NEW YORK CITY — The Durst Organization has completed the lease-up of SVEN, a 70-story apartment tower in Queens. Designed by Handel Architects, the building is the borough’s second tallest and houses 958 units, including 288 income-restricted residences, as well as 50,000 square feet of amenities. Leasing began in January 2021, and the building’s market-rate residences are now fully occupied. Finback Brewery will also open a microbrewery and taproom at SVEN later this year.
Development
STAMFORD, CONN. — Urby, a joint venture between Ironstate Development and Brookfield Properties, has delivered the final phase of Stamford Urby, a 641-unit apartment community located in southern coastal Connecticut. Designed by Concrete Amsterdam, the latest phase of the project added 176 units to the 11-building development. Residences are available in studio, one- and two-bedroom formats, with rents starting at approximately $2,075 per month for a studio. Amenities include a pool, outdoor grilling and dining areas, a fitness center, dog park, central courtyard and a coworking lounge.
NEW FREEDOM, PA. — Burkentine, a Pennsylvania-based residential developer, has opened Franklin Square, a 134-unit multifamily complex in New Freedom, located along the Maryland-Pennsylvania border. Franklin Square consists of 62 for-rent townhomes with one- to four-bedroom floor plans and 72 garden-style apartments, all on a six-acre site. Vortex Brewing Co. anchors the complex’s retail component. Information on starting rents was not disclosed.
SUN PRAIRIE, WIS. — Heyday has launched pre-leasing efforts for Heyday Sun Prairie, a 170-unit build-to-rent community in the Madison suburb of Sun Prairie. Completion is slated for later this spring or early summer. The 41-acre, pet-friendly community features activated open spaces and walking paths. Each of the single-family attached rental homes features ample storage, private patios, high-speed electric vehicle charging outlets in garages, multipurpose rooms and built-in desks. Daniel Management Group will serve as the property manager. Heyday has additional projects planned in Wisconsin, such as a 130-unit built-to-rent community in Oak Creek that is slated to open in late 2024.
CREVE COEUR, MO. — Election technology firm KNOWiNK has opened its new office headquarters in the St. Louis suburb of Creve Coeur. The office project was a renovation of the former American Heart Association building at 460 N. Lindbergh Blvd. KNOWiNK employs 154 people, with 60 employees based in St. Louis. The company’s national voting technology currently serves more than 1,700 election jurisdictions in 36 states and Washington, D.C., accounting for more than 50 percent of registered voters in the U.S. Designed by Remiger Design and built by ISC Contracting, the two-story headquarters features a collaborative open office space. The main level features private offices and huddle rooms, as well as space for sales and marketing, product development, quality control and client training. The lower level includes a game room, break room, town hall gathering space for company-wide meetings, a professional services and customer support office and a small warehouse. There is also an outdoor deck for company functions. The new office is triple the size of KNOWiNK’s existing office in St. Louis.
