By Brian Messenger bmessenger@eagletribune.com

NORTH ANDOVER - A wholesale artisan bread bakery has signed a long-term lease at Osgood Landing with plans to add more than 100 jobs.

Jessica’s Brick Oven, Inc. will move from its 11,000-square-foot facility in Woburn to a 63,000-square-foot space at Osgood Landing, the former Lucent site.

Specializing in all-natural, hand-crafted specialty breads, Jessica’s Brick Oven Inc. now employs about 75 people but will expand to more than 200 employees in the next year or so, after it relocates this fall, according to owner and Middleton resident Nabil Boghos.

“I’m looking forward to tap into the work force there,” said Boghos. “If I can be a small part of helping the economy, it all adds up. Small business is the backbone of America.”

Boghos said construction is ongoing at the company’s future home. A move-in date is scheduled for late September or early October. A lease agreement with Ozzy Properties, Inc. was announced earlier this month. Boghos said the lease is for more than 10 years but declined to reveal financial terms.

“We’re happy to be there and fill the entire lease,” said Boghos. “I think it will be a good partnership for both of us.”

Boghos said he was attracted to Osgood Landing for its highway access. He said the Merrimack Valley is also home to many of his customers, which include specialty shops and supermarkets, including Stop & Shop, DeMoulas and Market Basket.

Boghos said Jessica’s Brick Oven was founded in 1997.

Boghos said he and his wife, Rose, purchased the company in June 2006 and changed the focus of its customer base from commercial to retail businesses.

“We’re taking our company in a complete different direction from where it was before we bought it,” said Boghos. “It gives us the market exposure we’re looking for.”

After the move, all Jessica’s Brick Oven bread will be made in North Andover. Boghos said all of the company’s products are all-natural.

Boghos said the new space at Osgood Landing is large enough for continued growth. “That’s our game plan,” said Boghos. “Keep it going. Our space will allow us to do it.”

http://www.eagletribune.com/local/x1333312428/Bakery-will-add-more-than-100-jobs-after-move-to-North-Andover

August 20, 2010

In a Minute

LAWRENCE - Michael J. Astrue, commissioner of Social Security, and U.S. Rep. Niki Tsongas yesterday announced that the Social Security Administration plans to open a new hearing office at Heritage Place, 439 S. Union St.

The office is expected to open in the spring of next year and will shorten wait times and help alleviate a nationwide backlog of disability cases awaiting a hearing.

“The opening of the Lawrence hearing office will improve the service we provide to New England residents with disabilities,” Astrue said.

“Since becoming commissioner, I have made reducing the backlog of disability cases my top priority.”

Plans call for the Lawrence hearing office to be staffed by seven full-time administrative law judges plus 40 additional support staff.

http://www.eagletribune.com/local/x1668174950/In-a-Minute

Jessica’s Brick Oven, Inc., a longtime wholesale bakery serving customers throughout New England, has signed a multi-year lease at Ozzy’s Osgood Landing facility in North Andover.

Ozzy Properties, Inc. made the announcement recently.

Jessica’s Brick Oven, which currently is located in an 11,000-square-foot facility in Woburn, will occupy 63,000-square feet of space to accommodate its expanding bakery operation.

Nabil Boghos, owner of Jessica’s Brick Oven, said he expects to move into Osgood Landing by late August or early September. Terms of the lease were not disclosed.

Boghos said he was drawn to Osgood Landing in part for its prime location.

 ”The most appealing thing to us was the excellent location of the building,” he noted. “A lot of my distributors are located in the Merrimack Valley so it was critical for us to choose a location that met that criteria. Osgood Landing more than fit that need.”

Jessica’s, which offers nearly a dozen categories of hand-crafted artisan breads such as Tuscan breads, focaccia breads and other specialty breads, will make the breads at the Osgood Landing premises, according to Ozzy Properties, Inc. Jessica’s currently distributes its breads throughout New England in specialty shops and supermarkets including Stop & Shop and DeMoulas/Market Basket.

Boghos also noted that the new facility will allow him to increase Jessica’s workforce from its current 75 employees to nearly 200 within the next year. Jessica’s plans to hire a range of positions, including IT workers, accountants, sales support, bakers and custodians. Boghos attributes the success of his business on consumer demand for more healthy foods.

