CINCINNATI AND CLEVELAND — Fifth Third Bank NA and Bellwether Enterprise Real Estate Capital LLC have formed a new strategic relationship for multifamily financing. The arrangement brings together two institutions that are committed to providing affordable multifamily housing. Cleveland-based Bellwether Enterprise’s wide capabilities with government lending programs, including Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, FHA and USDA, will provide long-term agency financing for Fifth Third’s clients. Cincinnati-based Fifth Third will gain access to Bellwether Enterprise’s diverse permanent lender platform, which also includes correspondent relationships with life insurance companies in addition to agencies. Fifth Third will also be able to invest in new market tax credits, low-income housing tax credits, workforce housing equity and other products offered by Bellwether Enterprise’s parent company, Enterprise Community Investment Inc. The relationship will enable Bellwether Enterprise to leverage Fifth Third’s short-term and construction lending products, as well as treasury management, capital markets and investment solutions. Fifth Third Acquisition Holdings LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Fifth Third, made a minority equity investment in Bellwether Enterprise as part of the relationship. Beekman Advisors advised Bellwether Enterprise on negotiation and execution of the transaction.
DAYTON, OHIO — Marcus & Millichap has arranged the sale of Needmore Road Self Storage, a 61,750-square-foot self-storage facility in Dayton. The sales price was undisclosed. Jeffrey Herrmann and Sean Delaney of Marcus & Millichap marketed the property on behalf of the seller, a limited liability company. The team also secured and represented the buyer, a limited liability company.
Columbus continues to be a powerhouse in the industrial market of the Midwest. Fueling this growth are its strategic logistics location as well as being the Ohio state capital and home to eight colleges and universities in central Ohio. Job creation in Columbus remains ahead of Ohio with employment expanding nearly 22 percent since 2010, twice the state’s rate of expansion. The region’s largest employers include The Ohio State University, OhioHealth, JP Morgan Chase and Nationwide Mutual Services. These companies employ nearly 100,000 in central Ohio. Columbus is also one of the hottest housing markets in the nation, with overall median sales prices increasing 7.6 percent over 2018 and sellers receiving, on average, 98.7 percent of the last list price at sale. Columbus has a greater access to the U.S. market within a 10-hour drive than any other major metropolitan area in the country. The area has access to 46 percent of the U.S. population within a 10-hour truck drive. This proximity continues to attract large corporations to the area, including Amazon, Facebook, Google and Walmart, who are all occupying new distribution and data centers in the region. The market’s industrial vacancy rate of 5 percent at the end of …
OAKWOOD VILLAGE, OHIO — Nichols Paper & Supply Co. has signed a 45,000-square-foot industrial lease in Oakwood Village, a southern suburb of Cleveland. The paper company is relocating its Cleveland distribution center to Oakwood Village. David Hexter and Jeffrey Calig of NAI Pleasant Valley represented the tenant in the lease transaction. The landlord was not disclosed.
CINCINNATI — Kroger will limit the number of customers to 50 percent of the international building code’s calculated capacity to allow for proper social distancing in every store. The standard building capacity for a grocery store is one person per 60 square feet. Under Kroger’s new reduced capacity limits that begin today, April 7, the number will be one person per 120 square feet. Cincinnati-based Kroger will monitor the number of customers by using QueVision technology, which already provides a count of the customers entering and exiting stores. Kroger’s new customer capacity limits joins other measures the retailer has established over the last few weeks to promote social distancing, including the addition of plexiglass partitions and floor decals. Kroger is also encouraging associates to wear protective masks and gloves. All locations are expected to have these supplies by the end of the week.
COLUMBUS, OHIO — Washington Prime Group, in partnership with the Institute for Justice Clinic on Entrepreneurship and members of the University of Chicago faculty, has launched the Open for Small Business initiative to address the unprecedented business closures resulting from the coronavirus pandemic. In order to address the issues small businesses face concerning near-term cash flow, Open for Small Business has provided a lease modification as well as other relevant templates that enable the deferral of payments until these local entrepreneurs get back on their feet. Open for Small Business is also hosting educational webinars about how to access U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) guaranteed loans as well as public and nonprofit agency programs. Columbus-based retail REIT Washington Prime Group hosted its first webinar this past week and more than 300 small business owners participated. The IJ Clinic on Entrepreneurship provides free legal assistance, support and advocacy for low-income entrepreneurs in Chicago.
WESTLAKE, OHIO — DiFranco Commercial Real Estate has brokered the sale of 2035 Crocker Road in Westlake, about 17 miles west of downtown Cleveland. The sales price was not disclosed. The 34,017-square-foot office and retail complex was 94 percent occupied at the time of listing. The building is situated directly across from the lifestyle center Crocker Park. Michael DiFranco of DiFranco brokered the sale. Buyer and seller information was not provided.
HAMILTON, OHIO — Preston Hollow Capital has completed a $38 million tax-exempt bond financing on behalf of the city of Hamilton, which is located 20 miles north of Cincinnati. The bonds will be used to support the redevelopment of the former Champion Paper Mill into a 20-acre sports and entertainment complex. The project will consist of a 650,000-square-foot sports complex and a 360,000-square-foot hotel, which will include convention, retail and commercial space in addition to the 235 hotel rooms. The Hamilton Community Authority issued the bonds, which were placed with Dallas-based Preston Hollow. Piper Sandler served as underwriter on the financing. Squire Patton Boggs LLP served as bond counsel and Bradley Payne Advisors LLC served as financial advisor.
TWINSBURG TOWNSHIP, OHIO — NAI Pleasant Valley has arranged the sale of 1550 Enterprise Parkway in Twinsburg Township, about 28 miles southeast of Cleveland. The sales price was not disclosed. The industrial building totals 31,480 square feet. Jeffrey Calig and David Hexter of NAI Pleasant Valley brokered the transaction. Innovation Food Service, a wholesale producer of contract meals for schools and senior programs, purchased the property from an undisclosed seller.
LANCASTER, OHIO — Monmouth Real Estate Investment Corp. has acquired a 153,000-square-foot industrial building in Lancaster within metro Columbus for $17.9 million. The property is net leased for 10 years to Magna Seating of America Inc., a division of Magna International. The building sits on 24.5 acres at 747 Mill Park Drive. The seller was not disclosed.