Move follows acquisition of three commercial office assets within past two weeks

Chesapeake Real Estate Group, LLC (CREG), as part of its strategy to diversify into the commercial office and retail product sectors, has hired Christopher T. Murray as Vice President to oversee this new division of the company. He formerly oversaw all office and retail leasing activities, acquisition, property management and redevelopment initiatives for Towson-based Mid-Atlantic Properties in his role as Vice President. Since its founding in 2004, CREG has been involved in the development, leasing and management of large-scale warehouse and industrial projects throughout the Mid-Atlantic region, as well as smaller infill office and retail projects.

Within the past two weeks, Chesapeake Real Estate Group has acquired 1341 and 1343 Ashton Road, a two-building office complex from Corporate Office Properties Trust in Anne Arundel County and, in a joint venture partnership with Cicero Capital Partners, purchased 210 Allegheny Avenue, a five-story office building contained within the central business district of Towson in Baltimore County.

“Chris represents the ideal professional to leverage our company’s existing strong brand, momentum and platform and lead our efforts into different product types including office and retail,” explained Jim Lighthizer, Owner and Managing Partner of CREG. “He brings extensive and long-term relationships in these markets, combined with an in-depth knowledge of Baltimore County and the surrounding region and is highly respected. With his leadership, we intend to utilize the talents of our existing team and resources to pursue attractive opportunities with value-add possibilities. CREG maintains relationships with strong financial partners that will allow us to react to a wide array of available assets both for our own accounts as well as investing with our partners.”

Murray brings more than twelve years of progressive real estate experience to the company. He has negotiated more than three hundred lease transactions and led the effort to acquire a significant commercial office portfolio in Towson for Mid-Atlantic Properties in 2011. He received the National Developing Leader Award from NAIOP in 2013 and is a board member for GB Charities and The Chesapeake Baysavers.

Murray earned a Bachelor Degree in Politics and Policy and a Master’s Degree in Real Estate Development from the University of Maryland at College Park. He is also a member of the Urban Land Institute and the Greater Towson Committee and holds a real estate license in the State of Maryland.

Chesapeake Real Estate Group also contains an in-house commercial real estate brokerage division that works with third-party owners and investors, as well as an asset management arm that manages more than three million square feet of space throughout the Mid-Atlantic region.

Chesapeake Real Estate Group, LLC, headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland, is a full-service commercial real estate operating company that includes brokerage, property management and development services. The firm currently has more than two million square feet of industrial projects planned in the Mid-Atlantic region. Notable projects include the Perryman Logistics Center, Port 95 Industrial Park, Penn 95 Commerce Park and Antrim Commons Business Park. For more information visit www.cregllc.com.