Similar to the past couple of years, it is difficult to identify one or two items to highlight about the Omaha industrial market. Although the most impressive improvement might be the amount of new construction starts in 2016, factors such as sales prices per square foot, number of overall transactions, average asking rents, vacancy rates, landlord concessions all trended in a favorable direction for owners of industrial properties. This has been a staggering year- over-year trend, which has led many industry professionals to ask the same question: Is the market becoming too hot? User-driven projects over 100,000 square feet were the highlight of 2016, with multiple large projects breaking ground. Those users included Thrasher Inc., a rapidly growing, Omaha-based basement waterproofing and foundation repair company, which broke ground on its 209,000-square-foot office and warehouse facility located near 120th Street and Valley Ridge Drive; and Oxbow Industries, a Murdock, Neb.-based manufacturer, that is working with a developer on a new 140,000-square-foot facility at 150th Street and Schram Road. However, new construction starts for large projects were not the only storyline. Companies including Rotella’s Italian Bakery (6949 S. 108th St.) and State Steel (13413 Centech Road) made notable expansions to their existing …
Nebraska
With an average occupancy rate of 96 percent at the end of 2016, coupled with a four percent growth in asking rental rates during 2016, Omaha’s apartment market continues to be a strong performer. According to apartment data research firm Reis, Omaha’s average asking rental rate has increased in every quarter for the past 23 quarters, and is expected to increase 3.6 percent in 2017. On the occupancy front, Reis expects the vacancy rate to finish 2017 slightly higher at 4.9 percent, which would still result in a projected healthy 95.1 percent occupancy rate. On a 10-year historical occupancy basis, Reis reports that the average occupancy over the past decade has been 95.3 percent. Meanwhile, the Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM) reports that the occupancy rate during the same period ranged from a low of 92 percent in 2008 to 96 percent in both 2013 and 2015. Since the beginning of 2007, the average annual increase in asking rental rates has been 2.7 percent, according to Reis. Over the past 23 quarters, the cumulative increase in asking rental rates has been 19.3 percent. Investors take notice While Omaha may not have as robust rent growth as some East …
CHICAGO — Blueprint Healthcare Real Estate Advisors, a Chicago-based brokerage firm, has negotiated the sale of 18 skilled nursing facilities located throughout the Midwest for $82 million. The portfolio included nine properties in Kansas, six in Missouri, two in Iowa and one in Nebraska. The specific names and locations of the properties were not disclosed. The regional portfolio comprises 1,843 total licensed beds and generated approximately $110 million in revenue on a trailing basis at the time of sale. Most of the facilities are situated in suburban neighborhoods, while several of the centers were in secondary markets within driving distance from Kansas City. The seller, a publicly traded owner-operator, was looking to exit the Midwest region to create a tighter geographic density for its properties, as well as focus on hospital partnerships. The buyer is Illinois-based Cascade Capital Group, which went through several rounds of bidding. The sale includes an undisclosed level of HUD mortgage debt and two leased assets. The sales price equates to $45,000 per bed. Ben Firestone, Christopher Hyldahl and Michael Segal of Blueprint structured the transaction.
OMAHA, NEB. — Darland Construction Co. has partnered with BCDM Architects and Omaha Public Schools to build a school for students with special needs. J.P. Lord School will be relocated from its current location at the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s main campus to a new location near 45th and Marinda streets. The 45,000-square-foot school will feature handicap accessible hallways and classrooms, multi-sensory elements, a therapy pool and mobility devices throughout. The school serves students ages five to 21, and the new location is slated to open in the fall of 2018.
OMAHA, NEB. — Jasper Stone Partners has received preliminary governmental approval for Avenue One, a $1.2 billion mixed-use development in west Omaha. The Omaha Planning Board unanimously approved the nearly 200-acre project this week, according to the Omaha World-Herald, the local daily newspaper. Avenue One will be located south of 192nd and Dodge streets. The development will feature office, retail, residential, hotel and civic spaces, as well as public green spaces and walking trails. Jasper Stone plans to break ground later this year on the project, which will consist of 1.3 million square feet of office and retail space, and more than 2,000 residential units. Phase I of construction is slated for completion in late 2018. Avenue One will be one of the largest projects of its kind in Omaha and is expected to have an annual economic impact of more than $1 billion, according to a news release from the developers. Jasper Stone is working with Block Real Estate Services LLC during the master planning phase. Other participants in the project include HOK for architecture and land planning, Omaha-based Olsson and Associates for engineering and design, Pansing Hogan Ernst & Bachman and Husch Blackwell for legal services and Pinnacle …
OMAHA, NEB. — The Lerner Co. has completed the retenanting of the vacant Kmart building at Eagle Run Shopping Center in Omaha. Kmart closed its 93,000-square-foot store in December 2014. TJ Maxx and HomeGoods will open later this year. Sierra Trading Post will open before the first quarter of 2018. Plans were previously unveiled for a 40,000-square-foot Burlington store to open this March. The shopping center, located at 132nd and West Maple roads, totals 415,000 square feet. Other big-box retailers in the center include Baker’s Supermarket, Kohl’s, Petco and Office Depot.
OMAHA, NEB. — Darland Construction Co. has completed a 73,173-square-foot warehouse for Dr. Pepper Snapple Group in Omaha. The facility features 14 truck bays, two maintenance bays, a vending machine repair shop and 7,350 square feet of office space. John Maderak of Darland served as project manager. Avant Architects served as architect.
OMAHA, NEB. — Cushman & Wakefield/The Lund Co. has negotiated the sale of West Grayhawk shopping center in Omaha for $20.8 million. The 100,000-square-foot center is located at 150th Street and West Maple Road. West Grayhawk is 100 percent leased to tenants including Fresh Thyme, Ulta, Gordmans Department Store, Shoe Carnival and Husker Hounds. Richard Secor Jr. of Cushman & Wakefield/The Lund Co. represented the buyer, Lumax Realty Corp. and Tomlin Development Corp. Bob Begley of Lockwood Development represented the seller, Royce Grayhawk LLC.
OMAHA, NEB. — The Lerner Company has unveiled plans for Burlington Coat Factory to open its second store in Omaha at Eagle Run Shopping Center, located at 4004 N. 132nd St. The new store will occupy a portion of the former Kmart, which closed in December 2014. The new 40,408-square-foot store will open in spring 2017. The opening will bring approximately 50 to 100 new jobs to the Omaha community. Eagle Run Shopping Center is one of The Lerner Company’s joint venture entities.
SPRINGFIELD, MO. AND SIDNEY, NEB. — Bass Pro Shops has agreed to acquire Cabela’s Inc. (NYSE: CAB) for $5.5 billion, or $65.50 per share of CAB stock. The merger brings together three of the nation’s top outdoor sporting brands: Cabela’s, which specializes in hunting; Bass Pro Shops, which specializes in fishing; and White River Marine Group, a Bass Pro Shops company that specializes in boating. The combined company will own 184 stores in the U.S. and Canada. Cabela’s Board of Directors unanimously approved the acquisition, which is expected to close in the first half of 2017. It was not immediately clear whether the deal would result in any store closures. Bass Pro Shops will also enter into a multi-year partnership agreement with Capital One, National Association, which will originate and service Cabela’s CLUB, the retailer’s co-branded credit card. The customer rewards systems for both retailers should be unaffected by the acquisition. The transaction will be completed through a cash merger and is subject to approval by Cabela’s shareholders, as well as regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. The Merchant Banking Division of Goldman Sachs and Pamplona provided partial acquisition financing for the deal. Goldman Sachs has committed $1.8 billion, …