CG Schmidt Breaks Ground on $40M Adaptive Reuse Project in Racine, Wisconsin

RACINE, WIS. — CG Schmidt has broken ground on an adaptive reuse project at the site of the historic Horlick Malted Milk Co. plant in Racine, about 25 miles south of Milwaukee. The project will transform the industrial complex into 136 market-rate and affordable apartment units. The first $40 million phase will revamp buildings located at 2100 and 2200 Northwestern Ave., which date back to 1875. State and federal historic tax credits will help developer J. Jeffers finance Phase I. AG …

August 13, 2020Development, Midwest, Multifamily, Wisconsin

Avison Young Negotiates Sale of 125,000 SF Industrial Building in Mokena, Illinois

MOKENA, ILL. — Avison Young has negotiated the sale of a 125,000-square-foot industrial building in Mokena, about 35 miles southwest of Chicago. Located at 9000 W. 192nd St., the facility serves as a Midwest distribution center for Dunkin’. The seller, DCP Real Estate Group LLC, is a supply chain management company serving the franchisees of Dunkin’. Exeter Property Group was the buyer. Erik Foster and Mike Wilson of Avison Young represented the seller in a partial sale-leaseback of the …

August 13, 2020Acquisitions, Illinois, Industrial, Midwest

Skender Completes Interior Construction of American Library Association Headquarters in Chicago

CHICAGO — Skender has completed interior construction of the 55,000-square-foot headquarters for the American Library Association in Chicago. Located on a single floor at 225 N. Michigan Ave., the office features a mix of private and open workspaces, meeting and focus spaces, podcasting and video conferencing rooms and a library. Skender collaborated with architect Nelson Worldwide, engineer Environmental Systems Design and owner’s representative Cushman &

August 13, 2020Development, Illinois, Midwest, Office

Ohio’s Deerfield Towne Center to Welcome Three New Tenants

MASON, OHIO — Deerfield Towne Center, a shopping center in Mason near Cincinnati, is set to welcome three new tenants. COhatch is a coworking, meeting and social space with locations in Ohio and Indiana. AKT is a fitness studio that combines interval, strength and conditioning training with dance. Condado Tacos is a Mexican restaurant with a build-your-own taco concept and an extensive selection of tequilas and margaritas. The Columbus-based restaurant has expanded throughout the Midwest and …

August 13, 2020Leasing Activity, Midwest, Ohio, Retail

Prescient Capital Moves to 3,000 SF Office in Delafield, Wisconsin

DELAFIELD, WIS. — Prescient Capital Management, a boutique private equity firm, has moved its office to a new location in Delafield, about 27 miles west of Milwaukee. The street-level, 3,000-square-foot space better accommodates a growing team, according to Prescient. The office is located at 524 Milwaukee St. Prescient, which specializes in bridge loans ranging from $2 million to $15 million, formerly occupied space at 440 Wells St. in

August 13, 2020Leasing Activity, Midwest, Office, Wisconsin

SHVO, Deutsche Finance Acquire Iconic ‘Big Red’ Office Tower in Chicago for $376M

CHICAGO — A joint venture between SHVO and Deutsche Finance Bank has acquired the CNA Center, more commonly known as “Big Red” due to the bold color of the 45-story office tower, for $376 million. The 1.2 million-square-foot property is situated at 333 S. Wabash Ave. in Chicago’s East Loop district.At the time of sale, the property was leased to CNA Insurance, financial services company Northern Trust and the Chicago Housing Authority. Graham, Anderson, Probst & White originally …

August 13, 2020Acquisitions, Illinois, Midwest, Office, Top Stories

Can America’s Comeback City Get off the Mat Again? Yes — But Uncertainty Reigns

By Garrett Keais In my 25 years in commercial real estate, I’ve never seen the economy — and our industry — come to a standstill the way it did this spring after the coronavirus hit. With so much uncertainty in the market, Detroit’s office sales and leasing activity slowed considerably. But as the last decade has shown us, if ever there was a city that could take a punch and get back up swinging, it’s Detroit. Comeback before the virus[caption id="attachment_269488" …

August 13, 2020Market Reports, Michigan, Midwest, Midwest Market Reports, Office

Simon Property Group Seeks to Acquire Distressed Retailers, Create Value

INDIANAPOLIS — During its second-quarter earnings call on Monday, Simon Property Group (NYSE: SPG) said it is “capitalizing on various value-creating opportunities.” Sparc Group, a joint venture between Simon and Authentic Brands Group, made bids to acquire bankrupt retailers Brooks Brothers and Lucky Brand. Brooks Brothers has selected Sparc as the winning bidder with a $325 million offer. Since Sparc is buying the brands out of bankruptcy, it is acquiring the inventory at or below cost, …

August 12, 2020Indiana, Midwest, Retail

Provender Partners Sells 232,556 SF Distribution Center in Berkeley, Missouri

BERKELEY, MO. — Provender Partners has sold a 232,556-square-foot distribution center leased to Dollar General in Berkeley near St. Louis. Provender also sold a separate Dollar General-occupied distribution center in San Antonio along with the Berkeley facility for a total of nearly $64 million. Provender acquired both facilities in 2019 and invested more than $6 million in improvements and renovations before securing 10-year leases with Dollar General for both properties. With freezer, …

August 12, 2020Acquisitions, Industrial, Midwest, Missouri

Opus Breaks Ground on 131,000 SF Industrial Build-to-Suit for Cherne Industries in Minnesota

SHAKOPEE, MINN. — The Opus Group has broken ground on a 131,000-square-foot industrial build-to-suit for Cherne Industries in Shakopee, a southwestern suburb of the Twin Cities. Cherne, which produces pneumatic plugs, mechanical plugs, gauges and testing equipment, will use the building as its new headquarters and manufacturing facility. The project will feature a clear height of 32 feet, eight dock doors, three drive-in doors and 177 car parking stalls. The company’s 115-person workforce …

August 12, 2020Development, Industrial, Midwest, Minnesota