REDWOOD CITY, CALIF. — The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI), one of the largest philanthropies supporting biomedical research and AI-driven science, has signed a 225,000-square-foot life sciences lease in Silicon Valley. The company will fully occupy one of four buildings at IQHQ Inc.’s Elco Yards mixed-use development underway in Redwood City, roughly 25 miles south of San Francisco. Situated along the Caltrain corridor on the San Francisco Peninsula, Elco Yards is a 670,000-square-foot mixed-use development that comprises four buildings offering lab, office and retail space. The project, which began construction in 2021, will deliver additional phases between mid-2025 and 2026. CZI is expected to officially occupy its newly leased space in 2027. The deal brings Elco Yards to 30 percent preleased, according to IQHQ. Founded by Dr. Priscilla Chan and Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg in 2015, CZI’s purpose is to eradicate disease, improve education and address the needs of local communities, while building a more “inclusive, just and healthy future for everyone,” according to the company’s mission statement. “We are excited to continue to grow our roots in Redwood City with this new space for our biomedical research efforts,” says Marc Malandro, chief operating officer of CZI and the CZ Biohub …
Leasing Activity
CHICAGO — Habitat has completed the lease-up of OC Living Phase I, the first residential building within the $200 million Ogden Commons community in Chicago’s North Lawndale neighborhood. Located at 1325 S. Washtenaw Ave., the building features 92 units, 90 percent of which are affordable, including 37 Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) units. Simultaneously, Habitat has closed financing and finalized a 75-year ground lease for OC Living Phase II at nearby 1312 S. Talman Ave. The $38 million building is scheduled to open in the second quarter of 2026, delivering an additional 75 units with 76 percent of them reserved as affordable housing, including 30 CHA-designated residences. Site preparation is underway. Amenities will include a children’s tot lot, bike racks, walking path, package room, resident lounge, fitness center and bike room. A planned third phase of OC Living is expected to feature townhome and multi-flat units, which will feature larger units designed for families. Habitat intends to break ground on Phase III in the second half of 2026 or early 2027. Once completed, Ogden Commons will feature 120,000 square feet of commercial and retail space with more than 350 mixed-income housing units. Designed by Habitat, along with Sinai Chicago and the …
NAPERVILLE, ILL. — Activate, an interactive gaming facility featuring a blend of physical activity and gaming experience, has signed a lease to open at Fox River Commons shopping center in the Chicago suburb of Naperville. The lease marks the second location in the greater Chicago area for Activate. In partnership with Sounds Fun Entertainment, Activate currently operates more than 40 locations across the United States and Canada. Activate consists of 14 separate game rooms in which participants are tasked with conquering an experience that lasts about 75 minutes. The tenant signed a lease with property owner Continental Realty Corp. (CRC) for nearly 12,000 square feet at Fox River Commons and plans to open this spring. Kristin Perry of CRC and Brooke Spinell of Mid-America Real Estate represented the landlord in the lease, while Courtney Waldon of Braden Real Estate represented the tenant. Activate also plans to open its third Illinois facility in the River North area next year.
FORT WORTH, TEXAS — Locally based brokerage firm Holt Lunsford Commercial has negotiated a 29,571-square-foot office lease renewal in Fort Worth. The space is located within Overton Centre, a two-building, 417,465-square-foot development on the city’s southwest side. Jake Neal and Matt Carthey of Holt Lunsford represented the landlord, an entity doing business as FLDR/TLC Overton Centre LP, in the lease negotiations. Jim Smith of Cushman & Wakefield represented the tenant, HCA Information Technology & Services.
LAKE GROVE, N.Y. — Fashion retailer Nordstrom Inc. will open a new 25,000-square-foot in Lake Grove, a hamlet located on Long Island, under its Nordstrom Rack brand. Scheduled to open in fall 2025, the store will be situated within the 150,000-square-foot Smith Haven Plaza. Other tenants at the shopping center include Trader Joe’s, Old Navy, Athleta and Ulta Beauty. A partnership between Breslin Realty Development Corp. and Colin Development LLC owns Smith Haven Plaza.
HOUSTON — Peak Paper Plastics, a Chicago-based wholesaler, has subleased 22,560 square feet of industrial space in North Houston. The space is located at 3717 Yale St., a building that according to LoopNet Inc. is part of a larger complex that totals 137,647 square feet and was built in 1975. Austen Buckalew of locally based brokerage firm Oxford Partners represented the subtenant in the negotiations. Dustin Cruz and Kayla Kigh of Cresa represented the sublandlord, an entity doing business as Crazy Boss LLC.
FAIRLESS HILLS, PA. — Colliers and KBC Advisors have negotiated a 517,641-square-foot industrial lease in Fairless Hills, located just outside of Trenton in Eastern Pennsylvania. The space is located within Keystone Trade Center, a 15 million-square-foot campus that is a redevelopment of a former steel mill. Michael Golarz and Tom Golarz of Colliers, in conjunction with Mark Chubb, Mike Zerbe and Summer Coulter of KBC Advisors, represented the landlord, Missouri-based NorthPoint Development, in the lease negotiations. Michael Lee and Drew Maffey with Lee & Associates represented the tenant, global third-party logistics provider Cirro.
NEW YORK CITY — S Rothschild has signed a 47,000-square-foot office lease renewal in Midtown Manhattan. The apparel manufacturer will remain at 1407 Broadway, a 1.1 million-square-foot, 43-story building that was originally constructed in 1950, for another 10 years. Peter Sabesan and Matthew Feigen of Cresa represented the tenant in the lease negotiations. Bob Forman represented the landlord, Shorenstein Properties, on an internal basis.
Ian Black Real Estate Signs Video Game Developer to 23,349 SF Industrial Lease in Nokomis, Florida
by John Nelson
NOKOMIS, FLA. — Ian Black Real Estate has signed video game developer Combat Waffle Studios to a 23,349-square-foot industrial space in Nokomis, about 17 miles south of Sarasota. Located at 195 Triple Diamond Blvd., the original office building was converted into a warehouse to provide room for development meetings, VR testing areas and motion capture and security-focused development zones. The property was also pre-wired for fiber-optic internet services. Additionally, Combat Waffle Studios will make minor repairs to the space, including new flooring, lighting and paint, according to the Tampa Bay Business Journal. The space was formerly occupied by drinkware brand Tervis, which vacated the property in January as part of the company’s consolidation. Combat Waffle Studios, which is backed by Facebook and Instagram parent company Meta and produces the popular video game “Ghosts of Tabor,” is expected to have 100 employees working from the space. Nick DeVito II and Brie Tulp of Ian Black Real Estate represented the landlord, an entity doing business as 201 Triple Diamond Holdings LLC, in the lease transaction.
WOODRIDGE, ILL. — Roadtex Transportation has signed a 90,655-square-foot industrial lease renewal at 2725 Davey Road in the Chicago suburb of Woodridge. The property, located in the Woodhill Crossings Business Park, features immediate access to I-55. Kenneth Franzese, John Cassidy and Jeff Galante of Lee & Associates of Illinois, along with James Cant of Fischer & Co., represented the tenant. Sean Henrick of Cushman & Wakefield represented the owner, Bristol Group.