ceiling finish, and security system. Furthermore, to make it easier for the buyer, Generation2inc. will have material samples, such as carpets, tile, etc. at the site.

One reason the Oakland Road site was chosen for the project was because of its busy location. Thirteen-thousand vehicles will pass the office park daily and is minutes from Interstate 84, restaurants, the Buckland Hills Mall, and the Evergreen Walk shopping center.

"Being on a busy road is great exposure for small businesses. People drive by and see company names," Sawyer says.

Sawyer, who has more than 20 years of experience in the construction industry, is a graduate of Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston and holds a bachelor of science degree in architecture. After graduating college, he moved to Atlanta, Ga. where he worked 10 years as land development manager with Venture Homes Inc., a large firm which built 500 homes a year. While there, he developed and built Venture Homes’ corporate headquarters on an 11-acre site with a 25,000 square foot brick and stone building. In addition, he was the architectural department head for two Atlanta-based homebuilders, which are among the top ten builders in the Atlanta market. Most of his commercial experience comes from working with a commercial firm that handled tenant build-outs. The firm’s clients included Dress Barn, Men’s Big & Tall, and Commercial Credit.

In 2002 after leaving Venture Homes, Sawyer founded Generation2inc. At that time, he realized commercial office condos were successful in other parts of the country. Sawyer says, since small business drives the economy and because the idea hadn’t caught on in Connecticut, he decided to move back home and startup the company with his business partner.

Sawyer met his business partner in his hometown of Rockville at age 11 during little league baseball games. Sawyer made a diving catch off his partner and the next year his partner hit a home run off Sawyer.

Currently, Sawyer is president of construction and development and his partner is president of business development and marketing for Generation2inc. His partner is a graduate of Central Connecticut State University and holds an executive MBA from Harvard University.

Since Sawyer is from this area, he plans to employ local construction companies as sub-contractors to develop the site.

Generation2inc.’s major concern is with customer service— their quality is the next step up, hence the phrase, "The Next Generation of Builders."

Regarding quality, Generation2inc. offers buyers a quality walk and closing procedure. This system for closing is called, " Zero Defect Closing." This means Gneration2 Inc. will not close on the property until you are completely satisfied. They do not close with any outstanding punch lists. In other words, when you close there is not a list of items that need to be fixed. When you close, you get the complete package.

When you own your office space, you alleviate the worry of rent increases, lease terminations, and relocating.

Whether you are outgrowing your current space, in need of an updated look, or interested in the financial benefits of owning your own office, Generation2inc. welcomes the opportunity to meet with you and assess your business needs.

For more information on Generation2inc. visit their Web site at www.generation2.com or call 860.573.3634