 ”People are more health conscious about what they’re eating,” said Boghos, who bought the 13-year-old company two years ago with his wife, Rose. “Consumers are looking for healthier food products and all of our breads are all-natural products with no chemicals and no yeast.”

Ozzy officials said they are pleased to have Jessica’s Brick Oven as a new tenant.

 ”We’re thrilled to welcome Jessica’s Brick Oven to Osgood Landing,” said Orit Goldstein, president of Ozzy Properties. “This is a top-flight organization that has made tremendous strides in recent years. And we know that Osgood Landing has the necessary infrastructure and amenities that will allow Jessica’s Brick Oven to grow for years to come.”

Boghos agrees. “Orit Goldstein and the entire Ozzy Properties team have been tremendous to work with,” said Boghos. “The terms were favorable to what I was looking for and I really like the fact that we have room to expand.”

Osgood Landing was formerly occupied by Lucent Technologies. Ozzy Properties acquired the facility in 2003 and continues to redevelop the property for multi-tenant use.

Ozzy Properties, Inc., formed in 1994 in Andover, has 2.5 million square feet of office space and 100 residential units under management in the Massachusetts communities of Andover, North Andover, Lawrence, Boston and Methuen.

Copyright 2010 North Andover Citizen. Some rights reserved

http://www.wickedlocal.com/northandover/news/x905707899/Something-is-cooking-at-North-Andovers-Osgood-Landing

The bakery, currently located in an 11,000-square-foot facility in Woburn, will occupy 63,000-square feet of space to accommodate its expanding bakery operation, according to a statement.

Nabil Boghos, owner of Jessica’s Brick Oven, said he expects to move into Osgood Landing by late August or early September. Terms of the lease were not disclosed.

“The most appealing thing to us was the excellent location of the building,” Boghos said. “A lot of my distributors are located in the Merrimack Valley so it was critical for us to choose a location that met that criteria. Osgood Landing more than fit that need.”

Boghos also noted that the new facility will allow him to increase Jessica’s workforce from its current 75 employees to nearly 200 within the next year. Jessica’s plans to hire a range of positions, including IT workers, accountants, sales support, bakers and custodians.

“People are more health conscious about what they’re eating,” said Boghos, who bought the 13-year-old company two years ago with his wife, Rose. “Consumers are looking for healthier food products and all of our breads are all-natural products with no chemicals and no yeast.”

“We’re thrilled to welcome Jessica’s Brick Oven to Osgood Landing,” said Orit Goldstein, president of Ozzy Properties. “This is a top-flight organization that has made tremendous strides in recent years. And we know that Osgood Landing has the necessary infrastructure and amenities that will allow Jessica’s Brick Oven to grow for years to come.”

Banker & Tradesman ©2010 All Rights Reserved

http://www.bankerandtradesman.com/news139558.html?Type=search

North Andover - Osgood Landing is getting a name - and a color - for itself: green.

The huge facility has been revamped to employ the latest green technologies and is also home to several green businesses. Osgood Landing hosted a Green Energy Summit sponsored by the Merrimack Valley Chamber of Commerce on May 5.

On Aug. 13 from 8:30 a.m. to noon, Osgood Landing will host a seminar led by Congressman John Tierney, on “Growing Green Jobs: Funding and Resources to Green Our Economy.”

The seminar is aimed at helping local businesses connect with grant-making agencies and business-development organizations, to learn about green job funding, training, and resources in the Merrimack Valley area (see related see Page 9).

North Andover Community Development Director Curt Bellavance says Osgood Landing is becoming a leading center for green technology organizations.

Ellen J. Keller, vice president of Commercial Real Estate at Osgood Landing, says green industries are among the strongest of today’s industries.

“Without question, the green industries are the healthiest and most exciting ones out there,” Keller said this week.

When Ozzy Properties and Osgood Landing LLC took over the old Lucent Technology complex they initiated new greener technology at the site. The company is a proponent for clean energy and cutting energy costs.

“We have almost 40 percent of this building leased, with more than 45 companies already here,” says Keller. “We bought the property in 2003, and after Lucent left in 2004 we made an absolute decision to retrofit this property with green technology.”

Osgood Landing supports all forms of “Green-Tech” and is the only building in the area that can offer 550,000 square feet of manufacturing space on one floor, according to Keller. It can also house offices, manufacturers and distributors of all sizes. This landlord does not exclude non-green businesses, but has been focusing its marketing efforts on clean technologies. Here are three green companies already in place in the large North Andover facility.

