SAN MARCOS, TEXAS — 29th Street Capital (29SC) has purchased The Villagio Apartments, a 180-unit, 492-bed student housing property located near Texas State University at 1850 Aquarena Springs Drive in San Marcos. Built in 2005, The Villagio features two-, three- and four-bedroom apartments. Each fully furnished unit has a bathroom for every bedroom, private patios and a full-size washer and dryer. Community amenities include a resort-style pool with fountains and a hot tub, outdoor grilling areas, 24-hour fitness center, clubhouse, private study center, movie theater and volleyball and basketball courts. The Villagio is on Texas State University’s bus route. 29SC plans to invest about $2 million ($4,100 per bedroom) in capital improvements. Interior renovations will include new faux hardwood vinyl flooring, granite countertops, kitchen backsplashes, upgraded lighting and plumbing fixtures and new paint schemes. Amenity improvements include the expansion of the fitness center and adding new exercise and spin equipment, as well as updating the exteriors. The community is 100 percent pre-leased for the upcoming academic year. The bulk of the capital improvements will begin immediately with future phases planned during school breaks.
Student Housing
PHILADELPHIA — Colliers International has arranged $9.1 million in financing for Wister Court, a student housing property located in Philadelphia. The seven-year loan features a fixed rate and a 30-year amortization schedule. Serving students at La Salle University, the newly-built property features 49 apartments totaling 206 beds. At the time of closing, the property was 50 percent occupied. Kris Wood, John Banas, Chad Levitt, Tim Hoyt and Martin Duval of Colliers arranged the financing. The name of the borrower was not released.
COLUMBIA, MO. — California-based investment firm TwinRock Partners has acquired Log Hill Run Apartments, a 328-bed student housing community located less than four miles from the University of Missouri campus in Columbia, for $14.7 million. The community, developed in 2005, offers amenities including attached garages, a resort-style swimming pool and a sand volleyball court. Units include private patios and balconies and full-size washers and dryers. Scott Harris and Patrick Stang of Marcus & Millichap represented the seller, an undisclosed local owner and developer, in the sale of the property.
NEW YORK CITY — Madison Realty Capital has provided a $44 million first mortgage loan to recapitalize a student housing development located at 350 E. 10th St. in Manhattan’s East Village neighborhood. The 110,000-square-foot property was originally constructed in 1906 and operated as an elementary school until its closure in the mid-1970s. The undisclosed borrower acquired the vacant asset in 1999 and has since been pursuing the entitlement and redevelopment of the property. Proceeds of the loan will retire the existing indebtedness and provide capital for the pre-development. Upon completion, the five-story property will offer a variety of suite layouts and amenities, including a health center, fitness room and outdoor spaces.
SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.VA. — EdR has begun construction on a new $22 million, 298-bed residence hall at Shepherd University in Shepherdstown. The five-story project will feature a mix of single- and double-suite style units. Amenities will include a food service and dining area, classroom, student lounges and Wi-Fi. The Shepherd University Foundation Supporting Organization hired EdR to develop the third-party project and will own the asset upon completion in summer 2017. Raymond James Financial Inc. assisted in financing the development, and Shepherd University will manage the property upon completion.
TALLAHASSEE, FLA. — Capstone Real Estate Investments LLC has acquired two student housing communities located near the Florida State University (FSU) campus in Tallahassee. Acquired assets include High Point Apartments and Colony Club. The High Point Apartments complex is located on Chapel Drive adjacent to Legacy Suites, and consists of 151, one-bedroom units. Capstone will begin renovations on the property this fall, with completion expected for summer 2017. Interior improvements including paint, flooring and fixtures, as well as the addition of in-unit washers and dryers and an updated pool deck will be included in the renovation. Capstone intends to demolish the existing structures at Colony Club in order to place the land up for sale for redevelopment.
WARRENSBURG, MO. — Annex Student Living has broken ground on Annex 56, a 324-bed student housing community located adjacent to the University of Central Missouri campus in Warrensburg. The community will offer 87 two- and four-bedroom, fully furnished units with bed-to-bath parity. The project will be ready for student occupancy in August 2017.
AUSTIN, TEXAS — Austin-based developer Lincoln Ventures plans to build a Class A student housing development two blocks west of the University of Texas at Austin campus. The Ruckus, located at 2502 Nueces St., will be a seven-story project totaling 45 units with a mix of two to five bedrooms, totaling 160 beds. Amenities at The Ruckus will include a sky gym/fitness center and terrace, cyber café, gaming area, 24-hour study lounges and conference rooms, package concierge, secure access and parking and a coffee bar. The development will include car-sharing options, such as Zip Car and car-2-go, and a bike-sharing program. Individual units will come fully furnished and offer nine-foot ceilings, high-speed internet, stainless-steel appliances, washers and dryers. Select units will offer views of the UT Tower and downtown Austin.
CHICAGO — The University of Chicago has tapped HFF to market for sale a portfolio consisting of 11 properties and six land sites in Chicago. The portfolio consists of six graduate student housing properties, four faculty and staff buildings, one retail property and six land sites. The residential properties are 95.9 percent occupied overall, and comprise a total of 520 beds and approximately 272,593 square feet. The portfolio is located in Hyde Park within walking distance to campus, six miles south of Chicago’s central business district. The university will only accept offers for the portfolio in its entirety. Brian Kelly and Michael Higgins will lead the HFF investment sales team representing the University of Chicago.
Carolina Apartment Advisors Brokers $34.2M Sale of Student Housing Property in Wilmington
by John Nelson
WILMINGTON, N.C. — Carolina Apartment Advisors has arranged the $34.2 million sale of Carolina Cove, a 600-bed student housing community located less than one mile away from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington campus. Built in 2013, the property features 228 two- and three-bedroom units, as well as a resort-style swimming pool, sundeck, student lounge, business center, fitness center with a tanning bed, beach volleyball court, basketball court, hammock garden, barbecue grills, campus bus route and a private gated entry. John Edwards of Carolina Apartment Advisors represented the seller, University Housing Group. The buyer, Realco Capital Partners, plans to upgrade the furnishings and interiors of the complex.