NEW YORK CITY — Metropolitan Realty Associates and joint venture partner TIAA Global Asset Management have acquired HUB LIC, a four-story commercial building located at 47-25 34th St. in Queen’s Long Island City, for $89 million. At the time of acquisition, the 326,000-square-foot property was 48 percent leased to a mix of tenants, including POLO Ralph Lauren, TEC Systems (Honeywell), Eleni’s Bakery, Gracie and Richelieu. The buyers plan to redevelop the property into office and retail space to attract a large-format retailer and offer 80,000 square feet of contiguous office space on a single floor. The building features 16- to 21-foot ceilings, a floor-to-ceiling window line, a 7,000-square-foot pitched skylight on the second floor, skylights throughout third floors, abundant parking and eight loading docks. Doug Harmon, Adam Spies, Adam Doneger and Josh King of Eastdil brokered the sale of the property, while Grant Frankel and Rob Turner, also of Eastdil, arranged acquisition financing for the transaction.
Northeast
KING OF PRUSSIA, PA. — Simon has completed a 155,000-square-foot expansion at King of Prussia Mall, a shopping center located about 25 miles northwest of Philadelphia in King of Prussia. The project, which broke ground in summer 2014, adds 50 new retail and dining storefronts and increases the mall’s footprint to 2.9 million square feet. The expansion involved connecting the five-anchor, 1.7 million-square-foot plaza and the two-anchor, 902,000-square-foot court, which were separated by a roadway since initial construction. The expansion is also bringing first-to-market brands and new dining and retail options to the mall, including Altar’d State, Calligaris, Cartier, CH Carolina Herrara, Club Monaco, David Yurman, Diane von Furstenberg, Gap, Jimmy Choo, MCM, Robert Graham, Stuart Weitzman, Superdry, Vince Hai Street Kitchen, Nicoletta and Shake Shack.
NEW YORK CITY — Cushman & Wakefield has launched an Automotive Specialty Practice group in response to the recent transformation and growth in the auto industry. Led by Jeffrey Green, the group includes a global, cross-discipline team of real estate and business advisors to auto manufacturers, suppliers, distributors and retailers. Cushman & Wakefield is the first commercial real estate service firm to market a global comprehensive Auto SPG offering. The offering’s mission is to deeply understand and address the distinctive challenges of the automotive sector from labor issues, logistics, infrastructure, technology, credits and incentives to the unique requirements of the real estate itself. Cushman & Wakefield has has relationships with various automotive industry clients around the world, including Toyota, BMW, FCA, Mercedes Benz, Magna International, Hyundai and JLR.
NEW YORK CITY — Meridian Capital Group has arranged $7 million in financing for the acquisition of a warehouse located in the Astoria section of Queens. The one-year loan, provided by a local balance sheet lender, features full-term interest-only payments. Located at 19-79 Steinway St., the single-story, 10,000-square-foot warehouse offers easy access to New York City’s major distribution channels and close proximity to the N and Q subway lines. Bryan Geffen and Brian Flax of Meridian negotiated the loan for the undisclosed borrower.
BRANFORD, CONN. — O,R&L Commercial has arranged the lease of an industrial building at 16 Commercial St. in Branford. New England Orthotic & Prosthetic Systems plans to consolidate three locations into the 20,000-square-foot building. Tim McMahon of O,R&L Commercial represented the landlord, 16 Commercial Street Associates, while Frank Hird, also of O,R&L Commercial represented the tenant in the deal.
NEW YORK CITY — Cammeby’s International has started construction of Neptune/Sixth, a mixed-use development located at 532 Neptune Avenue and 626 Sheepshead Bay Road in Brooklyn’s Coney Island. As the comprehensive redevelopment of the former Trump Village Shopping Center and Royal Palace Baths, the community-oriented development will feature a variety of services and retail options, residential and office space, public space and parking for more than 800 vehicles. Construction on the first phase — a standalone, seven-story, 161,000-square-foot retail and commercial building at 626 Sheepshead Bay Road — is underway, with completion slated for summer 2017. Cammeby’s plans to begin site work for the 90,000 square feet of retail space at Neptune Avenue this fall, and the project’s second phase, including a residential component, is scheduled to break ground in late 2017. New York-based S9 Architecture is designing the project. Winick Realty Group has been retained as the exclusive retail leasing agent, while The Lawrence Group is overseeing leasing for the project’s office space.
Meridian Capital Group Arranges $135.5M Refinancing for Six-Property Skilled Nursing Portfolio
by Amy Works
NEW YORK CITY — Meridian Capital Group, a debt broker based in New York, has arranged $135.5 million in loans for Continuum Healthcare to refinance a six-property portfolio of skilled nursing homes in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The four-year, bridge-to-HUD loan provided by a balance sheet and mezzanine lender, features six months of interest-only payments. The skilled nursing communities total 920 beds and include: · The Wanaque Center for Nursing and Rehab, Haskell, N.J. · Galloway Nursing and Rehab, Galloway, N.J. · Barnegat Rehab and Nursing, Barnegat, N.J. · The Health Center at Bloomingdale, Bloomingdale, N.J. · Majestic Oak Nursing Home and Rehab, Warminster, Pa. · Highland Manor Rehab and Nursing, Exeter, Pa. Meridian’s Ari Adlerstein, Ari Dobkin and Josh Simpson negotiated the transaction. Continuum Healthcare and its affiliate companies own and operate skilled nursing facilities and pediatric day care centers. Continuum also owns properties and leases them to independent operators.
ANDOVER, MASS. — CBRE/New England has arranged the sale of Andover Place Apartments, a garden-style apartment community located at 650 Bulfinch Drive in Andover. A joint venture between Taymill Partners and LEM Capital acquired the 220-unit property from Andover Place Apts. LLC, an affiliate of Roseland Residential, for $40.4 million. Built in 1989 and situated on 34.3 acres, Andover Place Apartments features two studio units, 132 one-bedroom apartments, 74 two-bedroom apartments and 12 three-bedroom units, ranging from 518 square feet to 1,225 square feet. Simon Butler and Biria St. John of CBRE/New England represented the seller and procured the buyer in the deal. Roseland Residential Trust is a subsidiary of Mack-Cali Realty Corp.
BRIDGEWATER, N.J. — Marcus & Millichap has brokered the sale of a retail property located at 728 Thompson Ave. in Bridgewater. A limited liability company acquired the 10,500-square-foot property for just under $2 million. The buyer plans to convert the property, formerly known as The Office Bar & Grill, into a high-end bar and grill. The restaurant is expected to open this fall after a complete remodeling of the building. Manveer Sanghera and Trevor Fiebel of Marcus & Millichap represented the buyer in the deal.
BERLIN, CONN. — O,R&L Commercial has arranged the lease of industrial space at 128 Old Brickyard Road in Berlin. All Mail Direct, a fulfillment and direct marketing firm, will occupy 54,000 square feet of the 127,000-square-foot industrial building, which is situated on 45 acres. Luke Massirio and Stephen Foote of O,R&L Commercial represented the landlord, Lakewood Associates, while Scott Rishar of North Atlantic Realty represented the tenant in the deal.