ATLANTA — Billionaires Funding Group (BFG) has acquired Underground Atlanta, a four-block mixed-use property in south downtown Atlanta. The Atlanta-based firm acquired the historic property from WRS Inc. for an undisclosed price. Underground Atlanta is situated between Alabama, Pryor, Central and Wall streets. BFG plans to redevelop the 400,000-square-foot asset in phases. Phase I will focus on Block Two, which will comprise multifamily units, ground-level retail and parking. The other phases will include building out retail, restaurant, entertainment and gathering spaces. Shaneel Lalani, CEO of BFG, is leading the acquisition and redevelopment of the asset, with plans to collaborate with civil engineers, urban planners, architects and potential joint venture partners. BFG intends to retain ownership in each parcel to ensure consistency throughout the project. In addition, BFG owns Alabama Street and plans to convert it into a walkable streetscape. WRS acquired Underground Atlanta in late 2014. The Mount Pleasant, S.C.-based company began construction on a 351-room Yotel-branded hotel at the site this summer. Other attractions surrounding the property include Mercedes-Benz Stadium, State Farm Arena and CIM’s $5 billion Centennial Yards development. A timeline for construction was not disclosed. Lalani is also the CEO of Lucky Fortune, a coin-operated amusement machine …
SAVANNAH, GA. — A joint venture between Fogelman Properties and Thackeray Partners has purchased Legends of Chatham, a 255-unit apartment complex in Savannah, for $39.5 million. The property offers one-, two- and three-bedroom floor plans, which were 90 percent occupied at the time of sale. Rents at the community range from $1,035 per month to $1,475. The buyers expect to upgrade unit interiors, the clubhouse, fitness center and landscaping, as well as redesign the pool area. Developed in 2015, Legends of Chatham is situated at 1426 Chatham Parkway, six miles southwest of downtown Savannah. Mark Boyce, Blake Coffey, Andrew Mays and Paul Vetter of Berkadia represented the seller, Georgia-based United Residential Properties LLC, in the transaction. John Bray of Berkadia arranged acquisition financing on behalf of the buyers through an undisclosed lender.
ATLANTA — Village Supply, a pop-up market focusing on women- and minority-owned businesses, will open within Buckhead Village in Atlanta. Vendors will be able to showcase their products at the store, which is situated at 272 Buckhead Ave., between Warby Parker and Bella Cucina. The store will be open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday to Saturday, and from noon to 5 p.m. Sundays. The vendor lineup will rotate regularly. The initial lineup includes Cheese Me, which is open through November; Made Leather Co. and Botanical Safari, which will open Black Friday and remain in the store until January 2021; and BreezKakes, which will be open from Dec. 3 to 6. Jamestown acquired Buckhead Village in July 2019. The 355,646-square-foot property was built in 2014 and features office, retail and restaurant space. The office space is leased to Spanx and No18 coworking. Retailers include Hermes and Tom Ford, as well as entertainment and fitness concepts.
SAVANNAH, GA. — Berkadia has arranged the $33.8 million sale of Georgetown Woods/Waterford Plantation, a 248-unit multifamily community in Savannah. The property offers one-, two- and three-bedroom floor plans. Communal amenities include a pool, fitness center, clubhouse and tennis courts. The property is situated at 1 Saint George Blvd., 13 miles south of downtown Savannah. Mark Boyce and Blake Coffey of Berkadia represented the seller, South Carolina-based Waterford Plantation LLC, in the transaction. The buyer was Texas-based Napali Capital.
ATLANTA — Global investment firm KKR (NYSE: KKR) has acquired a four-building, 1.6 million-square-foot industrial portfolio located throughout the greater Atlanta area for $136 million. The properties were acquired from four different undisclosed sellers. The newly acquired properties consist of three shallow-bay, last-mile distribution assets with an average completion date of 2006. The fourth property is a fulfillment center that was completed in 2020 and is leased to an investment-grade tenant on a long-term basis. “These acquisitions are part of our ongoing effort to expand our industrial portfolio across high-growth Sun Belt markets,” says Roger Morales, partner at KKR and head of the firm’s commercial acquisitions in the Americas. “We are excited to increase our footprint in Atlanta, given the market’s strong supply-demand fundamentals and long-term growth trajectory,” adds Ben Brudney, director at KKR. “These are important acquisitions for us as we continue to develop and diversify our industrial footprint to include both infill and multi-tenant assets, as well as larger, single-tenant fulfillment centers.” KKR is making the investment in the three smaller properties through its Real Estate Partners Americas Fund II. The fourth property represents an investment by KKR’s core plus real estate strategy, its first in Atlanta. KKR’s …
BUFORD, GA. — Topgolf Entertainment Group will open a new 72-bay Topgolf venue in Buford in spring 2021. Construction is currently underway at the two-level property, which will feature climate-controlled bays. The asset will be situated within The Exchange at Gwinnett, 35 miles northeast of downtown Atlanta. Topgolf Entertainment expects to hire 250 employees at the new site. This will be the fourth Topgolf in Georgia, joining locations in Alpharetta, Midtown Atlanta and Augusta. Fuqua Development is building The Exchange at Gwinnett, which is located adjacent to the Mall of Georgia. The mixed-use project will include office, retail and residential spaces.
