MCLEAN, VA. — Freddie Mac has announced that Deborah Jenkins will be named executive vice president and head of its Multifamily division, effective immediately. Additionally, Jenkins has assumed a role as member of the company’s Senior Operating Committee. “Debby’s transition into her role as head of the Multifamily business has progressed very well,” said Donald Layton, CEO of Freddie Mac. “Debby is dedicated to ensuring this growing segment of our company continues to be an industry leader, innovator and a critical financier of rental housing that is affordable to low- and moderate-income families.” In September, Freddie Mac announced the retirement of CEO Donald Layton taking place in the second half of 2019, as well as the commencement of the CEO Succession Plan and the elevation of former head of Freddie Mac Multifamily, David Brickman, to president of the company. Since 2010, Jenkins has led Multifamily Underwriting and Credit, overseeing all credit approvals and due diligence processes, asset level securitization activities, as well as credit policies and governance for all Multifamily’s products.
BLACKSBURG, VA. — Hunt Real Estate Capital has provided a $9 million first mortgage bridge loan for the acquisition and renovation of a student housing portfolio located near Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) in Blacksburg. The acquisition includes two garden-style student housing communities — Carlton Scott Apartments and Stonegate Apartments — totaling 196 beds on two non-contiguous parcels at 500 Broce Drive and 600 Appalachian Drive. The portfolio consists of 13 two- and three-story buildings offering one-, two- and three-bedroom units. The borrower, Willow Creek, plans to begin exterior renovations on both properties upon closing. Renovations are set for completion in May 2019.
ATLANTA — Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM) and Carter, an Atlanta-based developer, have broken ground for the first phase of Lee Street Campus, a $52 million mixed-use development in Atlanta’s Historic West End. The $52 million development will include MSM’s first on-campus graduate student housing, offering 187 units in a mix of studio, one- and two-bedroom layouts; a 25,000-square-foot ambulatory health facility; 9,000-square-foot fitness/wellness center; 2,500 square feet of retail space; and a four-level parking deck at the corner of Lee Street and Westview Drive. The ownership joint venture for the project includes equity investments by MSM, Carter and Campus Life Fund, sponsored by Atlantic American Partners. Patterson Real Estate Advisors Group secured construction financing, which was provided by First Citizens Bank. Construction is slated for completion in time for the 2020 school year.
AUSTIN, TEXAS — Austin-based Lincoln Ventures has broken ground on The Ruckus 2.0, a 239-bed student housing community serving the University of Texas at Austin. The 67-unit property is located at 2401 Rio Grande St. and features amenities such as a gym, sky lounge, study lounge, conference rooms and package service. Completion is slated for fall 2019.
TAMPA, FLA. — Birmingham, Ala.-based Capstone Development Partners has completed the second phase of the Village, an on-campus student housing development at the University of South Florida in Tampa. The second phase of the 2,171-bed mixed-used community features 1,300 beds in three residential buildings. Community amenities include living-learning and activity spaces, classrooms, study rooms and community kitchens, as well as retail space occupied by Starbucks Coffee and BurgerFi. The Village primarily serves first-year students.
BIRMINGHAM, ALA. — Birmingham-based Capstone Development Partners has opened five on-campus student housing communities totaling 3,000 beds, including two in California and one in Seattle. Development costs reached $350 million, $150 million of which was financed using private equity, with the remaining $200 million financed through a 501(c)3 nonprofit owner or a university using tax-exempt debt. Properties include Montage on College at San Diego State University in San Diego; Calaveras Hall at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, Calif.; Vi Hilbert Hall at Seattle University in Seattle; The Village Phase 2 at The University of South Florida in Tampa, Fla.; and the University of Massachusetts Boston Residence Hall and Dining Center in Boston. Montage on College at San Diego State University was built through a ground lease with the San Diego State University Real Estate Foundation. The property offers more than 300 beds of apartment-style housing. Community amenities include a resort-style spa, barbecue area, outdoor lounge and fire pit, community kitchen, fitness center, gaming and media room, and various study spaces. Capstone Development Partners’ management entity, Capstone Management Partners, operates the property. Calaveras Hall at the University of the Pacific offers 380 beds tailored to upper-level students. Shared amenities …
BIG RAPIDS, MICH. — Spectra Student Living has broken ground on Eight Thirty Water Tower, a $17 million community near Ferris State University in Big Rapids. Slated to open in August 2019, the student housing property will include 318 beds within 120 units. Floor plans will consist of one-, two- and four-bedroom units. Amenities will include a clubhouse, resident lounge and YouTube room. Spectra will manage the property in partnership with Athens, Ga.-based Landmark Properties. More than 14,730 students are enrolled at Ferris State University.
TUSCALOOSA, ALA. — CA Student Living has completed capital improvements on Harbor on Sixth, a 628-bed property located near the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. Improvements to the community — now named Evolve Tuscaloosa — included a fitness center expansion with the addition of a new yoga studio; and upgrades to the pool area including the addition of cabanas, grilling areas and in-pool lounges. The property offers two- and three-bedroom fully furnished units with bed-to-bath parity. Additional shared amenities include a computer lab, study lounges, a clubroom with a kitchenette and fireplace, free tanning and a shuttle service to campus. The property originally opened in 2017.
HOUSTON — WGC Development, in conjunction with an undisclosed institutional investor, has broken ground on Tower 5040, a 405-bed student housing community located near the University of Houston. The eight-story building will offer one-, two- and four-bedroom units. Select apartments will feature large balconies with fire pits. Shared amenities will include a swimming pool with an adjacent movie screen, a fitness center, conference room, business center, private study rooms, a game room, indoor and outdoor socializing areas and a dog park. Humphreys & Partners Architects designed the community, and Arch-Con Construction will handle construction. Nick Gonzalez of GRC Capital arranged equity and debt financing on behalf of the partnership. The property is set to open in summer 2020.
SEATTLE — Quantum Capital Partners has secured $64 million in construction financing for The M, a 24-story student housing development located near the University of Washington in Seattle. The property — developed by Los Angeles-based Fields Holdings — will offer studio, one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom units alongside 4,350 square feet of ground-floor retail and one level of subterranean parking. Shared amenities will include study rooms, a recreational lounge, fitness center, theater, indoor basketball court, roof-top deck, bicycle parking and a door man. A timeline for development has yet to be announced.