CHICAGO — Total Quality Logistics (TQL), a logistics company specializing in shipping needs and supply chain efficiencies, has signed a 36,322-square-foot office lease at The National, a 20-story office building totaling 600,830 square feet in Chicago’s Central Loop. Germany-based Commerz Real owns the property, which is located at 125 S. Clark St. TQL’s new lease represents a 5,000-square-foot expansion over its previous office at 328 S. Jefferson St. Eric Myers, Kathleen Bertrand and John Nelson of Transwestern Real Estate Services represented the landlord, while Jon Milonas and James Otto of CBRE represented the tenant. Originally built in 1907 and designed by Daniel Burnham, The National is designated as a Chicago landmark. The building was renovated in 2015 to include a new fitness center, tenant lounge and outdoor terrace. The renovation also included the addition of Revival Food Hall, a 24,000-square-foot dining marketplace that features local restaurants in a grab-and-go setting.
CHICAGO — Urban Innovations has negotiated seven office leases at its buildings in Chicago’s River North neighborhood. Altec Solutions Inc., a recruiter for manufacturing and engineering careers, signed a lease for 3,484 square feet at 325 W. Huron St. Michael Graham of CBRE represented the tenant. Aptus Architecture renewed a 2,394-square-foot lease at 325 W. Huron St. Jason Schulz of The J. Rich Co. represented the architecture firm. Blue Chip Marketing Worldwide signed a lease renewal for 6,784 square feet in 720 N. Franklin St. Chris Cummins of JLL represented the tenant. Challenger Logistics International Inc., a logistics and supply chain management firm, inked a 2,895-square-foot lease at 444 N. Wells St. Isabelle Montagne and Brian Means of JLL represented the tenant. Consulting firm Communication Research Associates Inc. leased a 1,500-square-foot space at 325 W. Huron St. Jaquis Covington of JLL represented the firm. Arts organization Ingenuity Incorporated Chicago renewed its lease at 440 N. Wells St. Michael Schneider of X10 Commercial represented the organization. NuHaus Corp. signed a 1,479-square-foot lease for a millwork showroom at 445 N. Wells St. Stephen Di Padua of Berkshire Hathaway represented the tenant. Aaron Zaretsky and Candice Marek represented ownership on an internal basis …
LAKE ST. LOUIS, MO. — Spellman Brady & Co. has completed the interior design for the clubhouse and leasing office of Citrine, a luxury apartment community in Lake St. Louis, a northwest suburb of St. Louis. Mill’s Properties owns the community. Spellman Brady was responsible for specifying and procuring the furniture, artwork and accessories for the clubhouse and leasing office. The 2,685-square-foot clubhouse features a fitness center, dog park, pet spa and community lounge with a bistro café. Spellman Brady collaborated with GMA Architects and ARCO Construction Co. on the project.
BENSENVILLE, ILL. — Apex Industrial Automation, an industrial equipment and motor supplier, has acquired a 14,400-square-foot industrial building in the Chicago suburb of Bensenville for an undisclosed price. Apex will occupy over half of the building, which is located at 222-224 Williams St. The remainder of the building will be occupied by an existing tenant. Jerry Sullivan of DarwinPW Realty/CORFAC International represented the buyer, while Robert DeSalvo of Sierra Realty represented the seller, a private trust.
ST. LOUIS — JLL Capital Markets has arranged a $47 million loan for the refinancing of Marlowe, a newly built apartment complex featuring 205 units in the Central West End neighborhood of St. Louis. Completed in 2022, Marlowe features studio, one- and two-bedroom units. Amenities include a pool, lawn with putting green, bark park, fitness studio and flex workspaces. Danny Kaufman, Philip Galligan, Mary Dooley and Rebecca Brielmaier of JLL represented the borrower, Keeley Properties. An insurance company provided the four-year, fixed-rate loan. Sound Mark Partners provided preferred equity for the deal.
WHITE BEAR LAKE, MINN. — Kraus-Anderson (KA) has begun a $24 million renovation and expansion of Central Middle School in White Bear Lake, a northeast suburb of Minneapolis. Designed by Wold Architects and Engineers, the 108,000-square-foot project will add a new gym and fitness area, expand the kitchen and cafeteria and renovate the former district office to create additional classroom spaces. There will also be updates to the classrooms, media center, flex areas and learning commons. Completion is slated for late summer 2025. KA is also completing a $5.8 million expansion at Oneka Elementary School in Hugo, Minn. Both of these projects are part of a $326 million building bond passed by White Bear Lake Area School District voters in 2019.
KANSAS CITY, MO. — Marcus & Millichap has arranged the sale of Creekwood Park Duplex Townhomes in Kansas City for an undisclosed price. The 58-unit multifamily property is located at 5808 NE 42nd St. About 30 percent of the units have been renovated, and the property was 97 percent occupied at the time of sale. Jacob Carroll and Aaron Kuroiwa of Marcus & Millichap represented the seller, an individual trust. The duo also secured and represented the buyer, a limited liability company.
CHICAGO — Peak Realty has completed the lease-up of a 52-unit apartment complex located at 2000 W. Summerdale Ave. in Chicago. The property offers one- and two-bedroom units with various amenities. Matt Ayo, Mason Estruch and Charlmers Oscar of Peak Realty handled the leasing.
GREENDALE, WIS. — Founders 3 Real Estate Services has brokered the $1.1 million sale of a 13,000-square-foot industrial building in Greendale, a southwest suburb of Milwaukee. The property is located at 6600 S. Industrial Loop. Paul McBride and Patti Stevens of Founders 3 represented the seller, B&H Holdings. Massimo Property Investments was the buyer.
Location’s importance to commercial real estate has become a cliché. But in logistics and industrial considerations, the idea is new again — it’s not about where you are but where customers need to go and the primacy of transportation. If you’re not at the place and time that clients need, it doesn’t matter how theoretically fine the setting or how impressive the facilities are. “Transportation is roughly 12 times the cost of industrial real estate,” says Adam Roth, executive vice president at NAI Hiffman. Finished products, goods and materials are sent into and out of facilities over and over again. Shipping and trucking are a stiffly recurring expense and a much higher spend than real estate. “If I can impact your transportation spend, the real estate is a much smaller factor in the supply chain. If you can address the current concern of transportation, real estate rates almost doesn’t matter, due to a location’s supply chain advantages. Real estate can be one of the best ways to combat transportation costs.” The Rule of 1.5 In practical terms, customers’ plans for transportation are a series of changes, starting at factories, going to ports or warehouses for inventory, on to major and …