CHICAGO — Cushman & Wakefield has brokered the sale of a 1.2-acre retail site on Chicago’s southwest side for $2 million. The buyer, a private investor and developer, plans to redevelop the site into a retail shopping center. The property, located at 5501 S. Kedzie Ave. in Chicago’s Gage Park, was most recently home to a Bank of America branch. The area is traveled by more than 54,000 vehicles per day, and more than 62,000 people live within a mile of the site. Nicholas Kanich of Cushman & Wakefield represented both the buyer and the seller, 5501 S. Kedzie LLC. The buyer plans to break ground on the shopping center this spring.
COLUMBIA-TUSCULUM, OHIO — Fit Food Stop has signed a 2,400-square-foot lease at 3528 Columbia Parkway in Columbia-Tusculum, a neighborhood east of downtown Cincinnati. The company produces pre-cooked, individually portioned food that is organic and gluten-free. This is the second location for the company, which opened its first store in Oakley last year. The store in Columbia-Tusculum is set to open this spring. Tori Sunderman of CBRE represented the landlord in the transaction.
NEW YORK — DRA Advisors has purchased a 19.8-million-square-foot industrial portfolio that spans 21 U.S. markets for $1.1 billion. The portfolio contains a total of 184 properties that are 94 percent leased to more than 500 tenants. The properties reside in industrial hubs such as Dallas, Houston, Chicago, Atlanta and Columbus, Ohio. The assets range from less than 15,000 square feet to 925,000 square feet, according to CoStar Group. Cabot Properties Fund II sold the portfolio, concluding the fund’s disposition activity. The fund was launched in late 2005. This acquisition will allow New York-based DRA Advisors to expand its industrial footprint to more than 45 million square feet. DRA’s industrial assets are primarily located in Texas, California, Illinois, Indiana and Florida. The private equity real estate firm currently has more than $10 billion of assets under management. This includes more than 70 million square feet of commercial real estate and more than 12,000 residential units. Eastdil Secured and Cushman & Wakefield represented Boston-based Cabot Properties in the transaction. The private equity real estate firm manages and operates about 160 million square feet of industrial properties throughout North America and the United Kingdom that are valued at $57 billion. — Nellie Day
KANSAS CITY, MO. — Hunt Midwest has closed on the sale of two hotel sites within Hunt Midwest Commerce Center (HMCC). A 90-room SpringHill Suites by Marriott and a 126-room Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites will be constructed and open on the sites. Both hotels are slated to open in 2018. KMG Hotels will operate the SpringHill Suites by Marriott, which it is developing under the name of Park Hospitality LLC. Elite Hotel Group LLC will own and operate the Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites. HMCC is a 2,500-acre development home to hotels, restaurants and retail stores.
EDGERTON, KAN. — Spectrum Brands Hardware and Home Improvement (HHI) has unveiled plans to move into a 927,112-square-foot distribution center at Logistics Park Kansas City (LPKC) in Edgerton. Spectrum Brands HHI will consolidate two existing distribution facilities in Charlotte, N.C. and Mira Loma, Calif. Construction of the building, known as Inland Port XXXIII, began in March 2016. The building is the largest to ever be constructed on a speculative basis in Kansas City, according to LPKC. The park is a 1,700-acre distribution and warehouse development anchored by BNSF Railway’s newest intermodal facility.
MINNEAPOLIS — Mission Capital Advisors has negotiated a $50.8 million loan for the acquisition of the Graduate Minneapolis. The borrower, AJ Capital Partners, will also renovate and rebrand the 304-room hotel located at 615 Washington Ave. SE. Renovations of the lobby, guest rooms, common areas and meeting spaces are slated for completion in early 2018. Jordan Ray, Ari Hirt, Steven Buchwald and David Behmoaras of Mission Capital represented AJ Capital in the transaction. The team also represented AJ Capital in the $43.8 million acquisition of the Graduate Seattle hotel.
AUBURN HILLS, MICH. — Signature Associates has arranged the sale of a 489,000-square-foot, high-tech office building in Auburn Hills. The sales price was not disclosed, but the list price was $25.5 million. The building is located at 3000 University Drive. Bruce A. Morrison and Paul Hoge of Signature Associates represented the landlord, Shamrock Holdings Inc. The buyer was not disclosed.
SPRINGFIELD, MO. — Mid-America Real Estate Corp. has brokered the sale of Morris Corners in Springfield in southwestern Missouri. The sales price was not disclosed. The 56,033-square-foot retail center is located at the corner of Battlefield Road and Fremont Avenue. Tenants include Toys “R” Us and Massage Envy. Carly Gallagher and Ben Wineman of Mid-America represented the seller, Ohio-based DDR. A private buyer purchased the property.
DETROIT — Microsoft Corp. has unveiled plans to move its Michigan Microsoft Technology Center (MTC) from Southfield to downtown Detroit in early 2018. The company will occupy more than 40,000 square feet in Bedrock’s One Campus Martius building. There are more than 40 MTCs worldwide, which bring together resources to help clients explore their products. Bedrock is the real estate arm of Dan Gilbert’s business portfolio, specializing in acquiring, leasing, financing, developing and managing commercial and residential space. Since its founding in 2011, Bedrock has located more than 160 office and retail tenants to downtown Detroit.
ROMEOVILLE, ILL. — The Opus Group has unveiled plans to construct a 111,345-square-foot, speculative industrial building in Romeoville. 101 Paragon will be the second and final phase of the company’s project at Paragon Business Park. Two other speculative industrial developments were constructed in 2016. 101 Paragon will feature 30-foot clear heights, 12 loading docks and 16 trailer parking positions. Completion is slated for August 2017. Opus Development Co. LLC is the developer, Opus Design Build LLC is the design-builder and Opus AE Group LLC is the architect and structural engineer. Jason West and Sean Henrick of Cushman & Wakefield will market the property for lease.