NEW YORK CITY — Rosewood Realty Group has arranged the $20.9 million sale of an apartment property located at 188-30 and 188-34 87th Dr. in the Holliswood neighborhood of Queens. A Brooklyn-based family purchased the six–story, 68,466-square-foot property, adding to its other holdings in Queens, Brooklyn and the Bronx. The 1950-built building includes 96 apartments as well as a storage area, laundry room and indoor parking for up to 40 vehicles.
NEW CANAAN, CONN. — CH Vitti Street Associates and Collins Enterprises will develop a mixed-use medical and residential property at 23 Vitti St. in New Canaan. Known as New Canaan Medical Arts Center, construction will begin in May and will be completed in spring 2018. Do H. Chung & Partners is the project architect and Avison Young will serve as leasing agent. The two-story, 9,000-square-foot medical center will be constructed along the parcel’s 121 feet of frontage, with a public courtyard along Vitti Street. The commercial portion of the project includes 2,000 square feet of medical space on the first floor and 7,000 square feet on the second floor, which can be subdivided. Building features will include automated doors and a medical grade HVAC system with HEPA filtration. The project also includes eight apartments to be developed as a separate building on the site. Each use will have its own entrance and will be separated by a landscaped parking area and residential pathways. The site is located in downtown New Canaan within walking distance of restaurants, services and transportation.
WARRENDALE, PA. — Teen clothing retailer rue21 is set to close about one-third of its stores nationwide as it shifts its focus to e-commerce. The privately held company will shutter 400 stores, according to reports by The Associated Press, leaving more than 700 rue21 locations in 48 states. The retailer confirmed upcoming closures in a Facebook post, stating that “it was a difficult but necessary decision.” A spokeswoman for rue21 recently alluded to the retailer’s unfavorable financial state, according to reports by Women’s Wear Daily. The decision to shrink the company’s store footprint comes about two weeks after entering into forbearance agreements with lenders in order to stave off a default. In 2002, the company filed for bankruptcy under its former name — Pennsylvania Fashions Inc. It emerged under the name rue21 the following year. The company, based in the Pittsburgh suburb of Warrendale, didn’t say how soon the stores would close. Rue21 took to Facebook, once again, to explain to customers that they could search for stores near them on the company’s “Store Locator” page. Those set to close will show a “Closing Store” label above the address. Rue21 is the latest retailer to struggle amid the expansion of …
BOSTON & LYNN, MASS. — On behalf of Helge Capital, CBRE New England’s multifamily debt and structured finance team has secured a $56.3 million first mortgage loan to finance the recapitalization of a 19-building multifamily portfolio in metro Boston and Lynn, Mass. The assets consist of workforce housing of both market-rate and affordable apartments. CBRE’s John Kelly arranged the financing through a national lender on behalf of Helge Capital, a commercial real estate investment and operating company specializing in multifamily and development properties in the greater Boston area.
TOTOWA, N.J. — Sitex Group has acquired two warehouse/distribution centers located at 8 Vreeland Ave. and 50 Furler St. in Totowa from an unnamed private seller. The purchase price was not disclosed. Sitex plans to make 8 Vreeland available for occupancy next year. The property features 24- to 28-foot clear heights and a partially air-conditioned warehouse. The 125,000-square-foot property also includes 12,000 square feet of office space and 10 loading docks. Currently leased to Custom Index Inc., Sitex plans to renovate the property when the tenant leaves next year. At 55,000 square feet, 50 Furler St. features 16-foot clear heights, three loading docks and 3,000 square feet of office pace. It is leased to SK Custom Creations. Both properties are located near I-80 and Route 46. JLL’s Howard Weinberg arranged the transaction. Sitex has retained him to market 8 Vreeland Ave. for lease.
BOSTON, CAMBRIDGE & BRIGHTON, MASS. — KeyBank Real Estate Capital has secured $38.7 million in Fannie Mae financing for a four-property multifamily portfolio located in Massachusetts. A $20.7 million first mortgage loan was secured by Boylston Apartments, a 129-unit property built in 1927 in Boston; a $10.1 million first mortgage loan was secured by Cambridge Apartments, a 56-unit property built in 1880 in Cambridge; and a $7.9 million first mortgage loan was secured by Commonwealth & Lothian Apartments, two properties totaling 61-units built between 1925 and 1928 in Brighton. Hayley Suminski of KeyBank’s commercial mortgage group arranged the financing with 10-year terms, five years of interest-only payments and 30-year amortization schedules. The non-recourse loans were used to refinance existing debt.
HOPKINTON, MASS. — SVN | Parsons Commercial Group | Boston, in partnership with AIS Development, has brokered two office leases totaling 70,000 square feet at 35 Parkwood Dr. in Hopkinton. After acquiring the unoccupied 160,000-square-foot research and development property in November 2016, the partnership has begun a renovation and marketing plan. The building, which formerly served as EMC’s headquarters, has been vacant for more than 10 years. Located in the Elmwood Business Park, the property now boasts two tenants: Illinois Tool Works and PrismHR. Victor Galvani of SVN | Parsons Commercial Group | Boston is handling the leasing at the building.
FAIRFIELD, CONN. — Jon Angel of Angel Commercial has arranged the $1 million acquisition of 107 Ardmore St. in Fairfield. The property consists of an 8,196-square-foot industrial building on .63 acres. Angel represented the buyer, Ardmore LLC, which acquired the property as an investment.
NEW YORK CITY — The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and Urbahn Architects have completed the renovation of the Morgan Avenue subway station house in Brooklyn. Serving the L train line, the Morgan Avenue station house is located near the intersection of Bogart Street and Harrison Place in the East Williamsburg neighborhood. MTA served as project manager as well as structural, civil, mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineer for the upgrades. Double M Construction was the general contractor. The station opened on July 14, 1928, as part of an extension of the BMT Canarsie line. Renovations included replacement of the 400-square-foot brick and limestone façade, repairs to the roof and installation of a new framed entrance with transom windows, exterior LED lighting and exterior signage.
PHILADELPHIA — Metro Commercial Real Estate has brokered leases for six small-format Target stores in Philadelphia. The company’s Steve Niggeman and Tom Londres represented Target in the following leases: Lincoln Square: Store opening in October 2018 at 1000 S. Broad St. Alterra Property Group and Kimco Realty Corp. will be the owners of the 36,000-square-foot location. Northern Liberties: Store opening in July 2018 at 456 N. 5th St. Alliance Partners HSP will own the 47,000-square-foot location. Ivy Ridge Shopping Center: Store opened in March at 7162 Ridge Ave. Brixmor Property Group owns the 47,000-square-foot location. 2100 Pennsylvania Ave.: Store opening in October. Range Properties will own the 32,000-square-foot location. 1122-28 Chestnut St.: Store opened in July 2016. Brickstone Co. owns the 19,000-square-foot location. 1900-06 Chestnut St.: Store opened in October 2016. Pearl Properties owns the 23,000-square-foot location.