The Hillsborough Business Center on Stryker Lane in Hillsborough — Courtesy: Larken Associates
By Joshua Burd
Larken Associates has signed two new leases at a flex and industrial campus in Hillsborough, providing new homes for two dance studios that were seeking to safely resume operations.
The tenants, Complexity Dance Center and Dance Connection, will take a combined 5,675 square feet at Larken’s Hillsborough Business Center on Stryker Lane. The developer and landlord announced the deals on Thursday, noting that they will enable the operators to move into spaces with overhead doors and larger footprints to allow for proper social distancing and adequate air circulation during classes.
“We know that these are difficult times for all of our tenants but the challenges presented to our recreational tenants are truly unique,” said Rob Marek, executive vice president of Raider Realty, the in-house brokerage division of Larken Associates. “Fortunately, our diverse portfolio of assets and commitment to working closely with our tenants has allowed us to quickly find space solutions for these two dance studios that will allow them to reopen in a safe manner.”
Complexity Dance Center had been operating out of Larken’s Amwell Mall property at 450 Amwell Road in Hillsborough, according to a news release. Meantime, Dance Connection was operating out of another space in Hillsborough Business Center, but the landlord noted that each studio’s previous location lacked ventilation and flexibility.
The operators instead needed spaces that aligned with recommendations put forth to counter the spread of COVID-19. They are now operating in the new facilities under temporary leases.
“We’re really grateful to Larken Associates who has worked with us and helped to make this space available,” said David Kieffer, CEO of Dance Connection. “They know that the kids have been cooped up and need to get out and they’ve been very supportive of our efforts to get the kids out and about in a safe and healthy way.”
In addition to working with Complexity Dance Center and Dance Connection, Larken Associates also worked with Gotta Dance, a tenant in its Branchburg Commons complex, to allow it to use the property’s outdoor spaces for private lessons, evening classes and dance camp.
“Even in the best of times, we understand the importance of supporting our tenants whenever possible,” stated Victor Kelly, executive vice president of Raider Realty. “As our nation continues to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic, we understand that we are in a position to support the small businesses throughout our portfolio that need flexible space arrangements to successfully resume operating their businesses. Whether it is moving them into a new space or finding creative outdoor space solutions, we are committed to assisting our tenants in any way we can during these challenging times.”
