The Edge Group, Inc. and Bell Tower Management LLC are proud of their legacies and reputations as commercial real estate companies. When Fred Faust and Gary Sidell announced they were joining forces in January 2021, they cited the ability to build on each firm’s success in serving the Greater Lowell and Greater Lawrence communities. Since the announcement, Fred and Gary have worked together to identify and implement best practices and build on core capabilities. Now with expanded regional reach and additional staff, the two firms have merged and will operate as one entity: Bell Tower Commercial Real Estate Group.
Gary Sidell will serve as President of the company and Fred Faust will remain in the role of Principal and Broker of Record. Offices will remain in both Lowell and Lawrence to best serve our client base.
“It’s an understatement to say that I am proud of our association and what we’ve been able to build in under two years,” said Sidell. “I think our clients have witnessed our additional capacities, as well. On a personal basis, Fred and I have found it rewarding to be able to share ideas, make sound decisions and work together to build a talented and caring team.”
To understand the success and passion behind Bell Tower and The Edge Group, one would need to go back some 20+ years.
Working with his father, the late Chet Sidell, the father and son team built – at times brick by brick – a loyal client base appreciative of their passion for quality and community. Additionally, Gary and Chet helped to develop and coordinate the renovation of multiple historic properties in Lawrence. At the time of the merger of the companies, Bell Tower held a management portfolio of approximately 450,000 square feet. Gary’s commitment to community is reflected in his service on multiple area boards. These include as Board President, Family Services of the Merrimack Valley, Founding Board Member of the Lawrence Partnership, as Member of the Mayor’s Economic Development Transition Team in Lawrence, and as a member of the Master Plan Advisory Committee in North Andover. In his rare spare time, Gary plays piano in a local band, just another note of interest in a versatile resume.
Fred Faust has a background in both the public and private sector. Within two years of arriving in Lowell, Faust signed on with then candidate for Congress Paul Tsongas and assisted with campaign media. Spending time as a legislative assistant in Washington and working on all of Paul’s campaigns, in 1980, Faust returned to Lowell to become the Executive Director of the Lowell Historic Preservation Commission. After a focus on real estate development, Faust established The Edge Group in 1997, becoming a go-to company for brokerage and property management services. In 2016, Faust, along with the Greater Lowell Community Foundation, founded the Lowell Waterways Action Initiative which has been responsible for the lighting of multiple historic properties and has encouraged more active use of Lowell’s national landmark waterways.
“Fred and I knew each other for some time,” according to Sidell. “We always had a great deal of mutual respect while running our own separate firms. When we first talked about working together, it seemed to make a lot of sense for us and our clients. In fact, by combining efforts, we’ve increased our capacity and our reach in the region. Most importantly, we’ve been able to build on our philosophy of doing business with a high level of energy and a personal touch. That’s the foundation point for both of our businesses. We work hard, take great pride in and love what we do.”
Faust agrees. “Working with Gary for the past year or so has been extremely rewarding. He is thoughtful, dedicated and a very hard worker. Gary genuinely cares about everyone. Just ask any client about his loyalty and commitment to follow through. That we were able to combine our efforts and maintain an emphasis on both professional management and strong sales and marketing backgrounds, well that’s just a win-win. Now, together, we can focus even more comprehensively on the commercial real estate needs of our clients, giving us a unique set of skills and services to offer to our clients.”
We look to the future with excitement, with an ongoing focus on building relationships and delivering value for our clients.
