EUGENE, ORE. — A joint venture between CRG and Kenter Capital has broken ground on Chapter at Eugene, a 302-bed development located near the University of Oregon campus in Eugene. The project is scheduled for completion in September 2024. Upon completion, the community will offer 119 units in a mix of studio, two-, three-, four- and five-bedroom configurations. Units will feature bed-to-bath parity, contemporary furniture and smart televisions. Shared amenities are set to include a 5,000-square-foot rooftop deck with a dog run; dining areas and fire pits; a 12th-floor lounge with a demonstration kitchen and study rooms; state-of-the-art fitness center and yoga room; resident storage; and a coffee lounge. The community will also offer 50 parking spaces and bicycle storage. The development team for the project includes Jackson Main Architecture and John Hyland Construction Inc. Pre-leasing for the property is currently underway.
Student Housing
Vesper Recapitalizes 850-Bed Student Housing Community Near Kennesaw State University in Metro Atlanta
by John Nelson
KENNESAW, GA. — Vesper Holdings has recapitalized West 22, an 850-bed student housing property located near the Kennesaw State University campus in metro Atlanta. Vesper owns the community through a joint venture partnership with an undisclosed investor. West 22 offers a mix of cottage and apartment units in one- through five-bedroom configurations. Shared amenities include a two-story fitness center, outdoor kitchen, basketball court, sand volleyball court, firepit and a hammock garden. The partnership plans to execute $3 million in capital improvements at the property over the next two years, including the addition of new flooring in units, lighting and cabinet upgrades, the addition of Nest thermostats and smart locks, and renovations to the clubhouse, gym and swimming pool. Jaclyn Fitts, William Vonderfecht and Casey Schaefer of CBRE’s National Student Housing team represented Vesper in the transaction, along with CBRE’s Kevin Geiger and Shea Campbell. Timothy Bradley and Austin Kinn of TSB Capital Advisors arranged the financing on behalf of the joint venture.
ANN ARBOR, MICH. — Brinkmann Constructors has broken ground on VERVE Ann Arbor, a 729-bed student housing community near the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. St. Louis-based Subtext is developing the 13-story, 350,000-square-foot project. Amenities at the 217-unit development will include a fitness center, terrace, rooftop pool and coworking spaces. WDG Architecture is the project architect. A timeline for completion was not provided.
WINOOSKI, VT. — CBRE has arranged the sale of Spinner Place, a 308-bed student housing community located near the University of Vermont in Winooski. The community offers shared amenities including a media room, fitness center and recreation room. The property also features ground-floor retail space that is leased to The Archives Bar, Champlain Nails, Asian Bistro and La Bella Skin Boutique. Jaclyn Fitts, William Vonderfecht, Casey Schaefer, John Reed and Jack Reed of CBRE represented the undisclosed seller in the transaction. Property Income Advisors Inc. represented the undisclosed buyer. Mike Bryant and Brad Peters, also with CBRE, arranged acquisition financing on behalf of the buyer.
NORMAL, ILL. — JLL Capital Markets has brokered the sale of The Edge on Hovey, a 481-bed student housing community located adjacent to Illinois State University in Normal. The sales price was undisclosed. Built in 2004, the property features two-, three- and four-bedroom units averaging 1,470 square feet. The fully furnished units feature private walk-in closets, bed-bath parity and nine-foot ceilings. Amenities include a lobby, cyber lounge, fitness center, private study rooms, high-speed internet and controlled building access. Recently renovated, the community still presents the opportunity for value-add interior upgrades, according to JLL. The Edge also features a parking garage with 549 spaces and a 5,586-square-foot retail space. Scott Clifton, Teddy Leatherman, Kevin Kazlow, Jack Goldberger and Grace Picchiotti of JLL represented the seller, an entity of Blue Vista Capital Management. FPA Multifamily was the buyer.
Pierce Education Properties Completes 169-Bed Topaz Apartments Near San Diego State University
by Amy Works
SAN DIEGO — Pierce Education Properties has completed Topaz Apartments, a 169-bed student housing development located near San Diego State University. The property offers a mix of one-, three- and four-bedroom, fully furnished units with bed-to-bath parity. Shared amenities include study rooms, a game room, vertical tanning bed, spa and fitness center. The community also features ground-floor retail space, which is currently leased to McDonald’s, Handel’s Ice Cream, Jimmy John’s, Dunkin and The Alley.
WEST LAFAYETTE, IND. — Subtext has broken ground on its second property at Purdue University in West Lafayette. Brinkmann Constructors is the general contractor for the 449-bed, 245,700-square-foot student housing community. Completion is slated for August 2025. The development will offer a mix of studio, one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom units. All of the units will be fully furnished. Designed by ESG Architecture and Design, the project will feature more than 15,000 square feet of amenity spaces, including a coffee bar, clubroom, study rooms, fitness center, pet grooming area, pool, spa and dog run. This fall, total enrollment reached a record 52,211 students at Purdue.
ORLANDO, FLA. — Toll Brothers Campus Living and The Davis Cos. have unveiled plans to develop Aperture, a 680-bed student housing community situated adjacent to the University of Central Florida (UCF) in Orlando. The project will encompass two buildings and rise five stories. Located at 12727 E. Colonial Drive, Aperture will feature a fitness center, e-sports gaming center, computer lounge, content creation studio, LuxerOne package locker system, courtyard and resort-style pool. Residents will have access to a private shuttle to campus, as well as a parking garage with electric vehicle charging stations. Completion is slated for fall 2025. TD Bank provided a $50 million construction loan for the project. Toll Brothers’ in-house finance department arranged the equity and debt. According to the developers, UCF has the second largest on-campus enrollment of any public university in the U.S. with almost 70,000 students enrolled in the 2022-2023 academic year. “Demand for elevated student housing continues to rise across the country as highly amenitized offerings gain prevalence in the market, especially in the Sun Belt region,” says Jerry Murphy, managing director of investments at Davis. Toll Brothers Campus Living will manage the property’s development, construction and asset management, as well as handle marketing …
TSB Realty Brokers Sale of 328-Bed Student Housing Community Near Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore
by John Nelson
BALTIMORE — TSB Realty has brokered the sale of The Academy on Charles, a 328-bed student housing community located adjacent to the Johns Hopkins University campus in Baltimore. Randall Calvert of TSB Realty arranged the disposition from GMH Communities to an undisclosed buyer. The luxury property was originally built in the early 1930s and renovated and converted into student housing in 2014. The community offers fully furnished units alongside shared amenities including a rooftop terrace, fitness center, games center, garage and surface parking and private and group study lounges. The community is fully leased for the 2023-2024 academic year.
The Preiss Co. Secures Recapitalization for 600-Bed Student Housing Community Near Auburn University in Alabama
by John Nelson
AUBURN, ALA. — The Preiss Co. (TPCO) has recapitalized the Collective at Auburn, a 600-bed student housing community located near the Auburn University campus in Alabama. A multimillion-dollar renovation is planned for the property, which will include upgrading countertops, appliances and paint in select units; modernization of unit access controls; and fully furnishing 25 percent of units. Upgrades are scheduled to begin in spring 2025. The Collective at Auburn offers two-, three- and four-bedroom units with bed-to-bath parity. Amenities include a 24-hour fitness center, swimming pool, basketball court, tanning salon, volleyball court, game room, movie theater and a business center.