Development

Cosmetics Giant L’Oréal Completes $160M Research and Innovation Center in Clark, New Jersey

by John Nelson February 27, 2025

CLARK, N.J. — French cosmetics company L’Oréal Groupe has announced the completion of its new North America Research & Innovation (R&I) Center located in Clark, roughly 13 miles outside Newark, N.J. The $160 million, 250,000-square-foot scientific research center is L’Oréal’s largest outside of France and will complement existing L’Oréal R&I hubs in Brazil, South Africa, India, China and Japan. “New Jersey has served as our scientific hub here in the United States for over six decades, and we are excited to expand our footprint in the state and bring all our scientific teams together in a beautiful and modern new research facility,” says David Greenberg, president and CEO of L’Oréal USA. The North America R&I Center broke ground in 2022 and comprises a 26,000-square-foot modular laboratory, a consumer center for product testing and co-creation (which accommodates up to 400 patrons) and an onsite mini factory to scale final formulations before full-scale productions. Sustainability attributes of the center include 10,000 solar panels, which meet 70 percent of the facility’s energy needs, an eco-retention pond for stormwater management and employee-led gardening and composting initiatives that create a green workspace. According to company representatives, the North America R&I Center will play a “pivotal …

February 27, 2025

Development Industrial Texas

ACMI Properties to Develop 1.5 MSF Industrial Park in Southeast Houston

by Taylor Williams February 26, 2025

HOUSTON — ACMI Properties, the development arm of the American Center for Manufacturing & Innovation, will develop Exploration Park, a 1.5 million-square-foot build-to-suit industrial park in southeast Houston. The site spans 207 acres on NASA’s Johnson Space Center campus. Plans for Exploration Park currently call for as many as 22 buildings ranging in size from 15,000 to 500,000 square feet with 24- to 30-foot clear heights and rear- or side-load configurations. Construction is expected to begin in the second quarter and to be complete in late 2026. JLL has been tapped as the leasing agent.

February 26, 2025

Development Retail Texas

EMCID Underway on 210,000 SF Convention Center at Valley Ranch in New Caney, Texas

by Taylor Williams February 26, 2025

NEW CANEY, TEXAS — The East Montgomery County Improvement District (EMCID) is underway on construction of a 210,000-square-foot convention center within the Valley Ranch master-planned development in New Caney, a northeastern suburb of Houston. The facility will feature a 55,000-square-foot ballroom/exhibit hall, nearly 20,000 square feet of meeting space and approximately 25,000 square feet of pre-function and lobby space and outdoor courtyards. Plans also call for an attached 813-space parking garage and connection to a full-service hotel. Completion is slated for fall 2026. Signorelli Co. is the master developer of Valley Ranch and previously owned the land on which the facility will be located.

February 26, 2025

Development Retail Texas

Merlin Entertainments Opens Peppa Pig Theme Park in North Richland Hills, Texas

by Taylor Williams February 26, 2025

NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, TEXAS — Merlin Entertainments, an operator based in the United Kingdom, has opened a theme park in North Richland Hills, a suburb of Fort Worth, that is dedicated to children’s character Peppa Pig. The site formerly housed a Mountasia Family Fun Center, and the new park features multiple rides, interactive attractions, themed playscapes and shows. Merlin Entertainments, which also operates facilities for concepts including Legoland and Sea Life Aquariums, has a licensing agreement with toymaker Hasbro, which owns the intellectual property rights to Peppa Pig and associated characters. Merlin Entertainments announced the concept in spring 2023.

February 26, 2025

Development Hospitality Texas

CDC Houston Begins Renovation of 128-Room Residence Inn Hotel

by Taylor Williams February 26, 2025

HOUSTON — CDC Houston, a subsidiary of Coventry Development Corp., has begun the renovation of the 128-room Residence Inn Houston City Place hotel. Built on 3.3 acres in 2015, the hotel is located within the 2,000-acre City Place master-planned community on the city’s north side. Suites feature full kitchens and separate living, working and sleeping areas. Amenities include an event space, a sport court, outdoor pool, onsite laundry facilities and a convenience store. Arkansas-based Julian Builders is leading design and construction of the project, which is expected to be complete in the second quarter.

