WARREN, MICH. —Colliers International has arranged the retail lease of 2,006 square-feet in Warren. Firehouse Subs will occupy space at 32900 Dequindre Road. Barry Landau of Colliers International represented the landlord, Universal Mall Properties LLC. Landau has represented the landlord in much of its retail space leasing. Firehouse Subs is expanding throughout the metro Detroit area. This location joins 17 others throughout the state.
Midwest
OTSEGO, MINN. — Duke Realty has arranged a long-term lease with Blu Dot for the development of a 150,064-square-foot, build-to-suit bulk warehouse in Otsego. The designer and distributor of modern home furnishings will occupy space on nearly eight acres in the Gateway North Business Center. Neil Kolatkar and Dan Swartz of CBRE represented Blu Dot in the transaction. Josh Budish of Duke Realty’s Minneapolis-St. Paul office represented the firm.
DOVER, OHIO — Landmark Commercial Real Estate Services Inc. has arranged the sale of the Heritage Square Shopping Center in Dover. A Florida-based private investment fund purchased the 181,732-square-foot property for an undisclosed price. Giant Eagle anchors the shopping center. Kevin Baker, Daniel Dukes and Scott Lander of Landmark represented the seller, Phillips Edison & Co. Fund III.
NEOGA, ILL. — Marcus & Millichap has brokered the $1 million sale of a 9,014-square-foot Dollar General store in Neoga, a city in central Illinois. The net-leased property is located at 1050 U.S. Route 45. The building is a 2011 construction, build-to-suit for Dollar General. Gino Lollio of Marcus & Millichap’s Chicago Downtown office represented the seller, a private investor. The buyer was undisclosed.
MILWAUKEE — The Dickman Company, Inc./CORFAC International has arranged the sale of an 8,186-square-foot industrial building in Milwaukee. The property is located at 1036-1038 W. National Ave. Palko Energies LLC purchased the building from the city of Milwaukee. Zach Noble of the Dickman Co. represented the seller and the buyer in the transaction.
CHICAGO — Marcus & Millichap has arranged the $16.5 million sale of a 16,047-square-foot Walgreens drugstore in Chicago’s Andersonville neighborhood. The sales price equates to $1,033 per square foot. The drugstore is located across the street from grocer Jewel-Osco at 5440 N. Clark St. The property underwent an extensive rebuild and retrofit to maintain its historic look. Walgreens signed an absolute-net, 75-year lease on the property in 2011. Sean Sharko and Austin Weisenbeck of Marcus & Millichap’s Chicago Oak Brook office represented the seller, an overseas partnership. Jamie Medress and Mark Ruble of the firm’s Phoenix office represented the undisclosed buyer.
MINNEAPOLIS — Grandbridge Real Estate Capital has secured an $8.4 million first mortgage loan to refinance an apartment portfolio in Minnesota. The properties are located in the Twin Cities metro area and include seven buildings totaling 220 units. Tony Carlson of Grandbridge’s Minneapolis office originated the 10-year, fixed-rate loan that features a 20-year amortization schedule. A life insurance company provided funding for the loan for the undisclosed borrower. The loan required no personal guaranty and loan proceeds were used to retire existing debt. The properties were fully occupied at closing.
MUNSTER, IND. — Paine/Wetzel TCN Worldwide has arranged the lease of a 56,800-square-foot space at 9200 Calumet Ave. in Munster. AM Manufacturing Co. will occupy space in the Munster Lake Business Center. AM Manufacturing makes equipment for the pizza, tortilla, bagel and baking industries. The company is expanding its facilities and relocating from Dolton, Ill. Ed Wabick of Paine/Wetzel TCN Worldwide arranged the lease for the landlord, Munster Development LLC.
INDIANAPOLIS — Brennan Investment Group LLC has acquired Jackson Industrial Park in Indianapolis. The portfolio consists of four multi-tenant, light-industrial facilities totaling approximately 260,400 square feet. Brennan Investment Group successfully utilized crowdfunding with Realty Mogul to complete the purchase. The property is 77 percent occupied.
It’s a trend that’s happening across the country. Millennials are fleeing the suburbs of their childhood and choosing to work and live in the urban areas of every major American city. But there’s a unique twist to this story in Kansas City. While Millennials are moving downtown in droves, many have a reverse commute. Most Fortune 500 companies have remained in the suburbs after their flight from downtown beginning in the 1970s. In addition, several large companies have jumped the state line due to favorable tax incentives. In the second quarter, the downtown office vacancy rate stood at an unhealthy 29.9 percent. Only one office submarket posted a higher vacancy rate. Meanwhile, the leading submarket, South Johnson County, recorded a 12.8 percent vacancy rate. It’s been difficult for older office buildings with smaller floor plates of 10,000 to 15,000 square feet to compete as companies look for larger floor plates of 25,000 to 30,000 square feet. Companies are also finding that surface parking in the suburbs is more economical. Building Conversion Wave The good news is that a slow reversal in both the multifamily and office markets is occurring as older and historic office buildings are adapting to the demands …