CHICAGO — The Harold E. Eisenberg Foundation will host its fifth annual Midwest Real Estate Challenge at the Standard Club of Chicago from 12:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, April 11. Students from DePaul University, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Roosevelt University, University of Illinois at Chicago and Marquette University will be competing against each other through a live presentation and written report focusing on the “Cap the Kennedy” Project. The project, over the Kennedy Expressway (I-90/94) between Lake Street and Jackson Boulevard, has been proposed by Fifield Cos. in an effort to establish a more functional connection from Chicago’s West Loop neighborhood to the downtown Loop/Central Business District. The five student teams will act as individual development companies responding to a request for proposal from Fifield to joint venture and execute the proposed project. A panel of judges will review all of the presentations and then award the team with the best overall plan. The winning team’s university will be awarded with a $5,000 scholarship, sponsored by Fifield, as well as a trophy. In addition, the winning team will be acknowledged at the Harold E. Eisenberg Foundation’s Annual Dinner in October.
Illinois
CHICAGO — Mid-America Real Estate Corp. has brokered the sale of a former funeral home in the Lakeview neighborhood of Chicago. Stonestreet Partners LLC purchased the 12,500-square-foot building and 0.33 acres of land. The subject property is located at the northeast corner of Lincoln, Southport, and Wellington avenues. Stonestreet plans to redevelop the former funeral home into a space that will include retail and residential property. Paul Bryant and Andrew Becker of Mid-America represented the seller, a private family and land trust. Kevin Boyd of SRS Real Estate represented the buyer.
DECATUR, ILL. — Block & Co. has brokered the $4.6 million sale of a 45,114-square-foot retail strip center in Decatur. The property is located at 4202-4298 N. Prospect at the southeast corner of I-72 and 51 Highway. A Walmart Supercenter and Sam’s Club anchor the center. Other tenants at the center include Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft, RadioShack and Sally Beauty Supply. David Block and Max DiCarlo of Block & Co. represented the sellers, Bloomfield 2005 LLC and Metcalf Arlington SPE LLC.
CHICAGO — Tokyo-based restaurant chain Gyu-Kaku will open its second Chicago location after signing a 10-year lease for 2,800 square feet at 1364 W. Randolph St. in the West Loop. Lee Ffrench of @properties Commercial represented Gyu-Kaku in the transaction. Elan Rasansky of RKF represented the landlord, Harrison Jones. The Japanese barbecue restaurant has more than 700 locations worldwide, including more than two-dozen in North America. In 2011, the company opened its first Chicago location at 210 E. Ohio St., just off the Magnificent Mile. Gyu Kaku’s new location is at the northeast corner of Randolph and Ada Streets, in an area of the West Loop known as Restaurant Row.
LOMBARD, ILL. — Leopardo Cos. Inc. has completed its 68,000-square-foot renovation of the AMC Yorktown 18 featuring AMC Red Kitchen in Lombard. The renovation was part of AMC Theatres’ strategy to enhance the overall moviegoing experience by updating several theater locations throughout its circuit. Leopardo has completed projects for the company at several locations across the country, including the AMC 600 N. Michigan 9 in Chicago. The AMC Yorktown 18 renovation consisted of the demolition and renovation of auditoriums, lobby and restrooms, as well as box office, guest services and concession areas. The auditoriums were also upgraded to include power reclining seats with tables to accommodate fast-casual dining. The renovation also included the build-out of an AMC Red Kitchen, one of only two AMC locations in the United States to feature the dining concept. The concept allows guests to enjoy a meal during a movie from their power recliner. MacGuffins, a bar and lounge that serves specialty cocktails, beer and wine, was also added during the renovation. Leopardo served as general contractor and worked in collaboration with owner’s representative Jones Lang LaSalle and BRR Architecture to complete the project.
JOLIET, ILL. — Marcus & Millichap has arranged the sale of 421 and 521 Kungs Way and 2414 Douglas, a 16-unit apartment property located in Joliet. The property includes one-, two- and three-bedroom units. The property features ample off-street parking. Andrean Angelov, Ryan Engle and Adam Fortino of Marcus & Millichap’s Chicago Oak Brook office represented the seller, a private investor, and the buyer, a limited liability company.
LOMBARD, ILL. — Bradford Allen has arranged the sale of a 52,564-square-foot office building in Lombard. The three-story property is located at 1910 S. Highland Ave. and is 37 percent leased. Ryan Moen of Bradford Allen represented the undisclosed buyer in the transaction. Bill Novelli and Derek Fohl of CBRE represented the seller, RBS Citizens Bank. Bradford Allen will serve as the leasing agent and property manager for the property.
PALOS HILLS, ILL. — Dougherty Mortgage LLC has arranged a $17.3 million Fannie Mae loan for the refinance of Green Oaks Apartments, a 384-unit affordable housing property located in Palos Hills. Community amenities include laundry facilities, community room, playground and heated outdoor pool. The 10-year loan includes a 30-year amortization schedule. Dougherty’s Austin, Texas office arranged the loan for the borrower Green Oaks at Palos Hills LP.
DEERFIELD AND WESTCHESTER, ILL. — Reed Construction has completed two build-outs for Arden Realty in the metro Chicago area. In the first project, Reed Construction completed a 2,500-square-foot renovation to the Star Lite Café within the Deerfield office property located at 520 Lake Cook Road. Construction featured the installation of a new ceiling and lighting as well as millwork cabinetry, point-of-sale stations and walk-in coolers. In the second project, Reed completed an interior build-out at Lifestart Fitness Center located at 2 Westbrook Corporate Center in Westchester. The project included a 1,100 square foot build-out of the existing space, which included the addition of a new locker room area with tile showers, solider surface vanities as well as new lockers. Reed’s Jason Gunderson was the principal and Jon Zawiski was the project manager for both Arden projects. Legat Architects provided architectural services for the projects.
DEERFIELD, ILL. — Newmark Grubb Knight Frank (NGKF) has arranged the lease of 14,500 square feet at 500 Lake Cook Road in Deerfield. Market6, a provider of web-based retail collaboration applications, will occupy space within Corporate 500, a four-building office complex that includes more than 700,000 square feet of Class A office space. Market6 relocated to this space from a property at 9 Parkway North Blvd. in Deerfield. The firm also maintains an office in Cincinnati, Ohio. NGKF’s Brian Reaney and Paul Buckingham represented Market6 in the lease.