CHICAGO — U.S. Bank has provided a $73.5 million construction loan to the Onni Group, a Canadian-based firm that is developing The Hudson, a 25-story, 240-unit luxury apartment project located at 750 N. Hudson St. in downtown Chicago’s River North district. U.S. Bank served as lead left and administrative agent for the loan, with PNC Bank, N.A. as a participant. The Hudson will feature a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom units, each of which will include a balcony or terrace, granite countertops, designer cabinets, a washer/dryer and more. Common amenities include a pool and hot tub, fitness business centers, resident lounges, an outdoor terrace and more. The Hudson will also include ground-floor retail space. Onni broke ground on the project this summer. The target date for completion is mid-2017.
EAST PEORIA, ILL. — The Boulder Group has arranged the sale of a net-leased OfficeMax for $2.8 million located at 200 Riverside Drive in East Peoria. The 1.86-acre OfficeMax store is centrally located within Peoria’s primary retail area that is anchored by Bass Pro Shops, Walmart Supercenter, Lowe’s, Costco, Target, Kohl’s and Gordmans. There are over eight years remaining on the recently extended OfficeMax lease, which expires in October 2023. The lease features two five-year renewal option periods with rental escalations in each. Randy Blankstein and Jimmy Goodman of The Boulder Group represented the seller in the transaction, a Midwest-based family partnership. The buyer was a high-net-worth individual based in the Northeast.
CHICAGO — Harrison Street Real Estate Capital has acquired Dwight Lofts, a 771-bed student housing property located in Chicago’s South Loop neighborhood, for a reported $105 million. During the school year, the property serves as housing for students attending Columbia College Chicago, which recently executed an 11-year lease extension. The institution specializes in art and media disciplines. Harrison Street acquired the 178-unit building, built in 2009, from Bethesda, Md.-based ASB Capital Management. The high-quality amenities and central location of Dwight Lofts make the property an ideal living space for students as well as those seeking housing during the summer months, says Joey Harrison, Harrison Street’s core fund portfolio manager. Dwight Lofts is located a quarter-mile from the main campus building of Columbia College Chicago, and within walking distance of four CTA “L” stations, the LaSalle Street Metra Station, Grant Park, lakefront running and bike paths, and retail and restaurant establishments. The property offers two- and four-bedroom units that are fully furnished. The building features amenities designed to cater to Columbia students, including art studio space, music practice rooms, study lounges, a sky lounge, an on-site fitness center and three food-service providers. The Dinerstein Cos. will manage the property.
CHICAGO — Associated Bank has provided a $17 million construction loan for a new mixed-use development at 2501 W. Armitage Ave. in Logan Square. The developer is a partnership between Mario Greco and Dimitri Nassis of Spearhead Properties LLC and Chris Fifield of Fifield Construction and Realty Inc. Michael McGovern of Associated Bank’s commercial real estate division originated the loan. The LEED-certified development will include two buildings comprised of 78 apartments and 6,500 square feet of retail space along Armitage. The project will feature a private courtyard and large landscaped second-floor terraces. Eight affordable units will be made available. Once completed, the new apartments will offer tenants sleek modern finishes and an amenity package that includes an automated package room, high-speed fiber Internet service, a workout area, 55 parking spaces, bicycle parking and a 1,300-square-foot amenity space overlooking a 6,000-square-foot landscaped courtyard. Demolition is scheduled to start in early August and construction will begin soon after.
GALENA, ILL. — CBRE Hotels has arranged the sale of the 72-room Ramada Galena Hotel and Day Spa, including a 4,000-square-foot banquet hall, in Galena to Galena Prime Hotels LLC for an undisclosed price. Galena Pines LLC was the seller. Brian Silberman, Stanley Wang and Scott Miller in the Chicago office of CBRE Hotels represented Galena Pines in the sale of the property. Ramada Galena Hotel and Day Spa is located at 11383 U.S. 20, two miles from historic downtown Galena and 12 miles from Dubuque, Iowa. The property, which offers bed-and-breakfast charm in northwestern Illinois, is situated on nearly 10 acres, including a catch-and-release fishing pond and gardens. The city of Galena attracts over 1 million visitors annually with a historic downtown shopping district, winter outdoor activities, museums, historic homes and buildings, wineries and more. The new owners have over 20 years of hospitality experience.
ELK GROVE VILLAGE, ILL. — Lee & Associates has negotiated a lease for a 35,791-square-foot industrial space located at 1601 Lunt Ave. in Elk Grove Village, approximately 25 miles northwest of Chicago. Chris Nelson, principal at Lee & Associates of Illinois, represented the landlord, Colony Capital. Phil Reif of Paine Wetzel represented the tenant, Oakley Industrial Machinery Inc., a manufacturer of heating element production machinery and terminal pins.
JOLIET, ILL. — Amazon.com Inc. has unveiled plans to open a nearly 500,000-square-foot fulfillment center in Joliet, Ill., located about 45 miles southwest of Chicago. Baltimore, Md.-based GLP Development Co. is the project developer. The fulfillment center, which is expected to create 1,000 full-time jobs when it opens, will be the company’s first in the state. Amazon employees at the fulfillment center will process smaller items such as books, electronics and consumer goods. “We are thrilled that Amazon has chosen Joliet as the location for its new Illinois fulfillment center,” says Joliet Mayor Bob O’Dekirk. “The company is not only the leader in the e-commerce sector, but it also will create quality jobs for a diverse community throughout Joliet and Will County.” According to the Chicago Tribune, Amazon is already advertising for $13-an-hour and $14.95-an-hour jobs at the facility. The newspaper adds that Amazon has invested heavily in warehouses nationwide during the last three years as it faces increasing competition on speed from Walmart.com, eBay, Google and other online retailers.
GLENVIEW, ILL. — Marcus & Millichap has brokered the sale of 1941-2019 Johns Drive, a 68,075-square-foot industrial building located in Glenview, a northern Chicago suburb. The purchase price was $3.87 million. Built in 1980, 1941-2019 Johns Drive is a combined two-building portfolio. The one-story multi-tenant asset includes 68,075 square feet of rentable space and is currently operating at 81 percent occupancy. Stephen Lieberman and Paul Tesdal, investment specialists in Marcus & Millichap’s downtown Chicago office, marketed the property on behalf of the seller, a local private investor. Lieberman and Tesdal also secured and represented the buyer, a local investor, in the transaction.
CHICAGO — NorthMarq Capital has secured a $13.3 million refinancing loan for the Kingsbury Center, a mixed-used property in Chicago’s River North neighborhood. The 10-year loan includes a 25-year amortization schedule. Sue Blumberg and Eric Kanz of NorthMarq Capital’s Chicago office arranged the financing for the borrower, which includes the Hochberg family, through its correspondent relationship with a life insurance company. The 135,256-square-foot property, located at 344 W. Hubbard St., was 100 percent occupied at the time of sale. Tenants in the Kingsbury Center include Petco, Ace Hardware and CVS as retailers. Related Companies and The Habitat Company hold office space.
CHICAGO — Essex Realty Group has brokered the $1.2 million sale of an eight-unit multifamily property located at 7410 N. Winchester Ave. in Chicago’s Rogers Park neighborhood. The property is situated one-half mile west of the Chicago Transit Authority’s Howard station and roughly three-quarters of a mile west of the Jarvis station. The multifamily building is less than one mile west of Jarvis Beach and Lake Michigan. Doug Imber & Kate Varde represented the seller and Jim Darrow & Jordan Gottlieb represented the buyer in the transaction.