Veteran Austin-area office brokers Mark Miller and Andy Smith are moving over to Lincoln Property Co. where they will lead the creation of a full-service, third-party brokerage, the Austin Business Journal has learned.
The duo, which has been responsible for many of the largest office deals in downtown during the past two decades, are leaving Parkway Properties (NYSE: PKY) — but will continue to represent that company as landlord brokers for the 98 San Jacinto and OneEleven Congress properties.
They are joined by Derek Lewis, former managing director and partner at Stream Realty Partners, who will handle tenant representation at Lincoln Property and explore other opportunities for the Dallas-based company.
“Andy and I have found an incredibly intriguing opportunity with Lincoln Property,” Miller said.
As a result, Lincoln Property — a huge real estate company with about 6,800 employees across the country — will have a team of about 15 in Austin as it looks to widen its footprint.
Lincoln has a long history in Austin, having built 100 Congress Ave. and Las Cimas Office Park near Westlake years ago. More recently, the company has been less active locally, though Lincoln is now building the newest office tower downtown — 5th+Colorado— and another business park in the southwest submarket.
“Lincoln really wants to put its flag back in the ground in Austin,” Smith said.
Miller, Smith and Lewis have been long-time friends and colleagues.
Lewis — another Austin-based industry veteran — provided Smith and Miller with the introduction to Lincoln several months ago, but the decision by all three to make the move came together in recent weeks.
Lewis will continue his speciality of tenant representation and branch out into other commercial platforms. Miller and Smith will take on other landlord assignments beyond their representation of Parkway, which owns 98 San Jacinto Blvd. and 111 Congress Ave.
The trio will temporarily move into offices at Austin Centre, 701 Brazos St., and then occupy new offices when Lincoln Property completes 5th+Colorado, which is under construction at the southwest corner of West Fifth and Colorado streets. That will likely happen around May 1.
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