EXTON, PA. — Locally based pharmaceutical development company Frontage Laboratories has inked a 46,300-square-foot life sciences lease expansion in Exton, a western suburb of Philadelphia. Frontage Labs joins Switzerland-based Fruh Packaging to bring occupancy of the new, 113,000-square-foot building at 240 Sierra Drive to 100 percent. Frontage’s total footprint in Exton now spans about 200,000 square feet, and the expansion is expected to create about 100 new employment opportunities. No third-party brokers were involved in the lease negotiations.
READING, MASS. — Locally based brokerage firm Atlantic Capital Partners has arranged the sale of a 30,000-square-foot retail building in Reading, a northern suburb of Boston. HomeGoods occupies the entirety of the freestanding building, which sold for $5.6 million. Justin Smith, Chris Peterson, Sam Koonce and Matt Austin of Atlantic Capital Partners represented the buyer and seller, both of which requested anonymity, in the transaction.
Company NewsIndustrialNorth CarolinaNortheastPennsylvaniaProperty TypeSelf-StorageSoutheastTop Stories
Go Store It, Snapbox Merge, Creating 10 MSF Self-Storage Giant
CHARLOTTE, N.C. AND PHILADELPHIA — Go Store It Self Storage and Snapbox Self Storage have merged. The combined company is now one of the largest private self-storage operators in the United States, according to a press release issued by the companies. Operating under the Go Store It Self Storage brand name, the new entity will oversee a portfolio totaling more than 10 million square feet of storage space across 145 locations in 23 states. Executive leadership will include Ryan Hanks and Jake Ramage as chief executive officers (CEOs), with Matt Lang serving as president. The merger is designed to enhance operational efficiency as well as stimulate growth in the areas of acquisition, development and third-party management. Founded in 2013 in Charlotte, N.C., Go Store It is a subsidiary of Madison Capital Group Holdings. Philadelphia-based Snapbox was also founded in 2013. Both companies are FrontRange Capital portfolio companies. FrontRange has invested roughly $100 million in Madison Capital and its affiliates, including Go Store It, and is making a co-general partner (co-GP) commitment to the new entity. — Hayden Spiess
NEW YORK CITY — J.P. Morgan has provided a $210 million Freddie Mac loan for the refinancing of a portfolio of 12 transitional and affordable housing properties in New York City. The properties are scattered throughout Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens and The Bronx and total 1,115 units across approximately 304,000 square feet. Each property is leased to a unique nonprofit operator and backed by a contract with the New York City Department of Homeless Services. The loan carries a seven-year term and a fixed interest rate. The borrower is a partnership between two locally based firms, developer Slate Property Group and alternative asset management firm Fundamental Advisors.
LYNDHURST, N.J. — An affiliate of New Jersey-based intermediary Cronheim Mortgage has arranged a $14.6 million construction loan for a Marriott-branded hotel project in the Northern New Jersey community of Lyndhurst. The hotel will total 128 rooms and will be operated under Marriott’s TownePlace Suites brand. David Turley of Cronheim Mortgage placed the loan through an undisclosed local bank on behalf of the borrower, regional hospitality owner-operator BDG Hotels. Construction is slated for a late 2025/early 2026 completion.
SPENCERPORT, N.Y. — New York-based brokerage firm Legacy Realty Group Advisors has negotiated the sale of Spencerport Village Plaza, a 99,096-square-foot shopping center located on the western outskirts of Rochester. Tops Friendly Markets anchors the property, which is also home to tenants such as Dollar Tree, M&T Bank and Lamont Awards & Apparel. Jacob Baruch and Daniel Baruch of Legacy Realty represented the buyer and seller, both of which requested anonymity, in the transaction.
NEW YORK CITY — New York-based nonprofit organization Innovative Resources for Independence has purchased a 9,227-square-foot retail building in the Rego Park area of Queens. The sales price was $5.2 million. The building, which previously housed a Rite-Aid, is located at 65-35 Woodhaven Blvd. and includes 21 parking spaces. Andrew Jaworski, Dean Rosensweig, Chris Betting and Jojo Lewis of CBRE represented the undisclosed seller in the transaction.
NEWTOWN, PA. — Norman’s Hallmark has signed leases to open nine stores that will range in size from 5,000 to 7,000 square feet in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The New Jersey stores are located in Princeton, Somers Point, Marlton, Ocean Township, Manalapan, Turnersville and Mays Landing. The Pennsylvania stores are located in Allentown and Wyomissing. Rose Urban of Equity Retail Brokers represented the Pennsylvania-based home décor retailer in all lease negotiations.
BOSTON — Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc. has renewed its lease for approximately 1.1 million square feet of office and life sciences space at 50 Northern Avenue and 11 Fan Pier Boulevard in Boston. According to Loopnet Inc., both buildings were constructed in 2013 and total 587,374 and 543,098 square feet, respectively. Vertex’s existing lease, which expires in December 2028, was extended for approximately 15 years through June 2044. A joint venture that includes locally based REIT Diversified Healthcare Trust (NASDAQ: DHC) owns both buildings. The RMR Group provides property and asset management services for the joint venture.
NEW YORK CITY — JLL has arranged a $52 million construction loan for a multifamily project located at 133 E. 55th St. in Manhattan’s Midtown East neighborhood. The project currently rises 12 stories and will reach 21 stories upon completion, which is scheduled for winter 2025. Designed by Zproekt Architecture, the building will house one-, two- and three-bedroom units as well as one three-bedroom duplex penthouse. Amenities will include a spa complex with a sauna, steam room and plunge pool, as well as a fitness center, package room and an outdoor recreation area. Locally based bridge lender Emerald Creek Capital provided the loan to the developer, a joint venture between Rybak Development and BK Developers. Robert Tonnessen and Aaron Neidermayer led the tranasaction for JLL.