NEW YORK CITY — Eastern Consolidated has arranged a lease for Viand Cafe at 517 Columbus Ave. in Manhattan. The restaurant has operated a location in the Hotel Beacon at 2130 Broadway for more than 15 years. The restaurant is taking a 1,856-square-foot space at the corner of 85th Street and Columbus Avenue previously occupied by Jackson Hole restaurant, which closed last year. Eastern Consolidated’s Ben Biberaj and Harris Bulow represented Viand Café in negotiating a 15-year lease for the retail space, which includes 70 feet of frontage and a 490-square-foot basement. Rafe Evans and Eric Fisher of Walker Malloy & Co. represented the landlord, Shared Equities LLC.
The news is rife with stories regarding retail bankruptcies, store closures, challenges facing conventional shopping centers, and consolidations by department and specialty stores. Although not immune to some of these challenges, the Manhattan retail environment has enjoyed much activity during the second half of 2016 and the first part of 2017. To be sure, some submarkets and certain retail corridors have seen an increase in vacancies and a corresponding fall in asking rents. However, a number of new retailers have entered the market and certain strong retail brands have right-sized or repositioned themselves in the market. One high-profile shopping center opened its doors, and there is considerable retail development underway. It’s a big story but here are some highlights. Lower Manhattan There has been considerable focus on Lower Manhattan in the past several years, and this continues. On the grand scale, the opening in August 2016 of Westfield’s World Trade Center was the culmination of years in planning, constructing and leasing this $1.4 billion development. This multi-level project contains an assortment of national and international tenants, including fast fashion and better retail stores, such as Victoria’s Secret, Sephora, H&M, John Varvatos and London Jewelers. A 60,000-square-foot Eataly is the principal …
WALPOLE, MASS. — A joint venture between Benchmark Senior Living and Farallon Capital Management has acquired New Pond Village, a continuing care retirement community (CCRC) in the Boston suburb of Walpole. BH Brightview New Pond Village LLC sold the property for an undisclosed price. The community offers 167 independent living units and 32 supportive living units. The three-story, 259,000-square-foot building was built in 1990 on 19.4 acres. New Pond is Massachusetts-based Benchmark’s 54th community and fourth CCRC. Allen McMurtry, Paul Carr, David Kliewer and Megan Fetter of Cushman & Wakefield represented the seller in the transaction.
NORTHBOROUGH, MASS. — Transwestern Consulting Group (TCG) has arranged the sale of One Beeman Road in Northborough on behalf of Stockbridge Capital Group. According to public records, the sale price was $33 million. TH Real Estate purchased the 342,900-square-foot, high-bay industrial facility. TH Real Estate is an affiliate of Nuveen, the investment management arm of TIAA. The facility is 100 percent leased to FedEx SmartPost, serving as the company’s sole New England hub. TCG’s Chris Skeffington, John Lashar and Joe Olin represented the seller and sourced the buyer in the transaction. The firm has been retained by the new ownership to provide leasing and property management services for the building. One Beeman Road features 104 tailboard doors with cross-dock capability and building clear height up to 33 feet. A tenant since 2001, FedEx recently extended its term through 2023.
FREEHOLD, N.J. — Bussel Realty Corp. (BRC) has arranged the $7.5 million sale of Fairfield Industrial Park, a nine-building park totaling 165,000 square feet located at 912 Route 33 in Freehold. Jordan Metz and Eduard Skutelsky of BRC represented an unnamed seller in the transaction. Imperial Real Estate represented the buyer, Fairfield Industrial Park LLC. The property includes 20 tenants and the new owners plan capital improvements at the industrial park.
MOOSUP, CONN. — KeyBank’s community development lending and investment team has financed a $6 million bridge-to-HUD loan for Vesta Corp. for the acquisition of Moosup Apartments. The property is an 89-unit multifamily complex consisting of nine two-story buildings in the rural community of Moosup. Moosup Apartments includes one-, two- and three- bedroom townhomes. Of the 89 units, 27 are covered by a Section 8 HAP contract. KeyBank’s Kelly Frank arranged the financing.
WINDSOR, CONN. — CBRE has negotiated the $5.2 million sale of 100 Corporate Drive, a 100 percent leased, 69,000-square-foot office building in Windsor. An affiliate of Minneapolis-based Ryan Cos. US sold the property to Bradstreet & Chandler, a Boston-based real estate firm. CBRE’s John McCormick and Patrick Mulready represented the seller and procured the buyer in the transaction. CBRE will also handle leasing and property management of the building. 100 Corporate Drive is a two-story property located near I-91 in the Day Hill corporate area of Windsor. Constructed in 1984 and recently renovated, the property’s tenants include ADP, Sedgwick Claims Management, Health Management Services, Oxford Global and LGCY Power.
BOSTON — New York Life Real Estate Investors has originated a 10-year, $207.8 million loan for 100 High St., a 546,300-square-foot office property in Boston. The loan was made to an affiliate of the Rockpoint Group LLC. The property is located in Boston’s financial district.
AMHERST, MASS. — MassHousing has provided $15.8 million in financing to Redwood Housing for the renovation and preservation of 100 affordable housing units at Clark House in Amherst. Redwood Housing recently acquired Clark House and has extended the federal Section 8 housing assistance payment contract on all 100 units at the property. This is the first transaction Redwood Housing has completed in Massachusetts. MassHousing provided the permanent loan through the HUD/HFA 50/50 risk share program. Of the 100 units at Clark House, 81 are designated affordable for elderly residents, and 19 are affordable units for families and disabled residents. Redwood plans to replace all domestic hot and cold water piping, improve accessibility, upgrade the community room, and replace sliding glass doors and windows. Built in 1980, Clark House is located at 22 Lessey St. The property contains 76 one-bedroom units, 18 two-bedroom units and six three-bedroom units. WinnCompanies manages Clark House.
BASKING RIDGE and WARREN, N.J. — Cronheim Mortgage has arranged $10.9 million in financing for two mixed-use properties in Basking Ridge and Warren. The loans were placed with State Life Insurance Co. and Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance Co., which Cronheim represents as a correspondent and servicing agent. Riverwalk Village, located in Basking Ridge, received $8.5 million in financing. The 18-year loan is self-liquidating with a 3.8 percent interest rate. Tenants at the 47,604-square-foot property include Starbucks, Supercuts and Gymboree. Second-floor office space is leased to YMCA, a chiropractor and an orthodontist. Gateway East in Warren was refinanced for $2.4 million at a 3.8 percent interest rate. The property includes a pair of freestanding, two-story buildings with first-floor retail and office space on the second floor. Tenants include Subway, Great Clips, a pilates studio, law offices and a dentist. The property is located at a signalized intersection and features surface parking for 89 vehicles. Cronheim’s Andrew Stewart, Dev Morris and Allison Villamagna originated and placed the loans.