CHICAGO — Chicago-based Harrison Street has sold a portfolio of 12 self-storage facilities located across four states for an undisclosed price. Storage Post and Life Storage were the buyers. The portfolio consists of 625,598 rentable square feet across properties in Texas, New York, North Carolina and Illinois. Harrison Street operated the facilities in joint venture partnerships with Advantage Self Storage, Storage Post and Reliant Real Estate Management. Life Storage managed one of the properties on a third-party basis. The portfolio was 91 percent leased at the time of sale.
When it comes to which office properties will succeed in the coming years, success may boil down in part to who is minding the store. Like most big cities, Chicago’s office market has been tested by the pandemic, and office property owners face a far more competitive environment. Year-end 2021 office vacancy rates were nearly 18 percent in the central business district (CBD) and over 25 percent in the suburbs, or 44 percent and 35 percent higher, respectively, than two years prior, according to NAI Hiffman research. Hybrid work is here to stay, and some employers are shrinking or shifting their office footprints. When the pandemic is finally in the rearview mirror, office demand is not going to be the same as it was a couple of years ago, although we are still figuring out just what it will be. Which office properties survive and thrive in post-pandemic Chicago and nationwide will depend on many factors, including the property’s age or condition, its location and, increasingly, how well the property is programmed and run. That includes satisfying tenants in terms of everything from air quality to event assistance; meeting lenders’ environmental, social and governance (ESG) requirements and other new demands; …
CHICAGO — JLL Capital Markets has arranged an $8 million loan for the acquisition of a two-property industrial portfolio totaling 90,849 square feet in Chicago. Jeff Sause, Brian Walsh and Wyatt Strahan of JLL represented the borrower, California-based Unilev Capital Corp. A national bank provided the loan. Unilev’s industrial platform, which launched less than 18 months ago, has acquired $120 million worth of industrial assets nationwide.
CHICAGO — PGIM Real Estate has provided $101 million in floating-rate bridge financing for the acquisition and lease-up of a four-property retail and office portfolio in Chicago’s Fulton Market district. The buildings span 168,206 square feet and are home to 18 tenants. Asana Partners, a real estate investment company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., was the borrower. Further details were not provided.
MADISON, ILL. — Design-build firm IMPACT Strategies has begun interior and exterior renovations of the Oval Tower Suites at World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison, about nine miles northeast of St. Louis. The project includes improvements to the private viewing area, including the rooftop space and 28 private suites. The motorsport racing facility is undergoing a multi-million-dollar renovation plan leading up to the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series on June 5.
FORSYTH, ILL. — Marcus & Millichap has brokered the $4.8 million sale of Forsyth Center in Forsyth, about 45 miles east of Springfield, the state capital. The 30,087-square-foot retail center is located at 1460 Koester Road. The property is home to PetSmart and Dollar Tree, both of which have been tenants since the center was constructed in 2006. Tammy Saia and Tami Andrew of Marcus & Millichap represented the seller, a local developer. Buyer information was not provided.
BLOOMINGTON, ILL. — The Boulder Group has negotiated the sale of a single-tenant, net-leased retail property occupied by JOANN Fabrics in Bloomington for $4.1 million. The 21,828-square-foot building is located at 1701 E. Empire St. Randy Blankstein and Jimmy Goodman of Boulder represented the seller, a Midwest-based real estate firm, as well as the buyer, a national real estate company.
CHICAGO — Two new tenants have signed leases at The Concourse Chicago office property, which is owned and managed by Berger Asset Management. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of El Salvador leased 5,965 square feet and expects to take occupancy this summer. The tenant is relocating and expanding its Chicago office from a Michigan Avenue location. GEI Consultants, a national engineering and environmental consulting firm, leased 8,006 square feet. The firm is relocating from Vernon Hills, Ill. Concourse Chicago, which spans 165,000 square feet across 12 single-story buildings, is now 90 percent occupied. Steve Chrastka and Jason Wurtz of NAI Hiffman are the leasing agents for the property. Tom Hanson of Hanson Commercial Real Estate represented the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of El Salvador, while Jordan Rovito and Jonathan Metzl of Cushman & Wakefield represented GEI Consultants.
CHICAGO — Applied Systems has signed a 10,000-square-foot office lease at 320 North Sangamon, a newly completed office building in Chicago’s Fulton Market district. Headquartered in University Park, Applied is a global provider of insurance technology and software. Applied will occupy space on the seventh floor starting in July. Chicago-based Charlie Greene Studios designed the tenant’s new space. Tishman Speyer co-developed the 13-story building with Chicago-based Mark Goodman & Associates. Chicago-based Solomon Cordwell Buenz served as the architect. Steve Bauer, Adrian Boone and Chad Koenig of Cushman & Wakefield represented Applied in the lease transaction. Adam Mitchell, Ellen May and Olivia Parker represented Tishman Speyer on an internal basis.
OAK BROOK, ILL. — Northmarq has arranged a $19.2 million FHA loan for the refinancing of Mayslake Center II in the Chicago suburb of Oak Brook. The seniors housing property features 249 independent living units and is located within the larger Mayslake Village. Amenities include a wellness center, dining room, chapel and social services. Sue Blumberg of Northmarq arranged the fixed-rate loan, which is fully amortized over 40 years. The borrower was a nonprofit entity.