The Stamford, Connecticut, office market has everything going for it: proximity to New York City, a good transportation system, a wonderful quality of life, a superior public school network, great recreational possibilities being on Long Island Sound and great professionals. The one negative: almost zero growth in the state for the past 25 years in terms of both population and office-using jobs. This lack of growth has led to a very soft economic climate as it relates to office space. The vacancy rate for class A office space has hovered at more than 20 percent for the last seven years or more and has dipped below that only a few times since 1990. Vacancy Rate Favors Tenants In Fairfield County, the point of equilibrium is an office vacancy rate of approximately 15 percent. In other words, when the vacancy rate is 15 percent, neither landlords nor tenants have the upper hand in the negotiation of a lease transaction. In Stamford, the current vacancy rate resides at just over 23 percent — and that gives significant negotiating leverage to tenants that are looking for space. Interestingly enough, landlords of some of the better Class A institutional buildings are willing, and able, …
FARMINGTON, CONN. — EagleBridge Capital has arranged $2.5 million in permanent mortgage financing for an industrial property located at 21 Hyde Road in Farmington. The 113,425-square-foot property features 6,500 square feet of office space, 106,925 square feet of warehouse and distribution space, clear heights ranging from 24 feet to 30 feet, 10 loading docks and parking for 190 vehicles. The property is currently leased to Dealer Tire, a national tire, maintenance and light repair product distribution company. Brian Sheehan and Ted Sidel of EagleBridge arranged the loan for the undisclosed borrower.
MIDDLETOWN, CONN. — Equus Capital Partners has completed the disposition of two apartment communities in Middletown. Hampshire Properties acquired the properties for an undisclosed price. The 650-unit portfolio consists of Madison Chestnut Hill and Madison Northwoods and features a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments. Community amenities include outdoor swimming pools, tennis and indoor racquetball courts, fitness centers, a playground and a nature trail. At the time of acquisition, the communities were 95 percent occupied. Victor Nolletti and Steve Witten of Institutional Property Advisors represented the seller in the transaction.
STAMFORD, CONN. — Mission Capital Advisors has arranged a $24.5 million loan for an office building located 9 W. Broad St. in Stamford. The borrower was a joint venture between certain funds managed by Westport Capital Partners and Forstone Capital. The 191,000-square-foot property was recently repositioned and upgraded by the ownership, which acquired the nearly vacant property in 2013. The property now features a ground-floor cafeteria, fitness center, conference rooms, lobbies and common areas. Additionally, the building features 540 on-site parking spaces and a shuttle service to the Stamford Transportation Center. Jordan Ray, Ari Hirt, Steven Buchwald and Lexington Henn of Mission Capital represented the borrower in the financing.
BLOOMFIELD, CONN. — Institutional Property Advisors (IPA), a division of Marcus & Millichap, has brokered the sale of Mallory Ridge Apartments, a multifamily community in Bloomfield. The 78-unit apartment property sold for $17.1 million, or more than $220,000 per unit. Situated on 19.8 acres at 95 Filley St., the property features four three-story residential buildings with 20 one-bedroom apartments, 55 two-bedroom units and three three-bedroom apartments plus one clubhouse/amenity building. Each apartment features nine-foot ceilings, full-size washers/dryers and either a patio with private entry or balcony. Community amenities include a resort-style pool, a fitness center and a nature preserve with walking paths. Victor Nolletti, Steve Witten, Still Hunter, Eric Pentore, Craig Fuller, Erin Patton, Scott Wiles and Josephine Zupan of IPA represented the seller, Mallory Ridge Apartments LLC, while IPA Northeast-Florida procured the buyer, Delaware-based 1881 and Fawn Industrial LLC.
ENFIELD, CONN. — Colliers International has brokered the long-term lease of 102,000 square feet of industrial space at Enfield Distribution Center, located at 35 Manning Road in Enfield. Namco will occupy the space in the $2.6 million transaction. Nicholas Morizio of Colliers represented the undisclosed landlord, while Tim McNamara of SullivanHayes represented the tenant in the lease transaction.
MERIDEN, CONN. — Press/Cuozzo Commercial Services has arranged the sale of an industrial building located at 170 Pond View Drive within Medway Business Park in Meriden. Aperture Optical Sciences acquired the 23,000-square-foot property for $1.1 million. Constructed in 1985, the property features 18,000 square feet of high-bay industrial space and 5,000 square feet of office and sales support space. Stephen Press and Ted Schaffer of Press/Cuozzo represented the undisclosed seller, while Kyle Roberts of CBRE/New England represented the buyer in the transaction.
ROCKY HILL, CONN. — Colliers International has arranged the sale of Worthington Arms, a 41-unit garden-style apartment complex located at 100 and 200 Laura Lane in Rocky Hill. Sunset Hill Restoration acquired the asset for $3.8 million. The complex features a mix of one- and two-bedroom apartments will full basement storage in each building. Philip Gagnon of Colliers represented the undisclosed seller, while Bob Pagani, also of Colliers, represented the buyer in the transaction.
WATERBURY, CONN. — Drubner Commercial Real Estate Services has arranged the sale of a retail property located at 1262 W. Main St. in Waterbury. The Lauren Investment Group of Monroe, N.Y., purchased the property for $2 million. David Theroux of Drubner Commercial, along with Property West LLC, developed the site in 2007. The property is currently leased to TD Bank for the foreseeable future. Theroux handled both the sale and lease transactions.
OLD SAYBROOK, CONN. — The Geenty Group has brokered the lease of 2,299 square feet of space at a multi-tenant flex building located at 20 Research Parkway in Old Saybrook. Iterum Therapeutics US Limited, a biotech start-up firm, will occupy the space within the 20,000-square-foot property. Kevin Geenty of The Geenty Group arranged the transaction. The landlord is Mill Meadow Development LLC.