As we look toward the end of 2019, multifamily investment sales and mortgage banking transactions in the greater Philadelphia market are at an all-time high. For lifelong Philadelphians, it’s exciting to witness the area’s longstanding foundation successfully take shape through numerous real estate projects in the city and its suburbs. The Philadelphia multifamily market continues to capture interest from a variety of capital sources. Berkadia’s Philadelphia team alone has $4.3 billion in firm or funded transactions from January through August of this year. Specifically, institutional investors have demonstrated an increased interest in this market, as both national and international players continue to recognize the area’s relative value and sound fundamentals. We expect these trends to continue throughout the remainder of 2019 and into next year, regardless of any major headwinds at the macro-economic level. The driving forces behind Philadelphia’s success include a robust volume of new Class A developments, a more tactful approach to value-add deals, marketplace efficiencies and most of all, a continued demand for multifamily product. The market’s new Class A properties have been well-received in terms of leasing velocity. More construction capital is available than in years past; top-of-the-market rent discovery has generally proven out. In addition, …
CHICAGO — Owners Murphy Development Group and CIM Group have opened The Paragon, a 500-unit luxury apartment tower in Chicago. The property lies in the South Loop, between 13th and 14th streets. The 47-story tower features 7,500 square feet of retail space. Solomon Cordwell Buenz served as the architect while Mary Cook Associates designed the interiors. Amenities include a fitness center, yoga room, rooftop sky lounge, clubroom and a 2,100-square-foot coworking space. Each residence features smart home automation for programming lights, outlets, thermostats and speakers. Bozzuto is the property manager. Monthly rental rates start at $1,805 for studios.
HILLIARD, Ohio — Columbus, Ohio-based architecture and planning firm M+A Architects has completed its design work on The Ashford at Sturbridge, a $12 million affordable senior living project. Located in the Columbus suburb of Hilliard, The Ashford at Sturbridge is one of 400 affordable housing communities that Wallick Communities has developed. With 124 studio and one-bedroom units that will be able to house approximately 155 residents upon lease-up, the new facility offers both assisted living and independent living options.
PHILADELPHIA — CA Student Living, the Chicago-based student housing investment and development arm of CA Ventures, will open The Link University City, a 252-bed community serving Drexel University in Philadelphia. The property offers one-, two- and three-bedroom units alongside six two-level townhomes. Shared amenities include a fitness and wellness center, private study rooms, co-working and research lounges, a cyber lounge, breakfast and coffee bar and a sky lounge with a pool table, darts and televisions. Student leases are available starting mid-September 2019.
CAMBRIDGE, MASS. — Boston Realty Advisors (BRA) has arranged the $11.5 million sale of The Emerson, a 31-unit apartment building in Cambridge, a northeastern suburb of Boston. The property offers studio and one-bedroom apartments and is situated close to Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Jason Weissman, Nicholas Herz and Kevin Benzinger of BRA represented the buyer, New York-based Columbia Partners, in the transaction. The buyer was 922 Massachusetts Ave. LLC.
POTSDAM, N.Y. — KeyBank Real Estate Capital has provided a $15 million Freddie Mac acquisition loan for Lawrence Avenue Apartments, a 137-unit multifamily property in Potsdam, a city in Upstate New York. The property was built in 1980 and comprises five two-story buildings. The borrower, a partnership between N.Y. Community Preservation Partners and Rochester’s Cornerstone Group, plan to refurbish and renovate the property. Robbie Lynn of KeyBank arranged the financing.
WALTHAM, MASS. — Cornerstone Realty Capital has arranged a $3.8 million loan for the acquisition and renovation of Lawton Place, a townhouse-style multifamily community in Waltham, a western suburb of Boston. The buyer, True North Capital Partners, plans to renovate the property and add granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, mounted lighting, in-unit washers and dryers and private patios off the main living space. The loan was structured with interest-only payments for three years and a 30-year amortization schedule. The lender was undisclosed.
KENEDY, TEXAS — Hunt Real Estate Capital has provided a $5.4 million Fannie Mae loan for the refinancing of Kenedy Heights Apartments, a 72-unit multifamily asset located about 60 miles southeast of San Antonio. Built in 2015, the property consists of 24 one-bedroom units, 40 two-bedroom units and eight three-bedroom units that were 98 percent occupied at the time of the loan closing. Amenities include a clubhouse with offices, sport court, community barbecue grills, onsite laundry facilities, a fitness center, a business center with WiFi and a playground. David Aycock of D. Ansley Co. Inc. arranged the seven-year, floating-rate loan with Hunt on behalf of sponsor Kenedy Heights LLC.
TUKWILA, WASH. — Sortis Holdings Inc. (SOHI), a Portland-based private equity firm, has provided equity funding for Tukwila Village Phase II, a mixed-income senior living development in Tukwila, approximately 10 miles south of Seattle. Sortis invested capital from its $100 million Sortis Opportunity Zone Fund alongside project sponsor Bryan Park, a Puyallup, Wash.-based developer that has developed, owns and operates more than 5,000 senior living apartments in Washington. Nonprofit operator Sustainable Housing for Ageless Generations (SHAG) will operate the community. “By 2050, the population of individuals who are 65 and older in the U.S. is projected to double, yet rising rents and lack of supply have reduced the availability of affordable, high-quality housing in desirable locations for this population,” says Paul Brenneke, Sortis founder. “We believe delivering a high-quality project with attractive investment returns while simultaneously providing an affordable housing option to low-income seniors is a win-win.” The two-phase project is situated on approximately 5.8 acres. Phase II comprises 204 apartment units exclusively for seniors, six live/work units, approximately 8,300 square feet of commercial/retail space and structured parking. Once Phase II is complete in late 2020, the combined project will be the third-largest senior living development in Washington, according to …
FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. — A public-private partnership between RISE: A Real Estate Co. and Nova Southeastern University has opened Mako Hall, a 608-bed living/learning community on the university’s campus in Fort Lauderdale. The development offers a mix of one-, two- and four-bedroom, apartment-style units. Shared amenities include lounge areas, open and semi-private study rooms and an outdoor courtyard with hammocks, table tennis and grilling areas. Nova Southeastern is a private university that has 20,793 enrolled students.