PORTLAND, ORE. — A public-private partnership between USA Properties Fund, Northwest Housing Alternatives and Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) has opened The Canopy Apartments at Powell, a multifamily property at 12475 S.E. Powell Blvd. in Portland. Situated 12 miles east of downtown Portland, The Canopy Apartments at Powell features 169 one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments for residents earning less than 60 percent of the area median income. Community amenities include elevators, laundry facilities on each floor, on-site parking, bike room, an after-school program for children, a courtyard with a tot lot, a dog wash and a donation pantry. The $63 million development is the first of two apartment communities in Oregon for USA Properties Fund. The public-private partnership, including $15.2 million from OHCS’ Local Innovation and Fast Track (LIFT) housing program, was critical in paving the way for the project, as well as The Portland Housing Bureau’s waiving of millions of dollars of development fees. Additional project partners included WNC & Associates and JP Morgan Chase as financial partners and WALSH Construction Co. as general contractor.
Development
DETROIT — Brinkmann Constructors has completed Detroit Commerce Center, a 794,000-square-foot office and industrial development in Detroit. NorthPoint Development was the developer. Located on the site of the former American Motors Corp. headquarters, the project included eight office build-outs for an automotive parts supplier. studioNorth Architecture served as the project architect.
NEW YORK CITY — A partnership between Taconic Partners and National Real Estate Advisors is underway on construction of The Ellery, a 330-unit multifamily project in Midtown Manhattan. Designed by Handel Architects, The Ellery will consist of two interconnected buildings that will rise 32 and seven stories at 312 W. 43rd St. Units will come in studio, one- and two-bedroom floor plans. The Ellery will feature 28,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor amenity space, including a rooftop pool, as well as 42,000 square feet of retail space across two floors. The development team most recently completed construction of the façade, but a timeline for full completion was not disclosed.
GRAFTON, MASS. — GFI Partners will undertake a 200,000-square-foot life sciences redevelopment project in Grafton, located in Worcester County. The Boston-based developer will convert a 33.2-acre site that was formerly part of the Grafton State Hospital campus into a two-building facility that can also support industrial usage under local zoning laws. MassDevelopment sold the parcel to GFI Partners for an undisclosed price. Construction is set to begin this summer and to be complete in early 2026.
Basis Investment Buys Minority Stake in Related Beal’s $416M Life Sciences Development in Boston
by John Nelson
BOSTON — Basis Investment Group, a New York City-based commercial real estate debt and equity investment platform, has purchased an equity stake in Phase III of Innovation Square, a $416 million life sciences development in Boston’s Seaport District. The company purchased a minority stake of an undisclosed value from the developer, Related Beal, the Boston office of Related Cos. Located on a 1.8-acre site at 22 Drydock St., Phase III of Innovation Square will comprise a seven-story life sciences building totaling 340,000 square feet. Related Beal is leasing the site from the City of Boston for a 99-year term. The property’s life sciences space is fully preleased to Vertex Pharmaceuticals, a biopharmaceutical company based in Boston. The company also fully occupies Phase II of Innovation Square, a four-story life sciences building located at 6 Tide St. in Boston. In addition to laboratories and offices for Vertex, 22 Drydock will include dedicated lab space for Gloucester Marine Genomics Institute, a nonprofit that provides hands-on training for careers in labs to veterans and neighborhood high school students. Related Beal says the project is the first LEED Platinum and zero-net-carbon life sciences building in Boston. A net zero carbon building is a highly efficient …
BOYNTON BEACH, FLA. — Foundry Commercial has purchased 30 acres at 3800 S. Congress Ave. in Boynton Beach, with plans to develop a 457,000-square-foot logistics center at the site. Upon completion, the development — dubbed Egret Point Logistics Center — will feature two rear-load warehouses with 180-foot truck courts, 32-foot clear heights, parking and ESFR sprinkler systems. The Orlando-based developer plans to demolish the existing 126,000-square-foot office and warehouse building currently occupying the site to make way for the new project. Construction is scheduled to be completed in spring 2025.
JBG Smith Announces Cancellation of 9 MSF Potomac Yard Entertainment District in Metro D.C.
by John Nelson
ALEXANDRIA, VA. — JBG Smith has announced the cancellation of Potomac Yards, an entertainment district project that would have comprised 9 million square feet within the National Landing neighborhood in Alexandria, roughly eight miles south of Washington, D.C. A partnership between the developer and Monumental Sports & Entertainment (MSE) first proposed the development — which would have been anchored by a new arena for the NHL’s Washington Capitals and NBA’s Washington Wizards — in December of last year. Completion of the project, including a global corporate headquarters for MSE, a media studio, a practice facility for the Wizards, performing arts venue and an e-sports facility, was scheduled for the end of 2028. According to JBG Smith, “discussions between Monumental, Alexandria and the Commonwealth of Virginia have been terminated.” Shortly after JBG Smith’s announcement, MSE and Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser inked a deal to keep the Capitals and Wizards at their current home, Capital One Arena in D.C., until at least 2050. In a press release, the developer says that “the opportunity was derailed largely due to partisan politics.” About a week before these announcements, D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb wrote a letter to MSE informing the organization that …
KINGWOOD, TEXAS — High Street Residential is nearing completion of Residences at Kingwood, a 289-unit multifamily project on the northern outskirts of Houston. High Street Residential is developing the project, which consists of 240 apartments and 49 townhomes, in partnership with Japanese homebuilder Daiwa House Group. Residences come in one-, two- and three-bedroom formats and are furnished with stainless steel appliances, custom cabinetry and individual washers and dryers. Select units also feature private balconies/patios and garages. Amenities include a pool, grilling areas, fitness center with a yoga/Pilates studio, an outdoor workout area, resident lounge with an art gallery and an entertaining kitchen and a conferencing and remote-work suite. Residents also have access to a putting green, bocce ball courts, pickleball court, multiple outdoor dining areas and the Kingwood Greenbelt trail system. W Partnership is the development’s architect, and Robinson & Co. led the landscape design. Cadence McShane served as the general contractor. The first move-ins at Residences at Kingwood will begin in the coming weeks.
TEXAS CITY, TEXAS — Wan Bridge, a Texas-based developer of build-to-rent residential communities, has completed a 76-unit project in Texas City, located southeast of Houston. The project represents Phase I of Crystal View at Lago Mar and features two-story, duplex and triplex homes that range in size from 1,429 to 1,883 square feet. Phase II will consist of 75 units that are expected to be delivered by the end of the year. Residents have access to a beach club and the 12-acre Lago Mar crystal lagoon, as well as kayaking and sailboarding rental services. Information on starting rents was not disclosed.
NEW YORK CITY — Developer JCS Realty is underway on construction of Bruckner House, a 365-unit multifamily project in The Bronx. The site is located at 40 Bruckner Blvd. in the Mott Haven neighborhood on the borough’s south side. Bruckner House offers studio, one- and two-bedroom units and amenities such as a fitness center, coworking areas, a movie theater and a rooftop pool and lounge area. Project partners include S9 Architecture and EP Engineering.