For much of the past several years, commercial real estate investors have navigated a market defined by uncertainty. Interest rate volatility, inflation concerns, geopolitical tensions and shifting workplace trends have all contributed to an environment where predicting the next move can feel increasingly difficult. Against that backdrop, the Midwest continues to stand out for a different reason: stability. Across many Midwest markets, commercial real estate fundamentals have remained relatively balanced compared with other regions of the country. While some markets have experienced dramatic swings in pricing, development activity and occupancy levels, much of the Midwest has maintained a steadier trajectory. That consistency allows investors and operators to focus on executing long-term business plans rather than constantly reacting to market volatility. Stability Remains the Midwest’s Competitive Advantage One of the region’s greatest strengths is the balance between supply and demand. Unlike certain Sun Belt markets that have experienced significant waves of new development, many Midwest metros have avoided substantial oversupply. As a result, property owners have been able to continue implementing value-add strategies, improving operations and generating steady rent growth. Commercial real estate success is rarely built overnight. In many Midwest markets, returns are generated through disciplined management, operational efficiencies and …
Midwest
CHICAGO — Owner AmTrustRE has secured six leases and expansions totaling nearly 95,000 square feet at One East Wacker, a 41-story office tower overlooking Chicago’s Riverwalk and River North. The transactions include three new tenants and three renewals spanning both office and retail floors. O’Hagan Meyer Law Firm has expanded its footprint to 46,192 square feet across the 32nd, 34th and 35th floors. John Goodman, Isabel Schwartz and Eric Feinberg of Savills represented the tenant. Shore Capital Partners, a private equity firm, has renewed and grown its presence to occupy 14,475 square feet on the 24th floor. Brad Serot of CBRE represented the tenant. Atwell, an engineering and construction consulting firm, will relocate within the building to a 7,813-square-foot space on the 19th floor. Janessa Biller and Sarah Silva of JLL represented the tenant. AmTrust North America Inc., a global property and liability insurer, has signed a full floorplate lease for 14,946 square feet on the 21st floor. The tenant was unrepresented in the lease. Ashling Partners LLC, a technology and professional services firm, has joined the tower, occupy 5,627 square feet on the 16th floor. Jeff Skender and Jack Tunnicliff of Cushman & Wakefield represented the tenant. Rounding out …
HDA, ISC Contracting Complete Renovation of St. Louis Jewish Community Center’s Marilyn Fox Building
CHESTERFIELD, MO. — Architect HDA and ISC Contracting have completed a comprehensive renovation of the St. Louis Jewish Community Center’s Marilyn Fox Building in Chesterfield. The 87,930-square-foot renovation project reimagined the longstanding community hub with expanded amenities, modernized spaces and enhanced accessibility. Originally constructed in 1996 with a minor renovation in 2008, the Marilyn Fox Building has long served as a place for community recreation in West St. Louis County. HDA partnered with the St. Louis Jewish Community Center to breathe new life into the facility. The project included the addition of a new Adult Day Center with capacity for 36 participants as well as new locker rooms, a redesigned lobby and gathering space and upgraded infrastructure systems. Additional improvements included renovations to the gymnasium, fitness center and Early Childhood Center along with expanded kitchen facilities, dedicated pickleball courts, upgraded security and communications systems and exterior enhancements. Construction began in April 2024. The facility remained operational throughout the construction process. ODA Studio served as the interior designer.
TAYLOR, MICH. — Bernard Financial Group has arranged a $7 million permanent loan for the refinancing of a 236-unit multifamily property in Taylor, about 16 miles southwest of downtown Detroit. Joshua Bernard arranged the loan through a life insurance company on behalf of the borrower, Taylor Park Apartments LP.
