The dissolution of The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company, better known as A&P, after 156 years in business was not a complete shock — they had, after all, applied for bankruptcy protection once before already this decade. However, the company and its many legacy brands occupied 296 stores in the United States and Canada at the time of liquidation, which meant a seismic shift was bound to occur in those real estate markets. In Northern and Central New Jersey, the resulting repositioning of A&P’s highly-coveted retail properties is proving to be an unexpected positive for a variety of reasons. For one, A&P occupied space in many of their shopping centers for decades, meaning they were paying less than market rent. Landlords are now able to negotiate new deals at higher rents, resulting in an important market correction. This is also an opportunity to reassess the makeup of centers and figure out not only what categories are missing but also what use groups will best drive traffic and stabilize the centers. Owners are able to repurpose the anchor spaces to accommodate smaller users. For example, on Route 35 in Middletown, the former Pathmark has been subdivided into a TJ Maxx …
NEW YORK CITY — The Moinian Group has begun work on the foundation of 3 Hudson Boulevard, a 66-story office tower located in the Hudson Yards District. Designed by FXFOWLE Architects and slated for completion in 2021, the 2 million-square-foot tower will feature 48,000-square-foot floor plates on the podium level, 30,000-square-foot to 35,000-square-foot, column-free floor plates on the tower office floors, 10-foot finished ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows. The amenity-rich building also anchors Hudson Boulevard Park, a public green space featuring fountains, green space, public seating and event space. The foundation is slated for completion by late 2017. A portion of the foundation is already underway as part of the MTA’s current infrastructure work for the second entrance to the 34th Street Station on the new No. 7 subway extension.
ELIZABETH, N.J. — Elberon Development Group, along with joint venture partner The Avidan Group, has broken ground on a warehouse/distribution facility within Elizabeth Logistics Center in Elizabeth. Located at 925 Julia St., the 90,000-square-foot building will be divisible to two units of 45,000 square feet and feature 36-foot clear ceiling heights, up to 24 docks, T5 lightning and parking for up to 80 trailers. The facility is slated for completion in September.
BILLERICA, MASS. — EMD Serono, the biopharmaceutical business of Merck KGaA, has selected JLL Construction for its $12 million expansion project in Billerica. The new 30,000-square-foot building will expand the existing research and development complex. Additionally, the facility will accommodate 120 new and current employees who will focus on accelerating innovation in R&D, particularly on oncology, immune-oncology and immunology. JLL Construction broke ground for the project in early May and construction is slated to begin in late spring 2016.
NEW YORK CITY — Madison Realty Capital has closed Madison Realty Capital Debt Fund III, the firm’s third institutional real estate debt investment vehicle. The discretionary private equity fund raised a total of $695 million in capital commitments, exceeding its original goal of $600 million. Capital was sourced from a diverse group of investors, including public pension funds, corporate pension funds, foundations and endowments, family offices and wealth managers. The fund originates commercial mortgage loans, mezzanine loans and preferred equity interests and acquires non-performing mortgages.
HARRISBURG, PA. — Macy’s has opened its new Backstage concept within 25,000 square feet of space on the first level of Harrisburg Mall, located on Paxton St. in Harrisburg. The new off-price brand is designed to elevate the neighborhood off-price experience. Featuring a dedicated entrance from the outside, Macy’s Backstage will feature an array of men’s, women’s and children’s apparel, shoes, accessories, housewares and home textiles. Additionally, each Backstage store will feature a Sunglass Hut section and a branded eatery. Macy’s intends to outfit 10 stores with the Backstage configuration and construct an additional 50 stand-alone configurations of the concept for a total of 60 locations.
LOS ANGELES AND NEW YORK CITY — SBE Entertainment has agreed to purchase Morgans Hotel Group Co. (NASDAQ: MHGC). The deal has a reported equity value of about $82 million. Morgans is the operator of high-end hotels, including the Mondrian in Los Angeles and the Royalton in New York City. When the transaction closes, Los Angeles-based SBE will acquire Morgans’ portfolio of 13 owned, operated or licensed hotel properties in London, Los Angeles, New York, Miami, San Francisco, Las Vegas and Istanbul, including its Hudson New York and Delano South Beach properties. The $82 million purchase price equates to $2.25 per share in cash, according to a statement from Morgans. Under terms of the agreement, SBE will acquire all of the outstanding shares of Morgans common stock in cash, which, together with the exchange of Morgans’ Series A preferred securities, the assumption of debt and transfer of capitalized leases, represents a total enterprise value of approximately $794 million The per share price represents a 69 percent premium over Morgans’ unaffected closing price on May 5, and a 54 percent premium to Morgans’ volume weighted average price for the 30 days up to and including May 5. “Morgans’ board of directors carefully …
POTTSTOWN AND READING, PA. — CBRE Group Inc. has arranged the sale of North End Shopping Center in Pottstown and Madeira Plaza in Reading. Medipower Overseas Co. acquired the two-property shopping center portfolio from SIN Ventures for $26.5 million. At the time of closing, the 103,905-square-foot North End Shopping Center was 94 percent occupied by Redner’s Warehouse Market, CVS/pharmacy, Dollar General and PA Wine & Spirits. The 164,917-square-foot Madeira Plaza was fully occupied at the time of sale by Redner’s Warehouse Market, Big Lots, OfficeMax, Rite Aid and Dollar General. Brad Nathanson of CBRE represented the seller and identified the buyer in the transaction.
ALLENTOWN, PA. — City Center Investment Corp. is developing a 12-story Class A office building at Sixth and Hamilton streets at City Center Lehigh Valley in downtown Allentown. Named Tower 6, the 145,000-square-foot building is slated to open in early 2018. Constructed of glass and steel, the tower will feature upscale retail space on the first floor and 360-degree views from floors six through 12. City Center Lehigh Valley, a mixed-use development transforming downtown Allentown, is currently home to three Class A office buildings offering cutting-edge, efficient environmental control systems, customized access-control systems and a professional property management team.
MONTVALE, N.J. — American Equity Partners has acquired an office building located at 50 Chestnut Ridge Road in Montvale for an undisclosed price. Based upon a pending deed-in-lieu of foreclosure in July 2014, NAI James E. Hanson took over the leasing and property management of the 104,854-square-foot building. Situated on 11.1 acres, the property was renovated in 2005 and features 465 parking spaces. Andrew Somple and Greg James of NAI Hanson represented the undisclosed seller in the transaction.