Despite a slow start to the year, the Northern New Jersey office market decreased vacancy to 20.2 percent as we moved from fourth quarter 2016 into 2017. More than 750,000 square feet of office space is expected to be absorbed in the market to drop the vacancy rate 20 basis points. New deliveries in Morris and Essex Counties, including a 200,000-square-foot office for UPS in Parsippany, are leading the way. Moreover, landlords and investors alike are upgrading and investing in larger redevelopment projects throughout the state which has increased leasing activity. In response to healthier market conditions, owners have also increased rents for office space, which caused higher vacancy rates at the beginning of the year. The average asking rent is anticipated to climb to $27.59 per square foot this year, outpacing the 2 percent rise in office rents posted in 2016. In first quarter, the Hudson Waterfront saw an increase of 3.6 percent per square foot. Hudson Waterfront The main trends in Jersey City and Hoboken are driven by the large populations of millennials in and around surrounding areas. Millennials account for 27.2 percent of the population in Hudson County. In the last 12 months, investors — particularly New …
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Tritower Financial Group Completes $45.1M Sale of Amazon Robotics Headquarters in North Reading, Massachusetts
by Amy Works
NORTH READING, MASS. — Tritower Financial Group has completed the disposition of a technology headquarters facility located at 300 Riverpark Drive in North Reading. A partnership between Lincoln Property Co., Ibdar Bank and Ritz Banc Group purchased the facility for $45.1 million. Amazon utilizes the 228,921-square-foot facility as its robotics headquarters; it is the only facility in the world that designs, assembles and tests all proprietary fulfillment robotics used by all Amazon distribution facilities. Dave Pergola and Brian Doherty of CBRE/New England represented the seller and procured the buyer in the transaction.
PORTLAND, MAINE — HFF has brokered the sale of Residence Inn Portland Downtown/Waterfront hotel, located at 145 Fore St. in downtown Portland. Norwich Partners sold the 179-suite property for an undisclosed price. Completed in 2009, the five-story property features suites fully equipped kitchens, the Shipyard Lounge, 1,235 square feet of event space, an outdoor courtyard, a business center, a fitness center, an indoor pool and complimentary hot breakfast. Denny Meikleham, Alan Suzuki and Matthew Enright of HFF represented the seller and procured the undisclosed buyer. The hotel was purchased unencumbered of management.
GMH Capital Breaks Ground on 174-Unit Student Housing Community in Providence, Rhode Island
by Amy Works
Providence, R.I. — GMH Capital Partners has broken ground on River House, a 174-unit student housing community located in Providence, Rhode Island. The property will be located near Brown’s Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Johnson and Wales University, University of Rhode Island-Providence Campus and the Rhode Island School of Design. The community will consist of two seven-story buildings with approximately 5,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space fronting Point Street and the Providence River. The development is scheduled for completion in May 2019.
AUBURN, MAINE — Cardente Real Estate has arranged the sale of a warehouse building located at 279 Washington St. South in Auburn. Maurice Eastman and Lauren Eastman sold the 5,500-square-foot property to an undisclosed buyer. Cheri Bonawitz of Cardente Real Estate represented the seller, while Greg Perry, also of Cardente Real Estate, represented the buyer in the transaction.
Marcus & Millichap Brokers $1.9M Sale of Retail Property in North Plainfield, New Jersey
by Amy Works
NORTH PLAINFIELD, N.J. — Marcus & Millichap has arranged the sale of Grove Plaza, a retail property located at 789 Route 22 West in North Plainfield. A private investor sold the 19,845-square-foot property for $1.9 million. Alan Cafiero, Ben Sgambati and Brent Hyldahl of Marcus & Millichap represented the seller and buyer, a private investor, in the deal.
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Forecast Survey: What’s Your Take on Real Estate in 2018?
by John Nelson
France Media, Inc. is conducting a brief online survey to gauge market conditions, and we welcome your participation. This survey should only take a few minutes to complete. Questions range from property sectors that your firm is most bullish on heading into 2018 to trends in deal volume to the outlook for interest rates. The results will be collated and published in the January 2018 issue of our regional magazines. Conducting these surveys is part of our mission at France Media to provide readers with indispensable information. To participate in our broker/agent survey, click here. For developers/owners/managers, click here. For lenders and financial intermediaries, click here. (Note: Please remember to click on “done” to properly submit the survey.) Sincerely, Matt Valley Editorial Director, Real Estate Regionals France Media, Inc.
NEW YORK CITY — Cushman & Wakefield has arranged $54 million in financing for Innovo Property Group and Square Mile Capital Management for the acquisition of a 20-acre lot located at 2505 Bruckner Blvd. in the Bronx. Affiliates of Pine River Capital Management provided the floating-rate financing. The lot was formerly occupied by Whitestone Cinemas. Future development plans for the property may include industrial and warehouse space. Adam Spies, Doug Harmon, Adam Doneger and Josh King of Cushman & Wakefield represented Innovo Property Group in arranging joint venture equity from an affiliate of Square Mile Capital Management. Steve Kohn, Alex Hernandez and Noble Carpenter III of Cushman & Wakefield Equity, Debt and Structured Finance arranged the financing.
Colliers Arranges $26.1M in Financing for Two-Property Multifamily Portfolio in Pennsylvania
by Amy Works
LANCASTER AND HERSHEY, PA. — Colliers International has arranged two loans, totaling, $26.1 million, for the refinancing of two multifamily properties: Pioneer Woods in Lancaster and Rosedale Apartments in Hershey. Built in 1974, Pioneer Woods is situated on 34 acres and features 45 one-bedroom units, 71 two-bedroom units, 28 three-bedroom apartments and 16-two-bedroom townhouse units. At the time of financing, the property was 95 percent occupied. Rosedale Apartments was built in 1972 and features 80 one-bedroom apartments and 80 two-bedroom units, ranging from 566 square feet to 1,070 square feet. The property is currently 99 percent occupied. John Banas, Kris Wood, Chad Levitt and Jordan Canino of Colliers secured the five-year, fixed-rate financing with five-year resets for the properties.
NEW YORK CITY — Alpha Realty has arranged the sale of two multifamily buildings located at 560 and 590 W. 192nd St. in the Washington Heights section of Manhattan. Lev Mavashev of Alpha Realty brokered the $12.5 million off-market transaction on behalf of the buyer and seller in the deal. 560 West 192nd Street features 31 units totaling 31,000 square feet, while 569 West 192nd Street features 29 units totaling 30,000 square feet. The names of the seller and buyer were not released.