By Scott Olson, Skogman Commercial Each year when I update exciting growth in Iowa’s second largest city, it is hard to imagine the pace can continue despite what we hear nationally about high interest rates, tariffs and inflation. Plus, this great city adapts after natural disasters to quickly recover and create a better place to work and call home. Our latest national rankings reflect this effort, skill and dedication: • No. 1 city for affordable housing in America (WalletHub, 2025) • No. 3 best place to live in the Midwest (Spacewise, 2025) • No. 12 best city for economic opportunity (U.S. News & World Report, 2025) • No. 4 city with most affordable rent (WalletHub, 2025) • No. 17 best city to buy a house in America (Niche.com, 2025) • A top 100 best city for jobs in America (WalletHub, 2025) • A top 100 best place to retire in America (Niche.com, 2025) • No. 7 safest city in America (WalletHub, 2025) • No. 33 best run city in America (WalletHub 2024, top 40 ranking since 2017) In fall 2024, the City of Cedar Rapids was selected to participate in the Bloomberg Harvard Innovation Track as a continuation of the …
Midwest
DOWNERS GROVE, ILL. — Conor Commercial Real Estate and LCI Development Partners, in partnership with Bailard, have unveiled plans to develop a 138-unit luxury apartment complex in the Chicago suburb of Downers Grove. The six-story project at 750 Curtiss St. will be a three-minute walk to the Main Street Metra Station and two blocks from the Main Street commercial corridor. Units will average 851 square feet. Amenities will include a coffee bar, clubroom, fitness center, coworking hubs, a pool, dog wash and parking garage. The project team includes SGW Architecture & Design and McShane Construction Co. Completion is slated for spring 2027.
INDIANAPOLIS — Realterm has acquired a 79-door truck terminal located at 2612 W. Morris St. in Indianapolis for an undisclosed price. The 10-acre property features a 37,965-square-foot truck terminal with 7,635 square feet of office space and a 7,626-square-foot maintenance shop. The truck terminal includes 124 trailer parking stalls and two points of ingress and egress. It recently underwent significant renovations, including a roof replacement, repaved parking lot, interior improvements to the terminal and maintenance facility, and enhanced security measures. The property offers immediate access to I-70 and the Indianapolis International Airport.
OHIO — In a sale-leaseback transaction, CrownPoint Partners has sold a five-property dental real estate portfolio in Ohio for $5.5 million. A Midwest-based private investment fund focused on healthcare real estate was the buyer. The assets are located in Mansfield, Warren, Sidney, Akron and Eaton.
SOUTH BEND, IND. — Marcus & Millichap has brokered the $4.3 million sale of River Shore Apartments in South Bend. The 48-unit multifamily property was built in 1969 on 2.1 acres. Of the 48 units, 39 have been renovated and 44 are two-bedroom floor plans. Amenities include a dog park, car ports and small storage compartments. The asset is located one mile from Indiana University South Bend and Bethel College. Jack Friskney, Aaron Kuroiwa and Austin Meeker of Marcus & Millichap represented the South Bend-based seller and procured the Detroit-based buyer.
CHICAGO — Lee & Associates of Illinois has negotiated a 4,500-square-foot restaurant lease at 2535 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago’s Logan Square neighborhood. The tenant, ManSun, is an authentic Korean restaurant. This will be the proprietor’s second restaurant, following New Village Gastro Pub in Northbrook. Rick Scardino and Michael Petrik of Lee & Associates represented the tenant in the lease. Amanda Shafer of Emerging Concepts represented the landlord, an entity doing business as 2M Square FB LLC.
ATLANTA AND CHICAGO — Convenience retailer RaceTrac Inc. has entered into a definitive merger agreement to acquire all outstanding shares of fast-casual sandwich chain Potbelly Corp. (NASDAQ: PBPB) for $17.12 per share. The all-cash transaction is valued at roughly $566 million, representing a premium of approximately 47 percent to Potbelly’s 90-day volume-weighted average price as of Sept. 9. The acquisition is expected to close in the fourth quarter, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals. Founded more than 40 years ago in Chicago, Potbelly sells toasted sandwiches, salads, soups and hand-dipped milkshakes. The sandwich shop chain currently maintains more than 445 company and franchise-owned locations across the United States, with a long-term goal of reaching 2,000 shops. “We have positioned Potbelly for accelerated franchise-led growth in recent years, and this transaction fortifies our path while delivering certain and immediate value to our shareholders,” says Bob Wright, president and CEO of Potbelly. Wright, a former Wendy’s executive, led a turnaround of Potbelly during the pandemic, according to Crain’s Chicago Business. Expanding the franchisee base was a major part of the strategy. Atlanta-based RaceTrac, one of the largest privately held companies in the United States, operates more than 800 convenience stores …
DEKALB, ILL. — Mohr Capital has acquired 147 acres in DeKalb and broken ground on a 1 million-square-foot, build-to-suit distribution facility for an undisclosed national client. The project has the ability to be expanded to 1.5 million square feet. Located at the northwest corner of Peace Road and Fairview Drive, the facility will serve as a warehouse and distribution hub, supporting the client’s regional operations. Mohr Capital and the tenant have signed a 12-year lease for the building. The project team includes Pepper Construction, Curran Architecture and Willet Hoffman as civil engineer. CBRE’s Chicago-based project management team will oversee the development on behalf of Mohr.
ROSEVILLE, MINN. — JLL has negotiated retail leases for six new tenants at Rosedale Center, a 1.1 million-square-foot shopping center in Roseville within metro Twin Cities. The leases include Kendra Scott, J.Crew Factory, Johnston & Murphy, Lolli & Pops, Paris Baguette and BRKTHROUGH. Additionally, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Legendary Spice, Boba X and Kukuri recently opened at the center. Holly Rome and Lane Walsh of JLL lead the leasing effort at Rosedale Center and secured the new leases.
BIWABIK, MINN. — Kraus-Anderson’s Duluth office has completed construction of the new Pool & Sauna Haus at Giants Ridge in Biwabik, a city in northeast Minnesota. The $11.8 million, 9,700-square-foot facility expands the resort’s amenities. Construction began in July 2024. Designed by RSP Architects, the Pool & Sauna Haus features a pool, hot tub, locker rooms and a fireplace lounge that provides a space to gather after a day on the slopes, trails or golf courses. Outside the building are two standalone saunas. A new community room, available for public rental, offers flexible space for birthday parties, gatherings and events.