The Charlotte economy has created jobs at a faster rate than the national average throughout this cycle. With 34,900 new jobs over the last 12 months and more than 110,000 over the last three years, the regional job market has created a new demand for the luxury multifamily inventory throughout infill and select suburban submarkets. Four of the MSA’s top five employers — Wells Fargo, Bank of America, Carolinas HealthCare System and Novant Health — each have a combined 1,000-plus job openings in Charlotte, while AXA, Red Ventures, Dimensional Fund Advisors and CompuCom have begun major expansions across the metro area. This has created a need for additional multifamily inventory, which has expanded by 7,700 units over the last 12 months, while absorption was just shy of 7,000. The modest downtick in occupancy was more than offset by a 4 percent same-store rent growth (30 basis points higher than the five-year trailing average of 3.7 percent). Two marquee high-rise projects are nearing completion in the central business district’s Third Ward: Greystar’s Ascent and Childress Klein’s Museum Tower. The early returns show unprecedented per square foot rents for the metro area. In most infill locations, developers are offering one month free …
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Emma Capital Investments Inc. has acquired two multifamily communities in Charlotte: the 240-unit Grand Terraces Apartments, located at 6000 Regal Estate Lane, and the 310-unit Stanford Reserve, located at 1207 Kelson Ave. The Toronto-based company purchased the properties for $53 million. The garden-style communities, located across the street from each other, will be rebranded as one property known as Avalon Heights Apartments. Community amenities include a swimming pool, clubhouse, business center, fitness center, tennis court and a picnic area with grilling station. The acquisition marks Emma Capital’s fourth and fifth investments in North Carolina.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Birmingham, Ala.-based Graham Commercial Properties (GCP) has acquired 10000 Twin Lakes Parkway, a 464,947-square-foot industrial property in Charlotte, for $22 million. Constructed in 1992, the Class A property is situated at the junction of Interstates 77 and 485. At the time of sale, 10000 Twin Lakes was fully leased to Schleich North America, a German producer of hand-painted toys, and Ingersoll Rand, a Dublin, Ireland-based industrial supply company. The seller was not disclosed.
INDIAN TRAIL, N.C. — SRS Real Estate Partners has brokered the $11.2 million sale of Union Town Centre, a 102,360-square-foot shopping center in Indian Trail, roughly 16 miles southeast of Charlotte. Kyle Stonis and Pierce Mayson of SRS represented the seller, Equity Investment Group, in the sale to Katz Properties LLC. Situated on 15 acres at 5850 Highway 74 West, Union Town Centre is anchored by Food Lion and Dollar Tree.
The industrial market in Charlotte is healthy, with trends pointing to another solid year of net absorption and rent growth. The market continues to attract institutional capital, as cap rates hover slightly below 6 percent for Class A product in the metro’s primary submarkets. Charlotte’s job growth continues to drive population migration into the market. More than 37,000 new jobs have been added in the past 12 months, dropping the unemployment rate from 5.2 percent to 4.9 percent. North Carolina has a young, educated workforce and boasts 53 universities and colleges. The state is nationally recognized for its labor climate. Major employers span the gamut of the business world, from financial and energy stalwarts such as Bank of America and Wells Fargo, Duke Energy and Siemen’s Energy Inc., to more industrial players such as Daimler Trucks North America, Lowe’s, FedEx and Snyder’s-Lance Inc. Charlotte is a logistically sound market, with the city’s airport ranking as the eighth busiest in the U.S., according to the Federal Aviation Administration. A relatively new intermodal rail facility and continued investment in road infrastructure projects are also helping to foster an optimistic environment. The HB2 legislation, which proved a major obstacle to attracting new companies …
CARY, N.C. — InvenTrust Properties Corp. has purchased Cary Park Town Center, a Harris Teeter-anchored shopping center in Cary, roughly 11 miles west of Raleigh, for $25 million. The seller was not disclosed. In addition to Harris Teeter, the 93,000 square-foot center is home to tenants including CVS/pharmacy, Dunkin’ Donuts, Subway, Great Clips and Mathnasium. Located at 10130 Green Level Church Road, Cary Park Town Center is roughly 10 miles south of Research Triangle Park.
RALEIGH, N.C. — Trinity Partners has secured an 81,032-square-foot lease for WeWork, a shared office space provider, at One Glenwood, an $86 million office building under development in Raleigh. William Allen and Alex Dunn of Trinity Partners represented the building’s owner and developer, Heritage Properties Inc., in the lease transaction. Jason High and John Daly of CBRE represented WeWork. Upon completion, One Glenwood will total 227,500 square feet, including 15,000 square feet of street-level retail space. WeWork will be an anchor tenant, occupying floors three through five. One Glenwood will be WeWork’s first location in Raleigh and its second office in the Carolinas. The office building is slated to open in early 2019.
DURHAM, N.C. — Cushman & Wakefield has brokered the $22 million sale of Bainbridge in the Park, a 216-unit apartment community in Durham. Marc Robinson, Jordan McCarley and Watson Bryant of Cushman & Wakefield arranged the transaction on behalf of the seller, PRG Real Estate. Dasmen Residential acquired the property. Constructed in 1986, Bainbridge in the Park is located roughly three miles from the Meridian Corporate Center and Research Triangle Park. At the time of sale, the property was 94.9 percent occupied.
ARDEN, N.C. — SunTrust Community Capital has provided $17.4 million in financing for the development of Perry Lane Apartments, a 120-unit multifamily project in Arden, roughly 10 miles south of Asheville. SunTrust Community Capital, a division of SunTrust Banks, provided $8.3 million in equity investments and a $9.1 million construction loan on behalf of the borrower, Mills Construction Co. Community Investment Corp. of the Carolinas also provided a $5.7 million permanent loan on behalf of the borrower. Perry Lane Apartments will be affordable for those earning 60 percent of the area median income and will feature on-site management, a business center, computer lab, clubhouse, playground, picnic area and community rooms. Construction is scheduled to begin this month, with completion slated for August 2018.
DURHAM, N.C. — Strategic Capital Partners has unveiled plans for Patriot Park, a $60 million industrial development located near Miami Road and Patriot Drive within Research Triangle Park in Durham. The project will comprise roughly 1 million square feet to be developed over the next several years. Construction on Phase I, which will include 322,800 square feet, is slated to begin this summer. In addition to Strategic Capital Partners, the investment group includes Westminster Capital, Berkshire Realty and First Tennessee Bank, which is providing construction financing. Patriot Park is the third major development in the Raleigh-Durham metro for Indianapolis-based Strategic Capital.