According to Ozzy Properties, The Mentor Network, a longtime national human services agency with roots in Mass., has signed at Osgood Landing, which will bring nearly 100 new and existing employees to the town.
The Mentor Network, which has offices throughout the nation, is a human services organization that provides an array of innovative services to adults and children with developmental disabilities and other needs. Ozzy and town officials heralded The Mentor Network's arrival, saying it gives the town a needed boost as the economy gains momentum.
"This is great news especially in these trying economic times," said Curt Bellavance, community development director for North Andover. "To hear that approximately 100 employees will be coming to town is very exciting."
Bellavance added that The Mentor Network will become one of the top 15 employers of the town. Most of the employees are existing workers, but town leaders say their presence means they may frequent shops and the approximately 10 restaurants within a mile of Osgood Landing.
According to Ellen Keller, vice president of commercial real estate for Ozzy Properties, The Mentor Network will occupy 13,500 s/f of space in an area formerly occupied by Lucent Technologies' engineering and administrative departments. Construction is expected to start soon and the goal is to have workers at the site in November.
"The Mentor Network is relocating to an area in which they can expand if needed," said Keller. "There is nearly limitless expansion potential."
Ozzy Properties president Orit Goldstein is thrilled with The Mentor Network's decision to move to Osgood Landing. "The Mentor Network is a wonderful organization that has done so many positive things for individuals and families for nearly 30 years," said Goldstein. "We are very pleased that they see Osgood Landing as a place that meets their current and future needs."
The lease signing follows other significant announcements by Ozzy Properties this year. Earlier this year, Ozzy renewed leases with two workforce-related agencies and signed a fresh lease with another organization.
Additionally, renewable energy company BayState Biofuels signed a lease with Ozzy and has built a biodiesel terminal at Osgood Landing scheduled to open this September.
Osgood Landing, an office and manufacturing complex made up of nearly 2 million square feet, was formerly occupied by Lucent Technologies. Ozzy Properties acquired the half-century-old building in 2003 and is in the process of reconfiguring it for multi-tenant use.

About Ozzy Properties, Inc.
Ozzy Properties, Inc., formed in 1994 in Andover, Mass., is a premier property manager in the Merrimack Valley region of Massachusetts. Ozzy currently has 2.5 million square feet of office and retail space and 100 residential units under management in the Massachusetts communities of Andover, North Andover, Lawrence, Boston and Methuen. Ozzy's strength lies in its ability to significantly improve underutilized, distressed or foreclosed properties, and then return them to the rental market at aggressive rates.