ROCKFORD, ILL. — Quantum Real Estate Advisors Inc. has arranged the sale of Rockford Commons, an 89,000-square-foot shopping center in Rockford, for an undisclosed price. Ross Dress for Less and Best Buy anchor the property, which was fully leased at the time of sale. Chad Firsel of Quantum represented the seller, Chicago-based Core Acquisitions LLC. Daniel Waszak of Quantum represented the buyer, a Dallas-based REIT. The sale also included an outparcel for future development.
LANSING, MICH. — Ready Capital has closed a $7.7 million loan for the acquisition, renovation and stabilization of a two-property multifamily portfolio in Lansing. The portfolio totals 262 garden-style units. The undisclosed borrower plans to implement a capital improvement program to renovate unit interiors and address deferred maintenance. The nonrecourse loan features a three-year term, floating rate and interest-only payments.
JUSTICE, ILL. — Cawley Chicago has brokered the sale of a 45,000-square-foot medical office building in Justice, a southern suburb of Chicago. The sales price was undisclosed. Willow Springs Surgery Center anchors the two-story facility, which is located at 9050 W. 81st St. Rawly Lantz and Justin Harris of Cawley Chicago represented the seller, First Step Holdings, and will retain the leasing assignment moving forward. A private local investor was the buyer.
CLEVELAND — Bloomfield Capital has provided a $4 million senior bridge loan for a 100,000-square-foot industrial property in Cleveland. The undisclosed borrower has owned the building for several years and plans to utilize the loan to finalize interior renovations and upgrades to the property, which is more than 90 percent leased to retail and food processing tenants. The borrower plans to refinance the bridge loan with a conventional loan in 12 months.
HOPKINS, MINN. — Bridge Investment Group has purchased Excelsior Crossings in Hopkins near Minneapolis for an undisclosed price. The 508,590-square-foot office property, located on Excelsior Boulevard, consists of two Class A buildings that are each seven stories tall. Developed in 2008, Excelsior Crossings is 91 percent leased and recently underwent a $1.5 million amenity enhancement program. Bridge plans to invest an additional $6 million in capital and tenant improvements, including upgrades to the courtyard and common areas, kitchen, lobbies and elevator corridors. Current tenants include Element Fleet, Digi International and U.S. Bank’s Home Mortgage Division headquarters, which fully leases one of the buildings. Tom O’Brien of Cushman & Wakefield represented the seller, Colony Capital. Bridge Commercial Real Estate LLC, Bridge’s office operating company, will oversee capital improvements and management.
DEARBORN, MICH. — KJ Commercial has brokered the sale of a 52,000-square-foot retail center in Dearborn for $10.5 million. Rite Aid and Goodwill anchor the fully leased property. Kevin Jappaya and David Jappaya of KJ Commercial represented the seller, the center’s original developer, as well as the buyer, a local real estate investor. The transaction marked the first time that the property traded hands.
FRIDLEY, MINN. — Monument Capital Management, an A-Rod Corp. company, has acquired LUX Apartments in Fridley, a northern suburb of Minneapolis, for $9.9 million. The 72-unit apartment community is located at 1230 Cheri Lane NE. This is the second acquisition in Minnesota within a week for the firm, which was founded by baseball star Alex Rodriguez and Ramon Corona in 2012. Built in 1963, LUX Apartments is spread across four buildings. Amenities include a barbecue area, dog park, laundry centers and garages. Monument plans to upgrade common areas and units. Ted Brickel of Colliers represented the seller, Quality Trusted Property Management. Monument purchased the asset in a joint venture with unnamed private investors. Monument now owns and manages seven multifamily properties in Minnesota totaling 819 units.
MADISON, WIS. — Ready Capital has closed an $8.2 million loan for the acquisition, renovation and stabilization of a 56-unit apartment complex in Madison. The undisclosed borrower plans to renovate unit interiors. The nonrecourse loan features a three-year term, floating rate and interest-only payments.
WAUKEGAN, ILL. — Venture One Real Estate has purchased a 37,247-square-foot industrial building in Waukegan for an undisclosed price. The single-tenant property is located at 1429 Shields Drive. Constructed in 2004, the building features a clear height of 28 feet, four exterior docks, one drive-in door and 5,738 square feet of office space. Venture One plans to make improvements such as office renovations, new paint and new LED lighting. The undisclosed tenant is vacating the property in December of this year. Chris Volkert, Ned Frank and Pat Hake of Colliers will market the building for lease. Venture One’s acquisition fund, VK Industrial V LP, is a partnership between Venture One and Kovitz Investment Group.
The need for affordable housing has grown, but factors like municipal slowdowns and delays in financing have helped contribute to a lack of supply. Gregg Gerken, head of U.S. Commercial Real Estate with TD Bank, spoke to REBusiness about why the need for affordable housing is at a critical juncture and why this need is so difficult to fill. Finance Insight: What is the state of affordable housing right now? Gerken: There is a supply/demand imbalance. There continues to be a desperate need for more investment in affordable housing, not less. The arrival of COVID introduced more challenges for affordable housing, but the struggle to find high-quality affordable rental housing existed well before the pandemic. Rent prices affect millions of Americans, especially those with low incomes, and rents have only increased. Furthermore, the pandemic has caused an interruption of the supply chain and much-needed new projects have been delayed. Finance Insight: Can you outline a few big-picture national trends that are most impacting affordable housing right now? Gerken: As I mentioned, the imbalance of supply and demand is negatively affecting affordable housing. Rising rental rates mean fewer people will be able to qualify for affordable housing. Coming out of COVID …
