Matanky Realty Group represented local seller in the disposition of 3-building retail property in Park Forest, Ill.

Matanky Realty Group today announces that Senior Vice President and Director of Brokerage, Terri Cox closed on the sale of a 102,647 square-foot shopping center located at 80-138 S. Orchard Drive in downtown Park Forest, Ill.


Freedom Development Group purchased the 13.99-acre, three building property for an undisclosed price. The over 100,000 square-feet of retail space includes a fully equipped grocery store, auto repair center and is anchored by Family Dollar.

“We are incredibly excited about the sale of Orchard Park Plaza,” said Cox who represented the seller. “The buyer has enormous opportunity in leasing the remaining vacancies and developing the additional acreage acquired in the sale. With over 142,000 people in five miles of the property, this is a phenomenal purchase. We look forward to the future for the center.”

In addition to the ample acreage, buyers were attracted to the property due to its location in a Federal Opportunity Zone. According to the Internal Revenue Service, Opportunity Zones are “economically distressed communities where new investments, under certain conditions, may be eligible for preferential tax treatments.” Opportunity Zones are an economic development tool that is designed to spur job creation and economic interest in distressed communities through the aforementioned tax incentives provided.

Matanky Realty Group specializes in these underserved markets, providing brokerage, development, management and construction services since 1955. According to CoStar reports, in 2018 the firm completed 81 retail leasing transactions totaling 338,566 square feet. Within its current portfolio, the group has nine listings located in Federal Opportunity Zones.

Terri Cox, Senior Vice President and leader for the brokerage arm, is a licensed real estate broker with over 30 years of sales and marketing experience. She has worked exclusively as a commercial real estate broker for over 25 years, representing the interests of developers, landlords and tenants. Cox’s efforts have allowed her team to be recognized as the Chicago Developer of the Year in 2000 and 2006. Individually, she has been awarded CoStar’s Power Broker of the Year in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017 and 2018.