NEW BRITAIN, CONN. — Regional developer WinnCos. has completed The Ellis Block, an $85 million affordable housing redevelopment in New Britain, located just outside of Hartford. The project converted four buildings within the vacant, 115-year-old former manufacturing facility of household appliances company Landers, Frary & Clark into a 154-unit apartment complex. The property now features 79 one-bedroom units, 59 two-bedroom residences and 16 three-bedroom apartments that are reserved for renters earning between 30 and 80 percent of the area median income. Amenities include a fitness room, community room, game room, flexible workspaces and outdoor seating areas. Hartford-based JCJ Architecture designed the project, and Massachusetts-based Keith Construction served as the general contractor. The Connecticut Housing Finance Authority provided tax credits and tax-exempt bonds as part of the project’s financing, which also included a construction loan from Bank of America. Bank of America also served as the tax credit investor.
Multifamily
NUTLEY, N.J. — JLL has arranged a $29.5 million construction loan for Soho Park Residences, an 85-unit, age-restricted multifamily project in the Northern New Jersey community of Nutley. Units will come in one- and two-bedroom floor plans with an average size of 1,110 square feet. Amenities will include a fitness and wellness center, library, sun deck with a pool, outdoor grilling stations and a resident clubroom. Thomas Didio Jr., Gerard Quinn, Michael Mataras and Michael Donohoe of JLL arranged the 2.5-year, floating-rate loan through Kearny Bank on behalf of the borrower, Rock Solid Builders Inc. Construction is expected to be complete in early to mid-2027.
Dominium Acquires Land for 304-Unit Affordable Housing Development in Surprise, Arizona
by Amy Works
SURPRISE, ARIZ. — Dominium has closed on land in Surprise, a Phoenix suburb about 22 miles northwest of downtown. The developer is planning to build Allasso Ranch on the site. The project will comprise 304 affordable homes supported by low-income housing tax credits. While specific area-median-income caps were not disclosed, the developer says a three-bedroom unit will rent for $1,597 per month, and a four-bedroom will rent for $1,770. According to RentCafe, average monthly asking rents for a three-bedroom unit in Surprise are about $2,054. Amenities will include a leasing center, playgrounds, private backyards and a community pool. Development partners include Western Alliance Bank, Old National Bank, Freddie Mac, PNC Bank, Colliers Securities, Arizona Department of Housing, Arizona Industrial Development Authority, Polaris Capital, Winthrop & Weinstine, Langston Hughes, Todd & Associates, Atwell Engineering, TLS Land Services, Commercial Partners Title, Kutak Rock and U.S. Bank. WD Construction is the general contractor. A project timeline was not disclosed.
LEWISVILLE, TEXAS — A partnership between Texas-based investment firm SPI Advisory and Maryland-based FCP has acquired Crest Manor Apartments, a 600-unit multifamily community in Lewisville, located about 25 miles north of Dallas. Crest Manor was developed in two phases between 2010 and 2016. Units come in one-, two- and three-bedroom floor plans. Amenities include two pools, a clubhouse, fitness center, tennis courts and walking trails. The joint venture plans to upgrade amenities and some unit interiors. The seller and sales price were not disclosed.
NEW YORK CITY — Affinius Capital has funded a $340 million loan for the refinancing of 313 Bond, a 603-unit apartment community that is under construction in the Gowanus area of Brooklyn. The borrower, locally based developer Sky Equity Group, will use the proceeds to retire existing debt, complete construction of the two-building development and lease the property to stabilization. Upon completion, 313 Bond will feature 149 studios, 313 one-bedroom units and 141 two-bedroom apartments, as well as 51,600 square feet of retail space. Amenities will include fitness centers, three rooftop terraces, a library, game lounge, coworking spaces and package lockers. Henry Bodek of Galaxy Capital arranged the loan.
MORRIS PLAINS, N.J. — CBRE has brokered the $85 million sale of Signature Place, a 197-unit apartment complex located in the Northern New Jersey community of Morris Plains. Built in 2018, the property offers one-, two- and three-bedroom units with an average size of approximately 1,000 square feet. Amenities include a pool, fitness center with a yoga studio, golf simulator, private movie theater, conference rooms, pet spa and a clubroom with a fireplace and game table. Jeffrey Dunne, Stuart MacKenzie, Eric Apfel, Travis Langer, Roland Merchant and Tom Pryor of CBRE represented the seller, Veris Residential, in the transaction. The buyer was not disclosed.
IRVINGTON, N.J. — Locally based brokerage firm The Kislak Co. Inc. has negotiated the $4.7 million sale of two apartment buildings totaling 47 units in the Northern New Jersey community of Irvington. The building at 15 Chester Ave. has 33 units, and the building at 628-630 Lyons Ave. has 14 units. Joni Sweetwood of Kislak represented the sellers, both of which were limited liability companies, in the transaction. Sweetwood also procured the buyer, CY Management LLC.
Ardent Closes on Land Acquisition for Westside Bottling Project in Durham, Signs Leases With Sprouts and Shake Shack
by John Nelson
DURHAM, N.C. — The Ardent Cos. has closed on the land acquisition for Westside Bottling, a mixed-use development located on the former Durham Coca-Cola Bottling Co. warehouse site in Durham. Ardent plans to break ground in August on the development, which at full build-out will feature 70,000 square feet of retail space, 370 multifamily residences and 35 for-sale townhomes. Westside Bottling’s retail component is currently 70 percent preleased to tenants including Sprouts Farmers Market, Shake Shack, Ulta Beauty, Club Pilates, First Watch and Vernis Nail Salons. First Citizens Bank, which had an existing bank branch on the site, will continue to operate at Westside Bottling. The development sits three miles west of downtown Durham and north of Duke University and Duke University Medical Center.
MCB Opens 473-Bed Student Housing Community Near Morgan State University in Baltimore
by John Nelson
BALTIMORE — MCB Real Estate has opened The Enolia, a 473-bed, off-campus student housing community located at 4529 Harford Road in Baltimore. The $58 million development is situated less than a mile from Morgan State University’s campus. Named after Baltimore civil rights leader and first female NAACP president Enolia Pettigen McMillan, The Enolia features 151 apartments, each with bed-to-bath parity and fully furnished with washers and dryers, quartz countertops and stainless steel appliances. Amenities include a fitness center, game room, study rooms with private huddle areas, lounges, an outdoor courtyard with three terraced levels, lawn areas and a firepit. The Enolia represents the first ground-up student housing development serving Morgan State students in 20 years, according to MCB.
Chancey Development Delivers 86-Unit Seniors Housing Community on Marco Island in Southwest Florida
by John Nelson
MARCO ISLAND, FLA. — Chancey Development, in partnership with BRW Development and Watermark Retirement Communities, has delivered The Watermark at Marco Island, a new, 86-unit seniors housing community on Marco Island in southwest Florida. This marks the first senior living community on the island. Totaling 103,000 square feet, the property features 66 assisted living and 20 memory care units. Chancey Architecture & Design designed the community, with Wichman Construction serving as the general contractor. Chancey also partnered with the City of Marco Island to create a public park adjacent to the property, which is located with proximity to an urgent care facility.