Firm hired to aid Herald-Tribune in HQ search

The New York-based parent company of the Herald-Tribune Media Group has retained a commercial real estate brokerage firm from that state to help negotiate a future headquarters for the Sarasota media group — a move that could result in its exit from its iconic three-story office building downtown.

Gatehouse Media's decision to hire Bell Tenant Champions of Syracuse, N.Y., could result in a new home office for the media operation, which has been based at 1741 Main St. in Sarasota since 2005.Bell Tenant has previously worked for Stantec, Time Warner Cable and others, according to its website, in New York.

The Herald-Tribune's lease for its space in the 55,000-square-foot building expired earlier this year, but it successfully negotiated an extension until April 2018.