WOODBRIDGE, N.J. — Locally based developer Woodmont Industrial Partners has begun vertical construction of a 101,425-square-foot distribution center at 85 New Brunswick Ave. in the Northern New Jersey city of Woodbridge. The property will offer proximity to State Routes 440 and 9, as well as the New Jersey Turnpike and Garden State Parkway. Building features will include 36-foot clear heights and 12 dock doors with the option to expand to 24. Woodmont acquired the site in July and expects to complete the project in the second quarter of next year. CBRE is handling leasing of the property.
Development
NEW YORK CITY — Fisher Bros. has completed the $20 million renovation of 299 Park Avenue in Manhattan. The company partnered with Rockwell Group for the design of the project, which included upgrades to the lobby, elevators and exterior façade, as well as the addition of a digital art display. Fisher Bros. owns the 1.2 million-square-foot building and houses its office headquarters within the property.
WOODBRIDGE, N.J. — New Jersey-based developer TFE Properties has delivered Luxe Apartments, a 117-unit multifamily community in the Northern New Jersey city of Woodbridge. The property is situated across from Woodbridge Center Mall and houses retail space on the first floor, office space on the second floor and residential units on floors three through nine. Units feature one- and two-bedroom floor plans and range in size from 706 to 1,286 square feet. Amenities include two fitness centers with spin and cycling studios, shared workspaces, a resident clubroom with various games and a package locker room. Rents start at $1,675 per month for a one-bedroom unit.
NEW YORK CITY — Taconic Partners and Nuveen Real Estate have unveiled plans to redevelop 125 West End Avenue into a life sciences and research building. Broadcaster ABC has occupied the property as part of its New York City headquarters since 1985 but plans to vacate in January 2021. Chrysler originally constructed the eight-story, 400,000-square-foot property in 1929 as an automotive facility. The New York Times is also a former owner and tenant. The building features floorplates of more than 50,000 square feet, ceiling heights ranging from 13 to 16 feet, multiple access points and views of the Hudson River. Taconic and Nuveen purchased the property in late 2019 for $230 million. Plans call for a mechanical plant, purpose-built lab infrastructure, a new façade, roof terrace and conference center. The developers are still evaluating options for the remainder of the site, which includes a six-story, 131,000-square-foot television studio building and a 1.2-acre development parcel. Construction is slated for completion in 2023. The project team includes architect Perkins+Will and engineer JB&B. The development will feature several environmental sustainability features and is on track to achieve LEED Gold certification. Estimated development costs were not disclosed, though LoanCore Capital did provide a $181 …
ETNA, OHIO — Ashley Furniture Industries Inc. has unveiled plans to build a new facility in Etna near Columbus. The furniture manufacturer says it will invest $70 million and create 300 new jobs. Hiring will begin in late 2021, once the building is completed. TPA Group is the developer and FCL Builders is the general contractor for the project. The new 1 million-square-foot facility, located at 70 Global Parkway, will serve as a regional distribution hub for e-commerce fulfillment and store shipments. “Providing access to nearly 50 percent of the U.S. population within a day’s drive, Etna’s location in central Ohio is a strategic choice for Ashley,” says Todd Wanek, president and CEO of the Arcadia, Wis.-based retailer. Ashley sells furniture in more than 20,000 storefronts in 155 countries.
KANSAS CITY, MO. — City Club Apartments (CCA) has opened its newest community in Kansas City within the Crossroads neighborhood. The 283-unit, seven-story development also includes duplexes, townhouses and penthouses. There are 50 different floor plans. Amenities include a rooftop sky park, pool, outdoor theater, terrace club, concierge service and nearly 300 underground parking spaces. The first floor features DGX, a small retail store with grab-and-go salads, sandwiches, fresh produce and a selection of home and beauty products. Local restaurateur Howard Hanna plans to open two new concepts at the community in 2021. The combined 6,000-square-foot space will include a 2,000-square-foot wine bar and a 4,000-square-foot diner. Monthly rents start at $1,005 for studios. Residents can now receive up to three months of free rent on select units.
PHILADELPHIA — Hilco Redevelopment Partners, the real estate development unit of Hilco Global, has revealed plans for the remediation and repositioning of the 1,300-acre former refinery site of Philadelphia Energy Solutions (PES). The development will be known as The Bellwether District. The redevelopment plan includes the demolition of 105 onsite buildings, as well as hydrocarbon processing units, boiler rooms and wastewater treatment plants, to convert the site into a logistics hub that will house between 13 million and 15 million square feet of industrial space. The decommissioning and demolition plans also call for a significant amount of environmental cleanup work, including the removal of some 950 miles of pipeline and various pieces of infrastructure and equipment left behind at what was once the Northeast’s largest refinery.
EAST HAVEN, CONN. — Developer WinnCos. has completed The Tyler, a seniors housing project in East Haven that is a redevelopment of an 84-year-old former high school building. The Tyler offers 70 units for individuals aged 55 and older and amenities such as a fitness center, outdoor courtyard and an arts and crafts room. The property consists of 67 one-bedroom units and three two-bedroom units. Twenty apartments rent at market rates, and 50 others are available for residents who earn 25 percent to 80 percent of the area median income.
HOUSTON — Multifamily developer Wood Partners has completed Alta Washington, a 204-unit apartment community in the Memorial Park area of Houston. The property features one- and two-bedroom units, as well as six townhomes, with quartz countertops, stainless steel appliances and hardwood-style flooring. Amenities include a pool, fitness center, business center, package sorting room, outdoor grilling stations and a dog park. Move-ins will begin in early November. Rents start at $1,675 per month for a one-bedroom unit.
WILLIAMSBURG TOWNSHIP, OHIO — Nestlé Purina PetCare (Purina), a subsidiary of the global Nestlé brand, plans to build a new 1.2 million-square-foot industrial facility in the Cincinnati suburb of Williamsburg Township. The St. Louis-based pet product manufacturer says its total investment in the facility will total $550 million and it will house more than 300 employees when fully operational. Purina will produce its brands of dry dog and cat food at the new facility such as Purina Pro Plan, Purina ONE and Dog Chow. The property will adhere to the latest food safety and sustainability standards and utilize robotics and digital technology to maximize efficiency, according to Purina. The new facility is situated within South Afton Industrial Park and represents the first ground-up facility for Purina since 1975. Construction will begin this fall and the factory is expected to be operational in 2023. This is Purina’s second pet food production facility announced in 2020 as the company revealed last month its plans to convert a former brewery in Eden, N.C., into a 1.3 million-square-foot pet food factory. The new $450 million property will sit on the North Carolina-Virginia border and begin operations in 2022. “Purina is excited to be building …