Barrett Companies relocates to Bergen County headquarters.

More than 50 years after its founding, Barrett Companies, a full-service developer and builder active in New Jersey and New York, continues to grow in number, size and range of projects. The Bergen County-based company, which includes a group of privately-held organizations that specialize in all facets of real estate, recently expanded and relocated from its Ridgewood office to a larger facility at 2115 Linwood Ave.in. Fort Lee, N.J.

Barrett Companies' new headquarters houses the company's executive and management offices. The relocation places the company just three miles from its latest, and one of the region's most notable, residential projects. Half Moon Harbour is a luxury waterfront apartment complex on the Hudson River in North Bergen, N.J.

Work on Phase I, the first building containing 176 units, is nearing completion and is scheduled for occupancy in the spring of 2001.

Through strategic teamwork, Barrett has carved a niche as a true, full-service real estate organization with an integrated approach to property development. The company's capabilities include expertise in acquiring raw land, taking projects through the approval process, providing architectural and engineering planning, construction services, marketing and management. Projects range from multi-million dollar single- and multi-family residential projects to office buildings distribution facilities, shopping centers and institutional buildings including public and private projects.

The history of Barrett Companies can be traced to the founding of Barrett Builders in 1947. The company originally specialized in constructing warehouses and truck terminal facilities in the. New Jersey Meadowlands. In 1974, under the auspices of Thomas Barrett, the firm entered the residential real estate market by purchasing, renovating and managing a multi-story apartment building in Union City, New Jersey. In 1978, the company constructed a large distribution and warehouse facility in Carlstadt, New Jersey.

During the 1980s and into the early 1990s, Barrett Builders functioned mainly as a bonded bidding contractor. In this capacity, the company built a diverse spectrum of structures including office buildings; warehouses, churches, schools, restaurants, strip malls, car dealerships, police and fire facilities and municipal buildings. The company also constructed a high-security, multi-function building for the Drug Enforcement Administration.

As operating officer and majority owner of Barrett Companies, Barrett guides the company's focus on developing quality projects cost-effectively, with an emphasis on design and aesthetics. His interest in, real estate dates back to his childhood love of construction. "I guess you could say I got my start in building blocks and erector sets," explained Barrett. "From there, I progressed to building engines and watches. I always had a natural curiosity about the way things were put together."

During the three decades of his career, Barrett has amassed personal expertise in most of the construction trades, which affords him a unique ability to understand the challenges and methods involved in almost every facet of a building project. Along with construction, Tom has operated multiple companies including such diverse ventures as manufacturing, export and restaurant management. He has also been involved in designing and building projects for the royal families in Saudi Arabia and the Persian Gulf.

"The move to Fort Lee signifies stepped-up construction and development activity by the firm," noted Barrett. One of its larger efforts, initiated in the 1990s, is Greenville Yards, a multi-building industrial project now underway in Jersey City, New Jersey. Barrett Urban Redevelopment Corporation, is the designated redeveloper for the 50-acre tract. The project involves brownfield redevelopment of vacant land and is approved for up to 2 million square feet of new construction.

Barrett just completed a 132,180 SF refrigerated freezer facility for Summit Import Corp. Two new facilities totaling approximately 500,000 SF are planned on a build-to-suit basis.

With a strong base to build on and an excellent series of financial relationships to draw upon, the company anticipates continued expansion in the New York Area.