Jack Shaffer

HSA Commercial’s chairman and founder Jack Shaffer was named an Industrial Real Estate Icon by Real Estate Forum Magazine in the publication’s November 2013 edition. Mr. Shaffer, who was previously featured on Real Estate Forum’s list of Midwest Real Estate Icons, was included among “two dozen household names of investment and development who have helped to shape the [industrial real estate] sector as we know it.”

As the magazine details, Jack Shaffer has been a staple of Illinois commercial real estate for the better part of 40 years. The chairman of HSA Commercial Real Estate, which he founded in 1981, has been directly involved in the construction and development of more than 50 million square feet of industrial, retail and office space and in the acquisition of more than 100,000 acres for the development of business parks, shopping centers and industrial properties. Among his more notable projects include the development of Broadview Village Square, Kensington Business Center, Turnberry Lakes International Business Park, three Covington Corporate Center business parks, Oakbrook Terrace Office Park, Highland Oaks Office Park, Opus West Office Park and Governors Gateway Industrial Park. Prior to forming HSA, Shaffer launched MRX/Midwest Realty Exchange in 1977 and, before that, held executive positions with Hawthorn Realty Group, Northwest Industries (Northwestern Rail) and New York Central Railroad. He was involved in the development of the 6,800-acre new town of Park Forest South in Illinois and the purchase of 6,500 acres for the $1.5 billion Jones & Laughlin Steel Plant in Hennepin, Ill.

In 2013 alone, Jack has spearheaded the development of three new speculative industrial projects including the 180,480-square-foot Phase II at Park 355 in Woodridge, Ill.; a 218,500-square-foot facility at Delany Commerce Center in Waukegan, Ill.; and the 220,000-square-foot distribution center at Gateway Business Park in Plainfield, Ind.

The entire HSA Commercial Real Estate staff congratulates Mr. Shaffer on this outstanding recognition.

Click here to read the full Industrial Real Estate Icons article in the digital edition of Real Estate Forum Magazine.