• In 2009 Baystate Biofuels announced its opening at Osgood Landing as the first full-scale commercial facility dedicated to biodiesel distribution in Massachusetts. Baystate Biofuels owner Jesse Reich hopes to create up to 300 jobs within the next three to five years.

• Nexamp, founded by Dan Leary, provides comprehensive and cost-effective energy and carbon reduction solutions and services for businesses and homes. Nexamp was chosen to install 4.1 megawatts of solar energy at 12 public water and wastewater treatment facilities across Massachusetts as part of the federal stimulus grant.

• PanelClaw develops environmentally friendly mounting solutions for photovoltaic modules. The large solar array on the roof of the Osgood Landing facility employs PanelClaw components. The fastest growing tenant at Osgood Landing, PanelClaw has doubled the size of its warehouse and is in the process of doubling its office space. The building offers its tenants limitless expansion opportunities.

Keller says Ozzy Properties has acted to reduce energy consumption at Osgood Landing since taking over the property. The company specializes in bringing existing buildings back to life rather than building new ones.

The original Western Electric Company building, which became Lucent and is now Osgood Landing, was designed in the 1950s before the age of energy conservation.

The oversized and inefficient oil boilers have been replaced with efficient gas boilers, reducing carbon emissions, fuel consumption, and operating expenses.

The building’s heat and air conditioning system has been revamped with new software upgrades, and now draws in natural air when the outside temperature is between 32 and 60 degrees, allowing free cooling and major energy savings.

The oversized power grid needed by Western Electric is no longer necessary, and Osgood Landing has been consolidating and refiguring transformers throughout the facility. These combined efforts have reduced energy consumption by over 50 percent so far.

A 175- kilowatt solar array was installed on the roof in 2008 by Nexamp and is providing a large amount of power to the building.

In a new agreement with Wheelabrator of North Andover, Osgood Landing will use low-grade waste heat from Wheelabrator’s electricity generating process. This will be the first system of its type in New England.

Copyright 2010 North Andover Citizen. Some rights reserved

http://www.wickedlocal.com/northandover/newsnow/x1179097765/Green-is-gold-at-Osgood-Landing-in-North-Andover

 North Andover, Mass., July 30, 2010 - Ozzy Properties, Inc., a premier property manager in the Merrimack Valley, today announced that Jessica’s Brick Oven, Inc., a longtime wholesale bakery serving customers throughout New England, has signed a multi-year lease at Ozzy’s Osgood Landing facility here.

 Jessica’s Brick Oven, which currently is located in an 11,000-square-foot facility in Woburn, will occupy 63,000-square feet of space to accommodate its expanding bakery operation. Nabil Boghos, owner of Jessica’s Brick Oven, said he expects to move into Osgood Landing by late August or early September. Terms of the lease were not disclosed.

 Boghos said he was drawn to Osgood Landing in part for its prime location. “The most appealing thing to us was the excellent location of the building,” he noted. “A lot of my distributors are located in the Merrimack Valley so it was critical for us to choose a location that met that criteria. Osgood Landing more than fit that need.”

 Jessica’s, which offers nearly a dozen categories of hand-crafted artisan breads such as Tuscan breads, focaccia breads and other specialty breads, will make the breads at the Osgood Landing premises. It currently distributes its breads throughout New England in specialty shops and supermarkets including Stop & Shop and DeMoulas/Market Basket.

 Boghos also noted that the new facility will allow him to increase Jessica’s workforce from its current 75 employees to nearly 200 within the next year. Jessica’s plans to hire a range of positions, including IT workers, accountants, sales support, bakers and custodians. Boghos attributes the success of his business on consumer demand for more healthy foods.

 ”People are more health conscious about what they’re eating,” said Boghos, who bought the 13-year-old company two years ago with his wife, Rose. “Consumers are looking for healthier food products and all of our breads are all-natural products with no chemicals and no yeast.”

 Ozzy officials are pleased to have Jessica’s Brick Oven as a new tenant.

 ”We’re thrilled to welcome Jessica’s Brick Oven to Osgood Landing,” said Orit Goldstein, president of Ozzy Properties. “This is a top-flight organization that has made tremendous strides in recent years. And we know that Osgood Landing has the necessary infrastructure and amenities that will allow Jessica’s Brick Oven to grow for years to come.”

