PEORIA, ILL. — Black Bear Capital Partners (BBCP), a subsidiary of Black Bear Asset Management, has arranged $41.5 million in financing for the redevelopment of two warehouse buildings located at 800 and 801 SW Washington St. in Peoria. Oculus Development is the owner and developer. BBCP arranged the financing in two components, both with Southern Bank. A $28.5 million construction loan features a three-year term, fixed interest rate, interest-only payments for the full term and a 66 percent loan-to-cost ratio. A $13 million historic tax credit bridge loan features a two-year term, floating interest rate, interest-only payments for the full term and a 90 percent loan-to-cost ratio. BBCP also assisted in sourcing the historic tax credit equity. The project will feature 170 apartment units and 2,500 square feet of commercial space across two adjoining warehouse buildings. Plans call for a mix of studio, one- and two-bedroom units along with 237 parking spaces. Amenities will include community lounges, laundry rooms, pet grooming stations, a fitness center, bike storage, package rooms, a reading room, movie theater, game room, pet run and courtyard.
Development
FORT WORTH, TEXAS — Kroger has opened a 128,000-square-foot store as the anchor tenant at Bonds Ranch Marketplace in northwest Fort Worth. The center also features 45,000 square feet of small-shop and freestanding retail space that is home to tenants such as Starbucks, Chase Bank, Whataburger, Hollywood Feed, ATI Physical Therapy, Emerald Custom Pools, Park Village Nails, Texas Health Breeze and Heartland Dental. Weitzman is the developer and operator of Bonds Ranch Marketplace.
BRIDGEWATER, N.J. — Pacific Retail Capital Partners (PRCP) has unveiled plans for the renovation of Bridgewater Commons, a 1.2 million-square-foot mall in Northern New Jersey. The renovation will entail a reimagining of the food court, updates to lighting and interior landscaping, as well as fresh paint and bannisters throughout the center court, department store wings and mezzanine levels. PRCP acquired the property in 2023 and has spent the past two years revamping the tenant roster via the additions of retailers such as Alo Yoga, Fogo de Chão, Miniso and Pop Mart. PRCP has also rebranded the property as The Village at Bridgewater Commons. Work is now underway and is expected to be complete in the second quarter of next year.
Gilbane, CBRE Underway on 763-Bed Student Housing Development Near University of Central Florida
by John Nelson
ORLANDO, FLA. — Construction is underway on VIBE, a 763-bed student housing project by Gilbane Development and CBRE Investment Management located at 3765 Quadrangle Blvd. near the University of Central Florida campus in Orlando. The partnership recently opened a temporary leasing office for the community at 12226 Corporate Blvd. The development is scheduled for completion in fall 2026. VIBE will offer 275 fully furnished units in one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom configurations with bed-to-bath parity. Each floor will offer private rooms for individual study, remote classes or quiet reflection. Additional shared amenities are set to include two courtyards; a resort-style pool with cabanas and a sun deck; clubhouse with a communal fire pit; outdoor kitchen with grills; pickleball courts; a 24-hour fitness center; sauna; coworking lounge; and a coffee bar. The community will also offer 712 parking spaces, as well as secured bicycle storage.
HDA Leads 325,000 SF Adaptive Reuse Project for Gulf Distributing in Downtown Mobile, Alabama
by John Nelson
MOBILE, ALA. — HDA has announced the completion of the new headquarters for Gulf Distributing in downtown Mobile. The project was an adaptive reuse of the vacant Press-Register Building, a 1950s-era printing press, into a 325,000-square-foot beverage distribution facility. HDA’s design included renovating 225,290 square feet of existing space, an 85,040-square-foot warehouse expansion, a new 4,960-square-foot vehicle maintenance facility and a 9,166-square-foot covered cooperage for the production of barrels and tubs. Other members of the project team were not released. Founded in 1973, Gulf Distributing is a beer distributor that operates across Alabama, the Florida Panhandle and Mississippi. The family-owned company employs approximately 1,300 people and partners with more than 140 suppliers.
HTG, AM Affordable Housing Open 81-Unit Seniors Housing Community in Crystal River, Florida
by John Nelson
CRYSTAL RIVER, FLA. — Affordable housing developers Housing Trust Group (HTG) and AM Affordable Housing have partnered to deliver The Fountains at Hidden Lake, an 81-unit affordable seniors housing community located at 10456 W. Ashburn Lane in Crystal River. The $24.5 million community was fully occupied at the grand opening to households age 62 and older who earn at or below 30, 40 and 60 percent of the area median income (AMI). Situated on 7 acres in west Florida, The Fountains at Hidden Lake includes 61 one-bedroom and 20 two-bedroom apartments ranging in size from 645 to 952 square feet. Amenities include a resort-style swimming pool, horseshoe court, fitness center, dog park and a multipurpose community room. Programming for the senior residents will include regular wellness check-ins, light housekeeping, grocery and laundry assistance and a calendar of community events and activities. Public and private funding sources for the project included $20.4 million in 9 percent Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) allocated by the Florida Housing Finance Corp. and syndicated by City Real Estate Advisors; an $18.5 million construction loan and $4.15 million permanent loan from KeyBank Real Estate Capital; and a $340,000 loan from the City of Crystal River. The …
PITTSBURGH — New Jersey-based Tryko Partners will develop a 48-unit affordable housing project in Pittsburgh’s West End neighborhood. Hill Top Villas will be an age-restricted complex in which the majority (40) of the one-bedroom units will be reserved for households earning 60 percent or less of the area median income. Amenities will include a fitness center and a community room. Tryko Partners has received 9 percent Low-Income Housing Tax Credits to finance the project, and construction could begin as early as 2027.
BRISTOW, VA. — An affiliate of e-commerce giant Amazon, Amazon Data Services, has acquired a site in Prince William County for a future data center campus. The firm acquired the undeveloped site near Devlin Road and I-66 in Bristow for $700 million, according to Washington Business Journal. CoStar Group reports that Stanley Martin Homes, a Reston, Va.-based homebuilder, sold the 188-acre site to Amazon and that Eastdil Secured represented the land seller in the deal. Washington Business Journal reports that the Prince William Board of County Supervisors rezoned the site for data center development in November 2023 and has since been in a legal dispute, with the Court of Appeals of Virginia recently upholding the county’s original rezoning decision.
PALM BEACH GARDENS, FLA. — Gatsby Florida plans to develop The Modern at Palm Beach Gardens, a 220,000-square-foot office tower in South Florida. The real estate development firm plans to break ground on The Modern in January and deliver the eight-story property in late 2027. Darryl Kaplan of Darryl R. Kaplan Co. is handling the leasing of the project and has preleased approximately 25 percent of the tower’s gross leasable area. Gatsby Florida expects a “rapid lease-up” due to an expected exodus from New York City by major corporations. The Modern will feature a 10,000-square-foot fine dining restaurant, a 4,000-square-foot casual dining eatery and an additional 7,000 square feet of retail space situated under an adjacent 838-space parking garage. Planned amenities include a large rooftop patio with covered seating, a wet bar and restrooms, as well as a fitness center with full-service locker rooms and a media/conference center.
JACKSONVILLE, FLA. — MWI Property Group has delivered a new 192,924-square-foot industrial facility located at 9395 Pritchard Road in Jacksonville. The facility is situated within Westlake Commerce Center, which features a 337,104-square-foot building delivered earlier this year. Guy Preston, Seda Preston and John Cole of Colliers are leading the leasing and marketing efforts at the new facility. The property features 32-foot clear heights, 55 dock-high doors, 100 trailer positions, ESFR fire protection and 2,000-amp power.