ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The University of Rochester (UR) plans to develop The UR Medicine Orthopaedics & Physical Performance Center at The Marketplace Mall in Rochester. The 330,000-square-foot facility would be the largest off-site building in UR history. Wilmorite, owner of The Marketplace Mall, plans to sell the former Sears department store and surrounding mall property to UR. Plans call for repurposing the vacant Sears building as the shell for the new ambulatory surgery center, with new operating rooms and procedure rooms. New construction would create a multi-story tower above the surgery center, housing services such as diagnosis and treatment of bone, spine, muscle and joint conditions as well as sports medicine, injury prevention and other wellness services. The Orthopaedics & Physical Performance Center could cost up to $240 million, which will be paid for through a combination of philanthropy, UR funds and borrowing. Trustees have approved $11 million for project design. If approvals and construction proceed as expected, the campus could be completed by 2023.
Development
ALLENTOWN, PA. — Center City Investment Corp. will develop 1 Center Square, a 296,000-square-foot Class A office building in the City Center business district of Allentown, located approximately 60 miles north of Philadelphia. The 16-story office building will be built with a speculative corporate headquarters anchor tenant in mind and will feature open floorplans and theater-style auditoriums. JDavis Architects is designing 1 Center Square and Gensler is the interior designer. North Star Construction Management is the general contractor. Construction is slated to begin this fall, with initial occupancy scheduled for 2022. The project is estimated to cost $100 million.
Affordable HousingContent PartnerDevelopmentFeaturesGeorgiaMixed-UseMultifamilySoutheastSoutheast Feature ArchiveWalker & Dunlop
Egbert Perry and Affordable Housing: How One Man’s Vision Launched a National Movement
by Jaime Lackey
When picturing the rebirth of downtown Atlanta, one of the first images to come to mind is the skyline — the iconic high-rises. Another, often overlooked, part of this picture includes Atlanta’s skywalks. In the early days of redevelopment, these walkways connected luxury buildings above urban neighborhoods that many had abandoned, and effectively furthered the separation of the “haves” from the “have-nots.” Iconic Atlanta developer Egbert Perry was driven to challenge development that emphasized the separation. From his perspective, perpetuating the separation of community members simply perpetuated the issues of inequity and injustice that plagued the city. Perry was motivated to bring people together in a different way, in neighborhoods that would appeal to everyone. Where others saw poverty, blight, and dilapidated housing projects, Perry saw potential — and pioneered a new approach to affordable and workforce housing, commercial real estate development, and community development and investment. The Story Begins at Centennial Place In 1994, when Perry left H.J. Russell & Company to start The Integral Group, he quickly came upon an opportunity to redevelop the area now home to Centennial Place. The 60-acre property was located in the heart of downtown Atlanta, and was considered to be the most …
Hines, USAA, Philena Break Ground on 807,000 SF West Edge Mixed-Use Project in Los Angeles
by Alex Patton
LOS ANGELES — A partnership between Hines Interests Limited Partnership, USAA Real Estate and Philena Properties has broken ground on West Edge, an 807,000-square-foot mixed-use project in West Los Angeles. Upon full build-out, the development will feature 200,000 square feet of office space, 90,000 square feet of retail space, 600 multifamily units and a half-acre open-air plaza. The project is scheduled for completion in 2022. West Edge’s eight floors of office space will be designed specifically for media and technology users. The office portion will feature 11-foot floor-to-ceiling windows and outdoor terraces on five of the floors. A 36,000-square-foot grocery store will anchor the retail space, with other tenants including a 16,000-square-foot fitness center, 18,000 square feet for multiple restaurants and bars, and 20,000 square feet for other retail. The 600 luxury apartments will feature a private fitness center, resort-style pool, yoga area, library, private test kitchen, rooftop sports bar, movie screening area and a lounge. Situated in the West Los Angeles neighborhood, the site will offer immediate access to the Bundy Station metro station, which connects to the Downtown, Culver City and Santa Monica districts. The Martin Family has owned the site for more than 40 years, and the …
BOSTON — Ascend Mass, a subsidiary of Ascend Wellness Holdings, will open a 16,000-square-foot cannabis dispensary in downtown Boston. Located at 272 Friend St. near Faneuil Hall and TD Garden, the store will be the largest cannabis dispensary to open on the East Coast. Ascend Wellness operates cannabis stores in Illinois and Michigan, and the Boston store will be its first in Massachusetts. The Andrus Group designed the building, which is slated to open in late 2020.
