TOPEKA, KAN. — The J.M. Smucker Co. and its subsidiary Big Heart Pet Brands Inc. are making a $20.5 million investment in Topeka through an expansion of its manufacturing facility. The project includes a capital investment of $17.8 million in real property and $2.7 million in equipment. To accelerate the growth, the Joint Economic Development Organization board of Topeka and Shawnee County has approved economic development incentives totaling $383,000. Reser’s Fine Foods also recently announced a $34 million expansion in Topeka.
MESA, ARIZ. — Willmeng Construction, as general contractor, has completed Mesa Gateway Library, the first public library to be built in Mesa in 30 years. Located at 5036 S. Eastmark Parkway, the 28,272-square-foot library features a THINKspot makerspace, three video conferencing rooms, a digital art display wall and a dedicated sensory room for the Certified Autism Center, which uses trauma-informed design to select lighting and materials for neurodiverse populations. White Baux Studio designed the interior space. Designed by Richärd Kennedy Architects, the facility features an open market concept unified by a folded roof and a ceiling finished with wood planks.
BUFFALO, N.Y. — A partnership between Chicago-based developer The Habitat Co., New York City-based investment and advisory firm Duvernay + Brooks and an affiliate of the Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority will undertake a 254-unit affordable housing redevelopment. Known as Marine Drive Apartments, the project represents Phase I of a larger, $600 million redevelopment of Buffalo’s historic waterfront district. The project will replace a seven-building, 616-unit complex that was built in the 1950s with 700 new units of affordable housing. Information on rent restrictions and floor plans was not disclosed. The redevelopment will also feature 5,000 square feet of retail and commercial space, a new community center, landscaped green spaces and a public plaza.
WINFIELD, ILL. — Brennan Investment Group has signed a long-term lease with Tovala for a new 140,340-square-foot food processing facility in Winfield. Construction on the build-to-suit project is scheduled to commence in March. Completion is slated for the second quarter of 2027. The project represents Brennan’s fourth build-to-suit development in the food service sector. Founded in 2015, Tovala is a meal delivery service. Tod Greenwood, Jack Brennan and Larry DiVito represented Brennan on an internal basis. Jonathan Kohn of Colliers represented Tovala.
HOLLAND, OHIO — Evergreen Real Estate Group has broken ground on Green Oaks of Holland, a four-story, 120-unit affordable assisted living community in Holland near Toledo. Site work is underway, with completion and opening anticipated in March 2027. Located at 6650 N. Mall Drive, Green Oaks of Holland will feature 67 studio and 53 one-bedroom apartments. Assisted living provider Gardant Management Solutions will manage the property, which will be licensed as a residential care facility by the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) and approved as a Medicaid-assisted living service provider through the Ohio Department of Aging (ODA). The project is one of the first purpose-built affordable assisted living developments to break ground in Ohio, according to Evergreen, and is being completed in partnership with Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA), Ohio Department of Medicaid, ODA and ODH. Each unit will offer a kitchenette with a sink, refrigerator and microwave, with the flexibility to be upgraded to a full kitchen if needed. Units will also include a full private bathroom with a shower and grab bars, living and/or bedroom space, individual heating and air conditioning and an emergency alert system. Amenities will include a large dining room with a commercial kitchen providing …
TAMPA, FLA. — Related Urban Development Group and the Tampa Housing Authority will host a ribbon cutting ceremony on Thursday, Feb. 19, for Canopy at West River, a new 384-unit affordable housing community in Tampa. Delivered in two phases, the community spans four towers and offers a mix of one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom floorplans. Amenities at the complex include a community room with a kitchenette; game room with a TV; business center with computer/internet access; fully equipped fitness centers; smart home technology; electric vehicle (EV) charging stations; and a future NFL Alumni Obstacle Course that “reinforces the development’s focus on active living.” Situated within the larger West River mixed-use development, The Canopy at West River apartments are reserved for residents earning between 22 percent and 80 percent of the area median income (AMI), with long-term affordability supported through a combination of Project-Based Vouchers (PBV), Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) programs, National Housing Trust Fund (NHTF) financing and Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC).
ZEPHYRHILLS, FLA. — Franklin Street has brokered the $6.4 million sale of Oakview Plaza, a 47,000-square-foot retail center located in Zephyrhills, roughly 30 miles northeast of Tampa. Justin Walker, Justin Sturdivant and Dylan Morse of Franklin Street represented the seller, South Florida-based Merrimac Ventures, in the transaction. New York-based New Hyde Park Fruit Corp. was the buyer. Originally built in 1990, the center will undergo façade improvements, parking lot enhancements and lighting updates. The property’s Winn-Dixie store is also being redeveloped into an Aldi that will act as co-anchor to Archwell Health, a senior-focused primary care provider. Both stores will operate on new 10-year leases upon opening.
SANFORD, FLA. — The Ardent Cos. has received approval from the City of Sanford, a city in the Orlando MSA, for the redevelopment of Seminole Towne Center, a former shopping mall spanning 1.1 million square feet. The redevelopment includes construction of a new 164,585-square-foot Costco store on the 76-acre site. Taking place of the former Macy’s department store, the Costco location will include a gas station, tire center and liquor store. Ardent plans to begin site work and demolition this summer, with the Costco opening slated for second-quarter 2027. Over the past 12-plus months, the Atlanta-based owner and developer has acquired more than $115 million in six ground-up mixed-use development and redevelopment projects across the Southeast.
DURHAM, N.C. — Beacon Partners has purchased 119 acres of industrial-zoned land at the intersection of U.S. Highway 70 and Leesville Road in south Durham. Situated two miles south of Raleigh-Durham International Airport and near Research Triangle Park, the site will support the development of approximately 1.3 million square feet of Class A distribution, manufacturing and life sciences space. The project represents Phase I of Durham Gateway, a 308-acre master-planned campus that will also include 1,750 residential units, offices, shops and restaurants. The City of Durham granted Beacon entitlements for the full 308 acres in September. Durham Gateway is a joint venture between Beacon, HM Partners and SFRE Holdings. The project team includes Advanced Civil Design (civil engineer) and Merriman Schmitt (architect). Ann-Stewart Patterson, Austin Nagy and John Hogan of CBRE will lead leasing and marketing efforts for the industrial space at Durham Gateway.
AVENTURA, FLA. — Ocean Bank has provided a $70 million construction loan for Central Aventura, a nine-story mixed-use building located at the corner of Biscayne Boulevard and 209th Street in the Miami suburb of Aventura. Jesus Garcia of Ocean Bank originated the loan on behalf of the borrower, an entity doing business as Central Aventura LLC that is led by Jacobo Cababie Dichi. Central Aventura will comprise 75,270 square feet of retail space on the first three levels, four levels of parking and 63,883 square feet of offices on the top two floors. Additionally, the property will feature the first multi-story digital billboard in Aventura. The construction timeline for the project was not released.