BLUEZONE
REAL ESTATE
Commercial Real Estate Investment, Development and Advisory
Bluezone: noun. A term for a community known for its unusually healthy population, which lives significantly longer than the average life expectancy, making it a notable exception in demographic statistics.
What we do.
We provide advice, invest and develop office, residential, and mixed-use projects in pursuit of outsized returns for our partners, the people and companies occupying our assets, and the planet. With a track record of delivering over $1.2B of investment profit in high-return, sustainable, community-impacting projects, we have learned from both our success and overcoming challenges encountered along the way. This experience has enabled us to refine our approach, ensuring we utilize our successful efforts, and never repeat the same mistake to continuously improve our operating and delivery model to excel in any market condition.
Who we are.
Our team is comprised of experts in investment, development, asset management, leasing & marketing, operations, and finance, drawn from the world's leading real estate development, investment and advisory firms, including CBRE, Tishman Speyer, Lendlease, Trizec Properties, and Newmark.
Meet Jon.
Jonathon W. Cordell - Managing Partner
Jon is a customer-centric commercial real estate veteran with 21 years of experience in multifamily, office and retail, along with Lab, Data Center and Senior Housing. He has developed, leased, acquired, structured, operated, and sold assets as both Broker and/or Principal in Chicagoland, as well as in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston, Milwaukee, and Dallas, completing 400+ transactions valued at $5.5+ billion, encompassing 15 million square feet, generating $1.2 billion of investment profit. Prior to founding Bluezone, Jon was the Director of Development at Lendlease, leading the Central region’s investment, development and operating teams, resulting in the delivery of over 2,300 residential units. Prior to Lendlease, Jon has held leadership positions at CBRE, Newmark, The John Buck Company, Tishman Speyer and Trizec Properties. He holds a MBA from Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and a BS in Mechanical Engineering from University of Illinois. Jon is a Licensed Broker in the State of Illinois.
Experience.
The following is a selection of Projects that Bluezone partners led, advised, managed and/or invested in:
151 N. Franklin St. (CNA Center)
Developed by The John Buck Company with JV partner Morgan Stanley, worked with John Ronan Architects and Adamson Associates Lendlease to design an 810k SF office building; executed anchor leases with CNA and Hinshaw Culbertson, and finalized leases with Facebook and 20 smaller tenants; and exited at 100% occupancy with $220MM investment profit.
333 South Wabash (Big Red)
The John Buck Company and partner Morgan Stanley acquired the 1.2 MSF iconic tower built in 1970 with 770k SF vacancy. Concepted redevelopment with HOK Architects including a new lobby, updated amenities, and adding a food hall, and executed 556k SF anchor lease with Northern Trust. Completed redevelopment, expanded CHA, Milhouse and other tenants to exit with $155MM investment profit.
Cirrus and Cascade
Lendlease, with partners Magellan and Aware Super, developed a 350-unit condo tower, 503-unit multifamily tower, and Cascade Park connecting the Lakeshore East community to Lake Michigan for total project cost of $607MM. Designed LEED Gold by bKL Architects, the complex has over 44k SF of amenities, floor-to-ceiling glass showcasing Lake and City views. Cascade routinely sets record Chicago apartment rents per SF.
Triangle Plaza
The John Buck Company exercised a ROFO to acquire the two tower 613k SF office complex near O'Hare Airport with partner Michigan SERS for $91M that was 25% vacant. During the due diligence period, the team concepted a redevelopment plan that resulted in an anchor lease with Wilson Sporting Goods that was signed within days of closing the acquisition.
625 W Adams
Vanderbilt Partners and White Oak along with partner USAA were under construction with a 440k SF spec office building and engaged Newmark to secure tenants. The team quickly generated anchor tenant interest resulting in a 250k SF lease with CDW, along with large leases with WeWork, ICF Next and others to bring the building to 95% leased.
The Reed and The Cooper
Lendlease with partner Aware Super developed the first 2 of 5 phases of Southbank called The Cooper, a $180MM 452-unit multifamily tower and The Reed, a $269M hybrid residential tower with 216 condos and 224 multifamily units that achieved stabilization in 11 months achieving a 25.1% project IRR.
353 N. Clark St.
Tishman Speyer acquired the 1.2MSF trophy tower through Mezz Lender for $385MM at 78% leased just 2 years after completion. The anchor leases were restructured to reduce encumbered space and EMC and DOW among other tenants took building to 92% occupied. The building was sold for $715MM in 3 years resulting $380M in investment profit.
Porte
Site optioned by The John Buck Company from H2O+ and pursued office and multifamily before partnering with Lendlease and Intercontinental to develop a $250MM 586-unit midrise multifamily 2-tower complex in Chicago’s West Loop.
161 N. Clark St.
Acquired by Tishman Speyer in the $1.7B portfolio acquisition of the downtown Chicago former EOP right before the GFC. Concepted a renovation plan and restructured the loan. Maintained ~95% occupancy, while backfilling CT&T with Grant Thornton and incorporating model "spec suites" to stimulate smaller leases before profitably exiting to Korea Post.
Mission
We advise, invest, operate, redevelop and develop office, residential, and mixed-use projects in pursuit of outsized returns for our partners, people/companies in the community, and the planet.
Vision
To be the premier advisor, investor, developer and operator in the cities we practice in, while being the first choice for tenants, owners, community stakeholders, investors, and service providers seeking a partner for growth.
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