ROCKFORD, ILL. — PACE Equity has provided $10.9 million in Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) financing for a multifamily conversion project in Rockford. The C-PACE capital will help fund energy-efficient improvements for a 215-unit multifamily development to be built at 150 Loomis St. Specifically, the financing is for HVAC, LED lighting, windows, walls, roof and water conservation improvements. The property previously served as industrial space and consists of two buildings. The Illinois Energy Conservation Authority (IECA), an Illinois tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, worked to close the financing with PACE Equity.
VERNON HILLS, ILL. — PREMIER Design + Build Group will soon break ground on a new headquarters for Heathrow Scientific, a global manufacturer of laboratory supplies and instruments designed to support scientific research, analysis and experimentation. The new facility will be located at 440 N. Fairway Drive in the Chicago suburb of Vernon Hills and will house the company’s manufacturing, laboratory and office operations. Construction of the two-story, 112,000-square-foot building will commence once demolition of an existing structure on the site is complete. The project will feature a large laboratory, employee fitness center, outdoor dining area, 12 dock positions, two drive-in doors and parking for 63 vehicles. Completion is slated for August 2024. PREMIER is actively exploring green building initiatives, including a solar array and hybrid rooftop units that use electricity instead of natural gas. The project team includes Cornerstone Architects Ltd. and SPACECO Inc. as civil engineer. Brett Kroner of Cushman & Wakefield brokered the sale of the site.
MINNEAPOLIS — Kraus-Anderson has completed construction on a 15,314-square-foot office build-out for Grant Thornton LLP at the Steelman Exchange building in Minneapolis. Grant Thornton is an audit, tax and advisory firm. The Steelman Exchange building is located at 241 5th Ave. North in the city’s North Loop. The new office features workspaces and layouts designed for collaboration. LB Design Group was the architect.
PHOENIX — A joint venture between locally based developer Creation and New York City-based investment firm Clarion Partners has acquired nearly 100 acres in Phoenix. Located on the northwest corner of the Loop 101 and Indian School Road, the site will be used to develop a $250 million industrial project known as Park Algodon. Park Algodon is a speculative industrial development that totals approximately 1.3 million square feet across 86 acres. The project will be built in two phases, with construction on the first phase slated to begin by the end of the year. The first phase comprises four buildings totaling 670,000 square feet. The second phase will include one 556,000-square-foot building. LGE Design Build is leading the construction, which is scheduled for completion in late 2025. Creation and Clarion Partners acquired the land from the John F. Long family in an off-market transaction. Greg Vogel and Max Xander of Land Advisors represented both parties in the deal. “This acquisition marks our first joint venture with Clarion Partners. We’re honored to work alongside them on this significant project, addressing a key gap in the West Phoenix industrial market,” says Grant Kingdon, principal of Creation’s Mountain West region. “Park Algodon serves as a catalyst to attract new …
ORLANDO, FLA. — Universal Destinations & Experiences and Wendover Housing Partners have begun construction on Catchlight Crossings, a 20-acre residential district in Orlando. The land was donated by Universal’s not-for-profit Housing for Tomorrow. Situated near the Orange County Convention Center along International Drive, the project will ultimately feature 1,000 affordable housing apartments, onsite amenities and services, 16,000 square feet of retail space, play areas and a transportation center. Some features will include Bezos Academy, a tuition-free preschool, as well as educational opportunities via the nearby University of Central Florida. Amenities will include resort-style pools, a fitness center, game room, cafes, bike and walking paths, a community garden and four acres of open green space. Chase is the primary construction lender for Catchlight Crossings, which will remain an affordable community in perpetuity. The majority of the units – 75 percent — will be designated as affordable and reserved for households with incomes at or below 60 percent of the area’s median income (AMI). Universal Destinations & Experiences and Wendover Housing expect to open the first phase of Catchlight Crossings in 2026.
SPRING, TEXAS — JLL has arranged a $28 million loan for the refinancing of The Landing at Augusta Woods, a 148-unit seniors housing community in Spring, a northern suburb of Houston. The community comprises a 120-unit apartment-style complex that provides independent living, assisted living and memory care services, as well as 28 to-be-built independent living, duplex-style cottage units. Zane Sweet, Alanna Ellis, Zach Brantley and Kyle White of JLL arranged the four-year, fixed-to-floating-rate loan from an undisclosed life insurance company. The borrower, Harmony Communities, will use a portion of the proceeds to fund an expansion of the community.
HUNTSVILLE, ALA. — Benson Capital Partners, an investment firm founded by New Orleans Saints owner and New Orleans Pelicans governor Gayle Benson, has invested in MidCity District, a $2.2 billion mixed-use development in Huntsville. The New Orleans-based company has provided a $5.7 million equity investment via its real estate fund, Benson Capital Real Estate I LP, for MidCity Placemakers Retail II, a retail component within MidCity spanning 82,669 square feet. Additionally, Randy Wolfe of Northmarq arranged a $13.8 million loan for MidCity Placemakers Retail II. RCP Cos. is the principal owner of MidCity District, which will ultimately comprise 1,865 residential units, 925 hotel rooms, shops, restaurants, entertainment retail and Class A offices, along with outdoor gathering spaces, including the Orion Amphitheater. “We are excited to further RCP’s vision for MidCity, redefining community spaces,” says Keith Schneider, managing director for Benson Capital’s real estate fund. “MidCity District represents a pioneering vision that aligns with our commitment to investing in transformative projects.”
HOUSTON — Clay Development is nearing completion of High Life Distribution Center, a 103,100-square-foot industrial project in northwest Houston. The facility sits on an 8.1-acre site at 15930 Tomball Parkway and is part of the 21-acre High Life Business Park, which Clay Development originally began working on in 2010. Building features include 32-foot clear heights, 27 dock doors, two drive-in doors, 2,600 square feet of office space and 61 car parking spots. The building is expected to be ready for occupancy by the end of the year.
BOSTON — Boston Global Investors, in partnership with Cogsville Capital Group and Bastion Cos., has topped out 10 World Trade, a 17-story, 555,250-square-foot life sciences and office building in Boston’s Seaport District. The development team is targeting LEED Gold certification for the building and will also introduce other eco-friendly and wellness-based features, such as VIEW Smart Windows and a rooftop solar field. Other project partners include Suffolk Construction and H.J. Russell & Co. Construction began in March 2022 and is expected to be complete in late 2024.
FORT LEE, N.J. — Regional developer UNLMTD Real Estate is underway on construction of FIAT House, a 300-unit multifamily project in the Northern New Jersey community of Fort Lee. The site is located at the foot of the George Washington Bridge. Units will come in studio, one- and two-bedroom formats, and the property will house more than 30,000 square feet of amenity and social gathering spaces. The first units are expected to be available for occupancy in early 2024. The developer is constructing the project in partnership with Italian automaker FIAT, and residents will have access to a car-sharing program of FIAT electric vehicles.