 Boghos agrees. “Orit Goldstein and the entire Ozzy Properties team have been tremendous to work with,” said Boghos. “The terms were favorable to what I was looking for and I really like the fact that we have room to expand.”

 Osgood Landing was formerly occupied by Lucent Technologies. Ozzy Properties acquired the facility in 2003 and continues to redevelop the property for multi-tenant use.

About Ozzy Properties, Inc.
Ozzy Properties, Inc., formed in 1994 in Andover, Mass., is a premier property manager in the Merrimack Valley region of Massachusetts. Ozzy currently has 2.5 million square feet of office space and 100 residential units under management in the Massachusetts communities of Andover, North Andover, Lawrence, Boston and Methuen. Ozzy’s strength lies in its ability to significantly improve underutilized, distressed or foreclosed properties, and then return them to the rental market at aggressive rates. For more information, visit www.ozzyproperties.com.

North Andover, Mass., July 2010 - In keeping with its growing portfolio of green technology tenants, Ozzy Properties, Inc., a premier property manager in the Merrimack Valley, today announced that CPower, Inc., a top energy management services company, is relocating to Ozzy’s Osgood Landing facility in North Andover.

Financial terms for the deal were not disclosed. CPower, which is headquartered in New York City, will occupy just over 4,000 square feet of office space on the third floor for this regional office. About 25 employees will work at the location, which will be used as a software and project management office.

CPower, which has about 100 employees at various locations nationally, delivers targeted energy management services and solutions that enable companies to optimize their facilities and operations through strategic energy reduction initiatives, and earn market payments for those reductions.

North Andover officials noted that the arrival of CPower continues Osgood Landing’s growing reputation as a facility for energy-focused companies.

“A lot of leading-edge alternative energy companies are located at Osgood Landing, which has established itself as a sound resource for emerging companies,” said Curt Bellavance, community development director for the town of North Andover. “CPower’s arrival is further proof of Osgood Landing’s draw on a variety of companies. It is truly becoming a leading center for green technology organizations.”

In addition to CPower, Osgood Landing is home to green technology companies such as Nexamp, Inc., a clean energy advisory services company; PanelClaw, Inc., which develops mounting solutions for photovoltaic modules; and Baystate Biofuels, a renewable energy company. 

Ozzy officials are pleased with CPower’s arrival, noting that they add yet another green technology dimension to the mix.

“We’re thrilled to welcome CPower to Osgood Landing,” said Orit Goldstein, president of Ozzy Properties. “CPower is a true energy pioneer that has a deep understanding of energy management technologies. We’re confident that our facility will provide them with the resources they need to continue to thrive in today’s competitive marketplace.”

Osgood Landing was formerly occupied by Lucent Technologies. Ozzy Properties acquired the facility in 2003 and continues to redevelop the property for multi-tenant use.

North Andover, Mass., Dec. 22, 2009 – Ophir Optics, Inc., makers of infrared optical products for military uses and other applications, today announced it is expanding its facility at Osgood Landing in North Andover by nearly 20 percent and has increased its workforce by more than 50 percent since moving here two years ago.

“This is certainly very positive news for us,” said Dennis Cope, president of Ophir Optics. “We’ve been fortunate to be in some good markets, which allows us to provide solid products for our customers while growing our workforce.”

Cope said the expansion is being driven largely by defense-related work orders. Ophir manufactures lenses and optical components for use in infrared optical systems, including night vision equipment used in military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Cope said Osgood Landing has the necessary infrastructure that allows the company to create critical products. “Osgood Landing has proven to be an ideal site for us because of its significant electrical capacity required to manufacture various infrared optical products,” said Cope.

In December 2007, Ophir Optics signed a multi-year lease with Ozzy Properties to occupy a 32,000-square-foot space on the grounds of Osgood Landing. At that time, the company had 72 workers. The expansion will allow Ophir to grow by about 20 percent by end of February. The company also now employs 111 workers, a 54 percent increase.

“In this economy, we always like to know that there’s some light at the end of the tunnel,” said Curt Bellavance, community development director for the town of North Andover. “It’s also reassuring to know we have owners here at Osgood Landing who continue to fill up space with new and existing tenants.”