HARTFORD, CONN. — KeyBank Community Development Lending and Investment has provided a $14 million construction loan for the Phase II redevelopment of Westbrook Village, an affordable housing community in Hartford, Connecticut. Additionally, Key Community Development Corp. has provided $12.7 million in low-income housing tax credit equity for the project. The borrowers, Pennrose and The Cloud Co., are leading a five-phase redevelopment project of Westbrook Village, a 40-acre plot near the University of Hartford. The plot currently contains mostly vacant apartment and commercial buildings which were completed in the early 1950s. Those buildings are being leveled and replaced by new multifamily and retail constructions. Phase I of the project, which includes 75 housing units, is slated for completion this summer. Phase II of the construction will comprise six buildings with individual units leased at varying rates based on area median income (AMI). Of the 60 units, 45 will be affordable and 15 will be market rate. Of the 45 affordable units, 12 will be for supportive housing designated for individuals and families with incomes at or below 25 percent of AMI; 24 will be designated for individuals and families with incomes between 25 percent and 50 percent of AMI; and nine …
CBL Inks Lease with Dave & Buster’s at Cross Creek Mall in Fayetteville, North Carolina
by Alex Tostado
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. — CBL Properties has unveiled redevelopment plans for Phase I of the former Sears department store within Cross Creek Mall in Fayetteville. New-to-market Dave & Buster’s will occupy and operate the space, which is under construction. Chattanooga, Tenn.-based CBL also says it is looking add restaurants, specialty stores and other uses that will further enhance Cross Creek Mall. The Sears closed in January 2019. The mall is located at 419 Cross Creek Mall, five miles west of downtown Fayetteville. Additional details including the timing of the Dave & Buster’s opening will be announced as plans are finalized.
SAN ANTONIO — Atlantic | Pacific Communities (A|P Communities) has completed The Bristol, a new 96-unit multifamily community located at 7810 Old Tezel Road in San Antonio. The property features a mix of affordable and market-rate units with rents ranging from $316 to $996 per month, depending on unit type and income qualifications. Community amenities include a clubhouse, playground and a swimming pool. The Bristol is the fourth A|P Communities property in the metro San Antonio area, and the company is planning to break ground on a fifth project early this year. The company’s operating division, Atlantic | Pacific Management, will manage The Bristol.
CHICAGO — A joint venture between Origin Investments and Cedar Street Cos. is developing Pilsen Gateway, a $64.5 million multifamily project in a qualified opportunity zone adjacent to Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood. Construction recently began on the seven-story development. It is situated on a 1.2-acre site at 1461 S. Blue Island. Upon completion, Pilsen Gateway will feature 202 apartment units, 7,600 square feet of ground-floor retail space, an 8,500-square-foot outdoor amenity deck, a resident lounge and fully equipped gym. Units will average 616 square feet. Seven units will be classified as affordable. Hartshorne Plunkard Architecture designed the project. Don Adams of TCF Bank and Michael Slovitt of Berkadia arranged project financing. The first units are slated for completion in spring 2021.
COLUMBUS, OHIO — CT Realty has purchased 382 acres in Columbus for the development of a 5.7 million-square-foot logistics park. The eight-building project will be situated in immediate proximity to a Norfolk Southern intermodal yard as well as the Rickenbacker International Airport. The first phase of development comprises two buildings totaling 1.4 million square feet. The two buildings are slated for completion in early 2021. CT acquired the 382-acre property in a joint venture with Walton Street Capital. Brian Marsh and Dan Wendorf of JLL brokered the land sale and will market the project for lease. Bank of America is providing construction financing. Premier Design + Build Group will serve as general contractor for the infrastructure and Phase I of the development.