SEATTLE — Gantry has secured $102.7 million in permanent financing from life company sources to retire and replace construction financing for The Arrive Apartments and The Sound Hotel in Seattle. Situated in the Belltown neighborhood, the mixed-use, high-rise development features 344 apartments above the 142-key Sound Hotel. George Mitsanas, Josh Natker and Pat Taylor of Gantry secured the loan on behalf of the undisclosed property owners.
THE WOODLANDS, TEXAS — A joint venture led by Los Angeles-based investment firm Lowe has acquired three hotels in The Woodlands, located about 30 miles north of Houston, from The Howard Hughes Corp. (NYSE: HHC) for $252 million. The properties include The Woodlands Resort, a 402-room hotel that was built in 1972; Embassy Suites by Hilton, The Woodlands at Hughes Landing, a 205-room asset that was constructed in 2015; and The Westin at The Woodlands, a 302-room property that was completed in 2016. CoralTree Hospitality, a subsidiary of Lowe, will manage the hotels. In addition, the new ownership will invest approximately $25 million in capital improvements across all three properties.
ATLANTA — Mainsail Lodging & Development has opened Epicurean Atlanta, a 16-story boutique hotel in Midtown Atlanta. The hotel is a member of the Autograph Collection, a group of independent hotels operated by Marriott International. Epicurean Atlanta is the second location of the Epicurean Hotel brand, the first of which was a collaboration between Mainsail Lodging and the Bern’s Steak House in Tampa. Atlanta-based architectural and interior design firm Rule Joy Trammell + Rubio oversaw the new hotel’s design. The Epicurean Atlanta hotel has 178 guest rooms with 22 suites. Hotel amenities include a fitness center with floor-to-ceiling windows, as well as a pool on the ninth level sky terrace that offers temperature-controlled cabanas and butler service. Additionally, there will be wellness activity programming on the events lawn. Located at 1117 West Peachtree St., the hotel is one of three towers within Selig Enterprises’ 1105 West Peachtree mixed-use development. The other two towers in the project include a 31-story office tower and a 64-unit apartment tower called 40 West 12th. Epicurean Atlanta is anchored by three dining concepts: Reverence, the hotel’s signature restaurant that features a 2,886-square-foot space for seating up to 127 guests; Aerial Kitchen & Bar, which will …
Countless companies have seen their top and bottom lines decimated by COVID-19-related shutdowns, travel restrictions and changing consumer preferences since the start of the pandemic. Yet for many taxpayers, property tax values have changed little or even increased. Many of these taxpayers have been surprised to receive property tax bills that do not reflect the real and lingering economic challenges that the retail, hospitality, office and other industries have, are and will continue to face. These taxpayers — and even those in industries better suited to weather the storm — should give special attention to ensuring they receive fair and reasonable assessments. Observe Valuation Dates, Notices and Appeal Deadlines With a large percentage of employees working remotely, together with an inconsistent postal service, it is more important than ever to have dedicated employees and knowledgeable property tax professionals reviewing property value assessments annually and filing timely protests when warranted. Failure to receive a tax valuation notice rarely excuses a missed protest deadline, so it is vital to know and comply with applicable deadlines. Many property tax bills issued in 2020 were based on statutory valuation dates that preceded the emergence of COVID-19. For instance, assessors working under a valuation date …
FORT WORTH, TEXAS — Locally based hospitality investment firm NewcrestImage has acquired the 164-room Sinclair Hotel in downtown Fort Worth. The 17-story luxury property is part of the Marriott Autograph Collection of hotel brands and features multiple food and beverage concepts. The seller and sales price were not disclosed.
PORTLAND, MAINE — Apple Hospitality REIT (NYSE: APL) has acquired the 157-room Aloft Hotel in downtown Portland for $51.2 million, or approximately $326,000 per key. The newly built, waterfront property features a fitness center, meeting space and multiple food and beverage options. The seller was not disclosed. Following the acquisition, the portfolio of Virginia-based Apple Hospitality consists of 215 hotels totaling about 28,000 rooms across 35 states.
WARRENS, WIS. — The Jenkins Organization Inc. (TJO) has purchased The Jellystone Park in the central Wisconsin town of Warrens. The purchase price was undisclosed. With 415 recreational vehicle (RV) sites, 162 park models and 42 tent sites across 130 acres, the park will be the largest within TJO’s portfolio. TJO plans to upgrade the park with enhanced Wi-Fi and cable as well as replace several cabins. Planned additions include gem mining, laser tag and a jumping pad. Over the winter months, TJO will renovate the ranger station, café, activities building and water attractions, and add a Wibit obstacle course. Current amenities at the park include 36 holes of mini golf, a shuffleboard court, wave pool, swimming beach, waterslide, lazy river and racer waterslide. The acquisition marks TJO’s fifth Jellystone Park and ninth RV resort since launching its Great Escapes RV Resorts brand in 2019.
PORTLAND, ORE. — Seattle-based Coast Hospitality has received a $51.1 million loan for the refinancing and renovation of Benson Hotel in downtown Portland. Dallas-based Hall Structured Finance closed a first lien bridge loan for the borrower. Originally built in 1912 and expanded in 1959, the 13-story hotel features 287 guest rooms, including 57 suites; two restaurants; a bar/mezzanine lounge; and almost 18,000 square feet of indoor meeting space spanning across 18 different rooms, including two separate ballrooms; a 12-story historic stairwell; fitness center; and business center. The borrower plans to renovate the hotel’s common areas, including the meeting space, lobby and food and beverage outlets. The property, which previously operated independently of a national brand, will be flagged under the Hilton Curio Collection in the fourth quarter of 2021. Jonathan Falik of JF Capital Advisors advised Coast Hospitality on the loan and the branding.
OAKLAND, ORE. — Crystal Investment Property (CIP) has arranged the sale of Ranch Motel, a motel in Oakland, a tiny city approximately midway between Eugene and Medford. Joseph Kennedy of CIP represented the buyer and seller in the deal. The acquisition price was not released. The exterior corridor motel is located north of Oakland and features 25 A-frame-style rooms and limited service. The property’s updated lobby and cabins feature a mid-century peaked metal roof.
NEW YORK CITY — Locally based construction firm Omnibuild has reached the midpoint of construction of a 38-story hospitality project at 150 W. 48th St. in Midtown Manhattan that will house three hotels. The Hampton Inn, Home 2 Suites and Motto Hotel will offer a total of 1,046 rooms across the three brands. Additional features will include two ground-floor lobbies with entrances, retail space, a café and restaurant, rooftop bar and two gyms. Sam Chang of The McSam Hotel Group is developing the project, and Gene Kaufman Architects PC is designing it. Completion is slated for next fall.