Ophir Optics’ arrival marked the first tenant to occupy space in Bell Labs’ research and development facility at the 1600 Osgood St. site in North Andover. Cope anticipates occupying the entire first floor of that facility by end of February.
Although the majority of Ophir’s current customers are defense-related, there are a growing number of non-military uses such as homeland security, automotive night vision and industrial applications.

Ozzy Properties President Orit Goldstein said Ophir’s growth signals hope for other companies seeking to expand in the rebounding economy. “At a time when businesses continue to struggle, Ophir’s expansion is a hopeful sign for the Osgood Landing facility but also for the larger business climate throughout the Merrimack Valley,” said Goldstein.

In addition to Ophir’s expansion, other companies at Osgood Landing have seen modest expansions recently. The main logistics center for Nexamp, Inc., a full service clean energy solutions company; and Panel Claw, Inc., which develops photovoltaic mounting solutions, have grown at the Osgood site.

“We’re seeing more activity at Osgood Landing as well as more market activity in general,” said Goldstein. “Those are clearly positive economic signs.”

Osgood Landing, an office and manufacturing complex made up of nearly 2 million square feet, was formerly occupied by Lucent Technologies. Ozzy Properties acquired the half-century-old building in 2003 and continues to reconfigure it for multi-tenant use.

About Ophir Optics, Inc.
Ophir Optics, Inc., founded in 2003, manufactures a wide variety of infrared optical elements and optical lens assemblies for extensive military use as well as for non-military use such as homeland security, automotive night vision and industrial applications. For more information, contact Ophir Optics at 1-800-820-0814 or visit  www.ophiropticsinc.com.

North Andover, Mass., Sept.  4, 2009 - Ozzy Properties, a premier property manager located in North Andover, announced that The Mentor Network, a longtime national human services agency with roots in Massachusetts, has signed a lease at the facility, which will bring nearly 100 new and existing employees to the town.

The Mentor Network, which has offices throughout the nation, is a human services organization that provides an array of innovative services to adults and children with developmental disabilities and other needs. Mentor workers at Osgood Landing will be from the human resources and finance departments. Programs will not exist at the Osgood site.

Ozzy and town officials heralded The Mentor Network’s arrival, saying it gives the town a needed boost as the economy gains momentum.

“This is great news especially in these trying economic times,” said Curt Bellavance, community development director for North Andover. “To hear that approximately 100 employees will be coming to town is very exciting.”

Bellavance added that The Mentor Network will become one of the top 15 employers of the town. Most of the employees are existing workers, but town leaders say their presence means they may frequent shops and the approximately 10 restaurants within a mile of Osgood Landing.

Ellen Keller, vice president of commercial real estate for Ozzy Properties, said The Mentor Network will occupy 13,500 square feet of space in an area formerly occupied by Lucent Technologies’ engineering and administrative departments. Construction is expected to start soon and the goal is to have workers at the site in November.

“The Mentor Network is relocating to an area in which they can expand if needed,” said Keller. “There is nearly limitless expansion potential.”

Ozzy Properties President Orit Goldstein is thrilled with The Mentor Network’s decision to move to Osgood Landing. “The Mentor Network is a wonderful organization that has done so many positive things for individuals and families for nearly 30 years,” said Goldstein. “We are very pleased that they see Osgood Landing as a place that meets their current and future needs.”

The lease signing follows other significant announcements by Ozzy Properties this year. Earlier this year, Ozzy renewed leases with two workforce-related agencies and signed a fresh lease with another organization. Additionally, renewable energy company BayState Biofuels signed a lease with Ozzy and has built a biodiesel terminal at Osgood Landing scheduled to open this September.

Osgood Landing, an office and manufacturing complex made up of nearly 2 million square feet, was formerly occupied by Lucent Technologies. Ozzy Properties acquired the half-century-old building in 2003 and is in the process of reconfiguring it for multi-tenant use.

About Ozzy Properties, Inc.
Ozzy Properties, Inc., formed in 1994 in Andover, Mass., is a premier property manager in the Merrimack Valley region of Massachusetts. Ozzy currently has 2.5 million square feet of office and retail space and 100 residential units under management in the Massachusetts communities of Andover, North Andover, Lawrence, Boston and Methuen. Ozzy’s strength lies in its ability to significantly improve underutilized, distressed or foreclosed properties, and then return them to the rental market at aggressive rates.

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2,971 Square feet of choice office space available as is, or custom designed to your specifications.

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