February 26, 2025

Affordable Housing Development Loans Multifamily New York Northeast

Merchants Capital Funds $316M in Financing for Brooklyn Affordable Housing Project

by Taylor Williams February 26, 2025

NEW YORK CITY — Merchants Capital has funded $316 million in financing for the second phase of Alafia, a project in the East New York area of Brooklyn that will add 634 affordable and supportive housing units to the local supply. The borrower is a partnership between RiseBoro Community Partnership Inc., L+M Development Partners and Apex Building Group. The financing package, which includes both construction and permanent debt as well as equity, comprises: Phase II of Alafia will consist of two 14-story residential buildings that will house studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments that will be restricted for households earning between 40 and 70 percent of the area median income. A portion of those residences will be specifically reserved for individuals who were either formerly incarcerated or homeless. Amenities will include a fitness center, children’s playroom, community rooms and outdoor courtyards. Phase II will also feature 22,000 square feet of community and retail space. Construction began in December and is expected to be complete in summer 2027.

February 26, 2025

Affordable Housing Development Loans Massachusetts Multifamily Northeast

MassHousing Provides $29.7M in Financing for Affordable Housing Project in Brockton, Massachusetts

by Taylor Williams February 26, 2025

BROCKTON, MASS. — MassHousing has provided $29.7 million in financing for the construction of a 94-unit affordable housing project in Brockton, a southern suburb of Boston. The borrower, nonprofit owner-operator NeighborWorks Housing Solutions, is redeveloping a former industrial site at 1200 Monticello St. into a five-story building with 31 one-bedroom and 63 two-bedroom units. Of the 94 units, 14 will be restricted to households earning up to 30 percent of the area median income (AMI); 65 apartments will be earmarked for renters earning 60 percent or less of AMI; and 15 residences will be restricted to households earning 80 percent or less of AMI. Amenities will include a fitness center and a community room, and the building will also house 1,473 square feet of commercial space. Utile Inc. and NEI General Contracting are handling design and construction of the project, respectively. Completion is slated for fall 2026.

February 26, 2025

Development Mixed-Use Multifamily Retail South Carolina Southeast

Flournoy Breaks Ground on 365-Unit District South Apartment Property in Greenville

by John Nelson February 26, 2025

GREENVILLE, S.C. — Flournoy Development Group has broken ground on District South, a 365-unit apartment development located on a 21-acre site in Greenville. The property will include five four-story apartment buildings, 12 townhome buildings, three carriage home buildings and 13 retail spaces. Amenities will include a grab-and-go market, lounge, fitness and wellness center, resort-style swimming pool with a courtyard, outdoor entertainment areas, dog park and an indoor pet spa. The project team for District South includes architect Dynamik Design, general contractor McShane Construction and civil engineer Gray Engineering. Flournoy Properties Group will manage the apartment property. The construction timeline was not released.

February 26, 2025

Affordable Housing Development Loans Multifamily Southeast Virginia

Advantage Capital Closes Financing for Affordable Housing Development in Charlottesville, Virginia

by John Nelson February 26, 2025

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA. — Advantage Capital has closed the financing for the second phase of Kindlewood, a $68 million affordable housing redevelopment and expansion in Charlottesville. Phase II, which broke ground last month, will add 100 new units, half of which are replacement units for existing residents and the rest are new affordable housing units. The second phase will also include a new learning center, community center and the headquarters for Piedmont Housing Alliance, a partner in Kindlewood’s development team. National Housing Trust is also a development partner for Kindlewood. The last tranche of financing was $9.6 million in state Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTCs) in connection with the Virginia Housing Opportunity Tax Credit (HOTC) program. The development team expects to deliver the second phase in fall 2026.

February 26, 2025

California Development Multifamily Western

USA Properties Fund Begins Construction of 265-Unit Affordable Housing Project in Roseville, California

by Amy Works February 26, 2025

ROSEVILLE, CALIF. — USA Properties Fund has started construction on The Crawford, an affordable multifamily community in Roseville. Located at Fiddyment Road and Harvey Way, The Crawford will offer 265 one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, with some available as early as fall 2026. Completion is slated for spring 2027. Community amenities will include a community room, fitness room, swimming pool and dog park. Additionally, residents will have access to LifeSTEPS, a social-services provider that offers numerous services for residents. The Crawford residents must meet income requirements, earning 30 percent to 70 percent of the area median income of Placer County, Calif., about $35,370 to $82,530 per year for a four-year household. The City of Roseville Housing Authority provided eight project-based vouchers, securing apartments for very low-income residents, for the project. Bank of America is the tax credit investor and construction lender, while Citi Community Capital is the permanent lender on the $112 million project. Safehold is the leaseholder of the property.

February 26, 2025

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