FORT MYERS, FLA. — National CORE has announced plans to develop Oak Park Senior Living, an affordable seniors housing project in Fort Myers. Upon completion, the four-story community will feature 144 apartment units for residents age 62 and older earning between 30 and 65 percent of the area median income. Residences will include 124 one-bedroom apartments and 20 two-bedroom apartments. Amenities will include a community room, cybercafe, swimming pool, fitness room, community garden and a pickleball court. Residents will have access to computer training, daily activities and free assistance with light housekeeping, grocery shopping and laundry through AGPM, National CORE’s property management partner. KeyBank Community Development Lending and Investment has provided $16 million in low-income housing tax credit (LIHTC) equity. KeyBank’s Commercial Mortgage Group privately placed $22 million in tax exempt bonds for the construction and originated a $7.4 million Freddie Mac Forward commitment for permanent financing, which will be funded upon stabilization of the community. Florida Housing Finance Corp. has committed $22 million to the project in the form of a Multifamily Mortgage Revenue Note, as well as $9.5 million from the Rental Recovery Loan Program, $1.2 million of Extremely Low-Income funding and $1.9 million in 4 percent LIHTC …
Development
KARA Hospitality Opens 92-Room Extended Stay America Hotel in Charlottesville, Virginia
by John Nelson
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA. — KARA Hospitality has opened Extended Stay America Premier Suites – Charlottesville, a 92-room, four-story hotel in Charlottesville. The hotel features free Wi-Fi, complimentary breakfast, cable TV, a 24-hour fitness room, onsite guest laundry and a lobby with additional vending options. All suites include fully equipped kitchens with full-size refrigerators, microwaves, stovetops, cookware, utensils and dishes, as well as recliners and work areas.
TEMPLETON, MASS. — A partnership between metro Boston-based MPZ Development and Capstone Communities will undertake a $36 million multifamily adaptive reuse project in Templeton, about 65 miles northwest of Boston. Designed by ICON Architecture, the project will convert the historic Baldwinville Elementary School, which was originally built in 1923, into a 54-unit apartment complex that will be known as Baldwinville School Apartments. Residences will come in studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom floor plans, and the majority (49) of the units will be reserved for households earning between 30 and 60 percent of the area median income. Amenities will include a children’s playground, fitness center, electric vehicle charging stations, onsite laundry facilities and a community walking trail and green space. Rockland Trust provided $21.5 million in construction financing for the project. A groundbreaking ceremony will take place in May.
BALA CYNWYD, PA. — Federal Realty Investment Trust (NYSE: FRT) and CBG Building Co. have topped out a 217-unit multifamily redevelopment project in Bala Cynwyd, a northwestern suburb of Philadelphia. The project, which represents the second phase of a larger redevelopment known as Bala Cynwyd on City Avenue, is a conversion of the former 120,000-square-foot Lord & Taylor department store into an apartment complex with 16,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space. Federal Realty received zoning approval for the project in February 2024 and broke ground a few months later. The company expects to complete construction of this phase next summer.
PLANO, TEXAS — Aligned Data Centers LLC, a data center developer and operator based in Plano, has partnered with Lambda Inc., a cloud computing company backed by Nvidia. Lambda will occupy DFW-04, Aligned’s newest data center under construction in its home market. The Dallas Morning News reported that the facility represents an investment of $700 million. Lambda’s AI Cloud platform will be integrated into the new data center, which is anticipated to be available in 2026. Situated at 401 N. Star Road, DFW-04 will comprise 425,000 square feet and support Lambda’s highest-density graphics processing units (GPUs), essential tools for AI and machine learning users. The new 44-acre facility will have an onsite substation and will feature Aligned’s proprietary air and liquid cooling technologies. DFW-04 will also have more than 5,000 megawatts of future capacity. The new facility will be situated within three miles of DFW-01 and DFW-02, which also serves as Aligned’s corporate headquarters. Aligned is also currently underway on DFW-03, a 27-acre data center project in Mansfield, Texas, that is set to deliver later this year. “Aligned is the ideal partner to help Lambda build large, flexible space that meets the AI demands of today and tomorrow,” says Ken …
ANNA, TEXAS — Locally based firm ONM Living will develop Cottages at Century Farms, a 290-unit build-to-rent community that will be located in the North Texas city of Anna. The development will be situated on a 23-acre site within a master-planned community and will offer studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom homes that will range in size from approximately 350 to 1,400 square feet. Homes will feature fenced yards, covered front porches, granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, walk-in showers, full-size washers and dryers and smart technology. Amenities will include a fitness center, pool, pickleball and other sports courts, dog park and walking trails. Leasing is scheduled to begin late next year.
MARBLE FALLS, TEXAS — Z Modular, a division of Zekelman Industries, has begun leasing at FLATZ 830, a 264-unit multifamily project in Marble Falls, roughly 50 miles northwest of Austin. Units come in studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom floor plans, according to Apartments.com. Amenities include a pool, fitness center, multi-sport simulator, pet park, coworking lounge, private conference room and complimentary coffee bar. Rents start at approximately $1,400 per month for a studio apartment.
SACRAMENTO, CALIF. — USA Properties Fund, in partnership with LDK Ventures, has completed The A.J., a $130 million mixed-income apartment property within The Railyards in Sacramento. The apartment community is named after A.J. Stevens, a community leader and legendary Southern Pacific master mechanic who worked in The Railyards in the 1870s and 1880s. Stevens oversaw the building of Southern Pacific’s locomotives and retail cars in The Railyards. Today, The Railyards is an infill development that will include live entertainment, shops and restaurants, as well as a Kaiser Permanente medical center and a new soccer stadium for Sacramento Republic FC. Located at 251 6th St., The A.J. features 345 apartments, including 69 affordable homes for residents earning 50 percent or less of the area median income, with stainless steel appliances, quartz countertops, two-tone cabinets, ceiling fans, rainfall showerheads and walk-in closets. Ground-floor apartments feature stained concrete floors while units on the other four floors will feature carpet and wood-plank floors. Apartments will also feature smart-lock access, smart thermostats and the ability to check on deliveries and visitors from screens in the units. Community amenities include a 24/7 fitness center; a sky lounge with a rooftop observation deck with fire tables, gas …
NEW YORK CITY — The Food Hall Co., a Dallas-based operator, has unveiled plans for Shaver Hall, a 35,000-square-foot culinary destination that will be located within the historic former Lord & Taylor building at 424 Fifth Ave. in Midtown Manhattan. Designed by ZGF Architects and ICRAVE, Shaver Hall will feature 11 curated food stalls, including an Omakase concept, a wine and cheese bar, a steakhouse and a modern bodega. Shaver Hall is scheduled to open before the end of the year.
WATERLOO, IOWA — International Paper (IP) is building a new corrugated box plant in Waterloo that will replace its existing facility in the city. The project represents a $260 million investment and is expected to create more than 85 additional jobs for a total of 210 employees. According to the City of Waterloo, the project marks the largest box plant in the U.S. Construction is slated to begin this spring. Operations at the plant are expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2026. Approximately 130 full-time jobs will be created during construction. IP is currently under contract with the city for the purchase of the land. The project team includes Miller Valentine Construction and Andrew Churchill Architect PC.