MassDevelopment Issues $151M in Bond Financing for Affordable Housing Projects Near Boston
by Jeff Shaw
BOSTON — MassDevelopment, Massachusetts’ state development finance agency and land bank, has issued $151.7 million in tax-exempt bonds to public housing authorities in the Boston suburbs of Brookline, Cambridge, Framingham and Medford. The proceeds will be used to renovate and preserve 368 units of housing for families, seniors, individuals living with disabilities and people experiencing homelessness. Additionally, the bonds will be used to create 46 new affordable apartments as well as to upgrade common areas, infrastructure, safety systems and landscaping. Brookline Housing Authority will use $40 million in proceeds to renovate the Sussman House Apartments in the southwest Boston suburb of Brookline. The community is a 100-unit complex that was built in 1969. Renovations include installing a new roof, windows and exterior cladding system; replacing the central heating and cooling system; upgrading elevators and unit interiors; and a new community room. Cambridge Housing Authority will use $21 million in proceeds to renovate and expand its building at 116 Norfolk St. in Cambridge, which is across the Charles River from Boston. The property, which was built in 1920, will be converted from 38 single-room units into studio apartments with their own kitchens and full bathrooms. Additionally, the project calls for 24 …
Santander Bank, TD Bank Provide $100M Construction Loan for Multifamily High-Rise Project in West Midtown Atlanta
by John Nelson
ATLANTA — Santander Bank and TD Bank have provided a $100 million construction loan to The Allen Morris Co. for Stella at Star Metals, a 21-story multifamily high-rise development in Atlanta’s West Midtown district. The 327-unit tower is the latest phase for Allen Morris Co.’s Star Metals District, a mixed-use development straddling Howell Mill Road that includes the Sentral at Star Metals apartments and Star Metals Offices. Brasfield & Gorrie constructed the other two properties and will serve as general contractor for Stella at Star Metals. The property will feature units with floor-to-ceiling windows, 10-foot ceiling heights, Italian cabinetry, stone countertops and outdoor balconies. Amenities will include a two-story, full-service bar and green roof terrace on the 17th floor; infinity pool, cabana and grilling stations on the seventh floor; an indoor/outdoor fitness center; dog spa; and a theater-style screening room. Additionally, Stella’s ground level will house 25,000 square feet of retail space anchored by chef-driven restaurants from the restaurateurs at Grass Fed Culture and Fishmonger. Stella residents are expected to move-in by mid-2025. Allen Morris Co. recently acquired 3.3 acres that will house fourth, fifth and sixth phases of Star Metals District.
Barron Collier, Metro Commercial Break Ground on Winchester Mixed-Use Project in Southwest Florida
by John Nelson
NAPLES, FLA. — Barron Collier Investment Partners, a joint venture between Barron Collier Cos. and Metro Commercial Development Group, has broken ground on Winchester, a 21-acre mixed-use property in Naples. The development is the second project between the two firms, joining the nearby Founder’s Square development. Situated on Immokalee Road and Orange Tree Boulevard, Winchester will include a major medical tenant, quick-serve restaurant, storage facility and retail space. The joint venture expects to announce tenants soon and to open by mid-2024. In addition to Founder’s Square and Winchester, Barron Collier and Metro Commercial plan to co-develop more mixed-use projects throughout the state of Florida, both ground-up opportunities and redevelopments.
MEMPHIS, TENN. — Home Communities Co. has delivered Brightmore of East Memphis, a 180-unit seniors housing development in Memphis. The property comprises 122 independent living apartments and 34 assisted living units in the main building, 24 memory care units in an adjoining single-story building, multiple outdoor spaces and dining options. The design-build team includes architect and landscape architect Baker Barrios and general contractor Montgomery Martin Contractors. Liberty Senior Living is the operator of Brightmore of East Memphis.
Hunt Capital Partners Invests $6.2M in LIHTC Equity for Affordable Housing Redevelopment in Baton Rouge
by John Nelson
BATON ROUGE, LA. — Hunt Capital Partners has provided $6.2 million in LIHTC equity for Government Corridor, a 103-year-old affordable housing redevelopment in Baton Rouge. The project will renovate 34 detached single-family and duplex homes that are reserved for families earning up to 30, 50 and 60 percent of the area median income (AMI). Additionally, 30 percent of all homes at Government Corridor will be set aside for special needs households. Originally built in 1920, the campus comprises three clusters that are situated within short distance of the recently overhauled Government Street. Only 15 percent of Government Corridor is occupied, and residents of the occupied units will be relocated until the first phase of the project is complete. The development team for Government Corridor includes general contractor Ethridge Construction; architect Erick Parnell, owner of ArchBoutant; and property manager GHCP Management LLC, an affiliate of nonprofit partner Gulf Coast Housing Partnership (GHCP). Rehabilitation work is underway and scheduled for completion in February 2024. Other capital partners include United Bank, the State of Louisiana Division of Administration Office of Community Development and GCHP.