ROMEOVILLE, ILL. — Cawley Commercial Real Estate has brokered the sale of a newly constructed maintenance facility located at 1385 Joliet Road in Romeoville. Matt Garland of Cawley represented the buyer and seller and played a role in every state of the property’s evolution, from the original land sale through the disposition. Several years ago, Garland brokered the sale of the 4-acre parcel to KAB Properties. Upon completion of the development, KAB returned to Garland to market the asset for sale. Garland sourced the buyer, MW Express, a trailer repair and maintenance specialist that will use the facility to support its continued expansion in the Chicago market. Colleagues Andrew Maletich and Houston Brooke supported Garland throughout the transaction. Jandra Zitkevicius of Brick-by-Brick Realty provided additional representation for the seller. Completed in fourth-quarter 2025, the 27,500-square-foot property includes 19,950 square feet of warehouse space and 7,550 square feet of office space. It offers immediate access to I-55 and I-355.
By Jim Larkin, Kyle Fink and Dylan Brown, Colliers After several years of outsized growth, southeastern Wisconsin’s industrial market entered a more balanced phase to begin 2026. While headline metrics such as vacancy and absorption have shifted from their pandemic-era peaks, the underlying fundamentals remain intact. Based on what we are experiencing across active deals and client conversations, this is less of a slowdown and more of a recalibration, one that ultimately supports long-term stability across the region. After many years on an unprecedented pace, the market is settling down into a more disciplined environment where decisions are more thoughtful, and fundamentals are driving activity again. From our perspective, that’s a positive shift that positions southeastern Wisconsin for long-term stability. Year-end 2025 data points to a market that is adjusting, not retreating. Vacancy rates increased modestly, rising to approximately 7.8 percent across southeastern Wisconsin. At first glance, that shift may appear significant given how tight conditions had become. This shift is largely driven by new big box supply entering the market rather than weakening demand. With more than 3 million square feet delivered in 2025 — most started during peak market conditions — an increase in vacancy is a natural …
STERLING HEIGHTS, MICH. — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan Strategic Fund Board have approved a $270.7 million Transformational Brownfield Plan (TBP) to support the redevelopment of the former Lakeside Mall site in Sterling Heights. The proposed plan includes roughly 1,545 residential units across nine multifamily buildings ranging in size from four to five stories, including a building targeted at residents over 55 years of age. Additionally, the project will add 154,007 square feet of new retail space, a central community park and green space and a mix of parking lots and street parking for residents and visitors. When complete, the project is estimated to result in $621 million in total capital investment. Aside from participating in tax revenue capture to support the redevelopment plan, the City of Sterling Heights intends to proceed with a bond issuance of approximately $27.6 million to assist in the cost of the infrastructure. The total TBP incentive package will be reimbursed over 30 years. The developer, Lakeside OOTB Ventures LLC, is a subsidiary of Lionheart Capital. Lakeside Mall closed in July 2024.
KALAMAZOO, MICH. — BWE has arranged a $37 million bridge loan for The Exchange, a 15-story apartment building in Kalamazoo. BWE’s Chris Carroll, Cathy Bronkema and Max Miller originated the financing from a debt fund on behalf of the borrower, a local commercial and residential property developer. Delivered in December 2020, The Exchange features ground-floor retail space, structured parking and luxury apartment units. Amenities include a roof deck, outdoor patio, fitness center, clubroom, package handling room and bike storage.
KENOSHA, WIS. — CBRE has brokered the $7.1 million sale of Bayside Townhomes, a 32-unit multifamily community in Kenosha. CBRE’s Matson Holbrook, Gretchen Richards and Sean Beuche represented the seller, Bayside Townhomes LLC. Campbell Creek Communities LLC was the buyer. Bayside Townhomes is located at 1523 Sheridan Road, proximate to Carthage College and the Lake Michigan waterfront. The property, which features three-bedroom floor plans averaging 1,500 square feet, was fully occupied at the time of sale.
ALGONQUIN, ILL. — Marcus & Millichap has negotiated the $5.6 million sale of a newly built retail property occupied by Chipotle and First Watch in Algonquin. The 6,150-square-foot asset is located at 1721 S. Randall Road within The Enclave mixed-use development. Austin Weisenbeck and Sean Sharko of Marcus & Millichap represented the seller, a developer. Darpan Patel and Dan Yozwiak of Marcus & Millichap procured the out-of-state buyer.
Newer Posts