ATHENS, GA. AND NEW YORK — Goldman Sachs Merchant Banking Division has agreed to purchase a “significant stake” in Athens-based Zaxby’s, with plans to grow the quick-service restaurant chain’s footprint into new markets. Terms of the financing were not disclosed, but the deal is expected to close by the end of 2020. Zaxby’s, known for its chicken fingers, wings and signature sauces, has more than 900 locations in 17 states, primarily in the Southeast. Zaxby’s is a privately held company that childhood friends Zach McLeroy and Tony Townley founded in Statesboro, Ga., in 1990. The founders hope the investment from Goldman Sachs will grow the regional chain into a national brand. Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC and Stephens Inc. served as financial advisors to Zaxby’s. King & Spalding LLP and Fortson, Bentley and Griffin P.A. served as legal advisors to Zaxby’s. Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP served as legal advisor and Goldman Sachs served as financial advisor to Goldman Sachs Merchant Banking.
ATHENS, GA. — Landmark Properties has broken ground on four student housing developments in the Southeast worth $600 million in value. New projects include Phase II of The Mark at Athens near the University of Georgia (UGA); The Standard at College Park near the University of Maryland; Legacy at The Standard near the University of Florida (UF); and The Retreat at Kennesaw near Kennesaw State University (KSU) in metro Atlanta. Phase II of The Mark at Athens is located adjacent to the UGA campus and will offer studio, one-, two-, three-, four- and five-bedroom units alongside 19,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space. The project is set for completion in fall 2022. The Standard at College Park will offer 951 beds in studio, one-, two-, three-, four- and five-bedroom units. Community amenities will include a fitness center, sauna, computer lab and study lounge. The development is slated for completion in fall 2023. Legacy at The Standard is located three blocks north of UF’s campus and will offer 155 units totaling 543 beds. The community is scheduled for delivery in fall 2022 and will feature shared amenities including an outdoor pool and grilling area, a study lounge and café, computer lab and …
ATLANTA — Papa John’s International Inc. has selected Three Ballpark Center at The Battery Atlanta for its new regional headquarters. The Louisville, Ky.-based pizza chain expects to add 200 jobs at the 60,000-square-foot office space, which is expected to open summer 2021. Papa John’s will move its menu innovation; marketing; customer experience; human resources; diversity, equity and inclusion; communications; and development departments to The Battery. The corporate headquarters, IT, supply chain and legal teams will remain in Louisville. Located in Atlanta’s Cumberland/Galleria submarket, The Battery Atlanta is a 1.5 million-square-foot mixed-use development in Cobb County that surrounds Truist Park, home ballpark of the Atlanta Braves that opened in April 2017 as SunTrust Park. Papa John’s will be the third office headquarters within the development, joining Comcast and Thyssenkrupp North American. Braves Group, a subsidiary of Liberty Media, owns The Battery Atlanta.
ATLANTA — The Home Depot (NYSE: HD) has reported that its third-quarter sales reached $33.5 billion, a 23.2 percent increase over third-quarter sales for 2019. Net earnings for the third quarter were $3.4 billion, or $3.18 per diluted share, compared with net earnings of $2.8 billion, or $2.53 per diluted share, in the same fiscal period of 2019. The Atlanta-based retailer’s third quarter ended on Oct. 31. Chairman and CEO Craig Menear cited demand for home improvement projects in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic as a steady driver for increased sales. Menear says sales have reached $15 billion through the first nine months of the company’s fiscal year. As of the end of its third quarter, Home Depot operated 1,986 stores in the United States and territories. In addition to reporting third-quarter earnings, The Home Depot also announced it will invest $1 billion in permanent compensation for hourly associates. Throughout the pandemic, the company has taken actions to support its employees, including temporary weekly bonuses and offering extended paid time off. The Home Depot’s stock price closed Monday at $279.96 per share, up from $238.85 a year ago.