HAGERSTOWN, MD. — A public-private partnership between Meritus Health and Radnor Property Group has begun construction on the Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine campus in Hagerstown. The development is located on an existing Meritus hospital campus and will include six buildings anchored by a village green, which offer residential space and house the new school of medicine. The first phase of the project will include the development of three four-story buildings offering approximately 100 units each. The development is also set to include retail and office space, as well as a library and café. Residential buildings will offer a total of 600 beds of student housing in studio, one- and two-bedroom configurations. A portion of the project, which was designed in collaboration with Design Collective, is scheduled for completion in 2025.
Student Housing
LV Collective to Develop 829-Bed Rambler Tempe Student Housing Property Near Arizona State University
by Amy Works
TEMPE, ARIZ. — LV Collective, in partnership with Kayne Anderson Real Estate and Pacific Life, is set to break ground on Rambler Tempe, an 829-bed student housing development serving students attending Arizona State University. The community, which is scheduled for completion in fall 2026, will span 552,380 square feet at 1020 E. Apache Blvd. in Tempe. Work on the project began in March. Upon completion, the property will offer units in studio, one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom configurations. Shared amenities will include a café, coworking space, private study rooms, content creation rooms, two swimming pools and hot tubs, a rooftop terrace, clubroom, resident lounge and two-level fitness facility with yoga and on-demand fitness studios. The development team for the project includes Shepley Bulfinch, Layton and Variant Collaborative.
Muinzer, T2 Capital Management Acquire 486-Bed Student Housing Community Near Auburn University
by John Nelson
AUBURN, ALA. — Muinzer, alongside capital partner T2 Capital Management, has acquired Evergreen Auburn, a 486-bed student housing community located near Auburn University in Alabama. The property was recently renovated and offers units in one-, two- and four-bedroom configurations. Shared amenities include a 24-hour fitness center, swimming pool, computer lounge, clubhouse, dog park, hot tub, fire pit and a coffee bar. The student housing community is 88 percent preleased for the 2024-2025 academic year. Terms of the transaction and the seller were not disclosed.
AUSTIN, TEXAS — Landmark Properties has acquired Pointe on Rio, a 321-bed student housing property located at 1901 Rio Grande St. near the University of Texas in Austin. The midrise building, which will be rebranded as Tradition on Rio, was constructed in 2014. The community offers units in studio through five-bedroom configurations with hardwood floors, stainless steel appliances and in-unit washers and dryers. Amenities include a pool, resident lounge, gaming area, fitness center and conference and study spaces. At the time of sale, the community was 94 percent preleased for the 2024-2025 academic year.
AUSTIN, TEXAS — It’s no secret that today’s commercial real estate market can be challenging, whether you’re looking to break ground on a new project or close a transaction. But there’s plenty to be optimistic about in the student housing sector moving forward, according to Peter Katz, executive managing director of Institutional Property Advisors. Katz moderated this year’s “Power Panel,” which kicked off the first full day of the 16th annual InterFace Student Housing conference, held at the JW Marriott in Austin. The panel brought together a consortium of high-level executives to provide their thoughts on the current dynamics in the sector and their outlook for the year ahead. “I always feel the energy and the excitement in the student housing sector,” began Katz. “And while we feel a sense of tempered exuberance this year, the investment community is still extremely enthusiastic. Consumer strength is coming in hotter than expected and inflationary readings are pushing out the timing of proposed interest rate cuts from The Fed.” Two years into the cycle of tightening from The Fed, investors are recognizing that the price adjustments that have already occurred have now become an acquisition opportunity, Katz continued. “And while there’s still pain …
COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS — A joint venture between Harrison Street, The Dinerstein Cos. and Up Campus Student Living will develop an 873-bed student housing community near the Texas A&M University campus in College Station. Dubbed Aspire A&M, the community will be situated within the city’s Northgate neighborhood and will rise 19 stories. The property will include 11,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space and a 718-space parking garage. Shared amenities will include two rooftop pools, fitness facilities, study rooms, a theater and game lounge. The community is expected to be complete in advance of the 2026-2027 academic year.
MassDevelopment Provides $11M Bond Financing for Student Housing Project in Fitchburg, Massachusetts
FITCHBURG, MASS. — MassDevelopment has provided $11 million in tax-exempt bond financing for a student housing project in Fitchburg, about 55 miles west of Boston. The project will add a two-story building to the campus of Applewild School, a private day and boarding school, that will house 20 bedrooms for 40 students and six faculty apartments. Construction is underway and expected to be complete before the start of the fall 2024 semester. Proceeds will also be used to fund renovations to the preschool and toddler facilities in the Marshall Building. Enterprise Bank purchased the bond.
NEW YORK CITY — New York City-based private equity firm KKR has entered into an agreement to acquire a national portfolio of 19 student housing properties totaling more than 10,000 beds. The names and the locations were not disclosed, but the properties collectively serve 14 four-year public universities across 10 states. Blackstone Real Estate Income Trust (BREIT) sold the portfolio to KKR after acquiring it in 2018 in a joint venture with South Carolina-based Greystar. University Partners, an affiliate of KKR, will manage the portfolio. TSB Capital Advisors and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC served as financial advisors to BREIT on the transaction, which is expected to close during the third quarter.
BINGHAMTON, N.Y. — TSB Capital Advisors has arranged a loan of an undisclosed amount for the refinancing of Twin River Commons, a 371-bed student housing property located near the State University of New York (SUNY) at Binghamton campus. The floating-rate loan was secured on behalf of the borrower, Chicago-based Harrison Street. The community offers units in studio through four-bedroom configurations with bed-to-bath parity. Shared amenities include a fitness center, clubhouse, fireplace lounge with billiards and games, package lockers and an outdoor courtyard and kitchen. The direct lender was not disclosed.
Cushman & Wakefield Brokers Sale of 432-Bed Student Housing Property Near University of Central Arkansas
by John Nelson
CONWAY, ARK. — Cushman & Wakefield has brokered the sale of The Edge at Donaghey, a 432-bed student housing community situated adjacent to the University of Central Arkansas. Located at 530 S Donaghey Ave. in Conway, the 120-unit property was built in 2013. Sundance Real Estate purchased the community from an entity doing business as Azalea Holdings II LLC for an undisclosed price. Travis Prince, Victoria Marks and Shawn Lubic of Cushman & Wakefield’s Student Housing Capital Markets team, along with Martin Bynum of the firm’s Sunbelt Multifamily Advisory Group, represented both the seller and buyer in the transaction. The new buyer plans to bolster The Edge at Donaghey’s amenity package, which currently includes a business center, fitness studio, study areas, resort-style pool and a clubhouse.