NEWARK, DEL. — Philadelphia-based Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust (PREIT) has sold two power centers in Delaware and South Carolina for a combined total of $87.3 million. The properties include Christiana Center in Newark, about 13 miles southwest of Wilmington, Del., and Commons at Magnolia in Florence, S.C. The sales price represents an average cap rate of 6.8 percent and a profit of $45.4 million. PREIT intends to use the proceeds to make further reductions in debt and for general corporate purposes.
SCHENECTADY, N.Y. — KeyBank (NYSE:KEY) has provided $26 million in Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) equity and debt for an affordable housing development in Schenectady. The 155-unit rental community will include housing for low-income families, homeless persons, veterans and others who require supportive services. The development will transform a 96,060-square-foot, four-story historic industrial building and include 30 units for individuals struggling with homelessness or substance abuse and 57 units for the developmentally disabled and mentally ill. In total, KeyBank provided nearly $15 million in LIHTC equity and a $9 million construction loan to the development. The Galesi Group is serving as the developer for the project, which is slated to open next spring.
BOSTON — National Development has announced plans to build SEPIA at Ink Block, an 83-unit luxury condominium development in Boston. The project will be built as part of Ink Block South End, a six-building, mixed-use development in the South End neighborhood of Boston. Construction is slated to begin in early 2014, with a sale center opening at 401 Harrison Ave. later this month. Amenities at SEPIA at Ink Block include underground resident parking, a rooftop sundeck, private balconies, access to Ink Block’s rooftop pool, fitness center, clubroom and a bicycle workshop. Residents of the community will also be in proximity to the 50,000-square-foot Whole Foods Market, which is slated to open at Ink Block South End in early 2015. The SEPIA condos are slated to be complete and open for occupancy in mid-2015. Cranshaw Construction is the general contractor, and Elkus Manfredi Architects is the architect for SEPIA. The Collaborative Cos. will serve as the marketing and sales agency.
NEW YORK CITY — RFR Holding LLC has secured $100 million in refinancing for 160 Fifth Ave., a 107,000-square-foot office property in the Midtown South submarket of Manhattan. RFR says the refinancing through Citibank will enable it to retire $65 million of existing debt on the Class A boutique property, while taking advantage of lower interest rates. The company purchased the property in 2005 and completed a multi-million dollar renovation program. Its largest tenant at 160 Fifth is the Simons Foundation, a private charitable foundation formed by hedge fund manager James H. Simons, at 76,000 square feet. Also on the tenant roster are office and showroom space for Grohe America, the luxury faucet designer; Forrester Research; and Prophet Brand Strategy. Fashion retailer Club Monaco occupies the retail component of 160 Fifth.
FORT LEE, N.J. — A partnership led by Tucker Development Corp. has secured $218 million in financing for the first phase of Hudson Lights, a 1 million-square-foot, mixed-use redevelopment in Fort Lee. Savills US arranged the debt and equity financing, including a $117 million construction loan from Sovereign Santander Bank. Tucker will soon begin construction on the first 517,000-square-foot phase, including 143,000 square feet of retail, 864 parking stalls and 276 luxury apartments. Tucker Development is building Hudson Lights with its development partner, KRE Group, and Ares Management. Tishman Construction Corp. is serving as the development’s general contractor. KRE Group will also assist with property management for the development’s residential portion upon completion. Robert K. Futterman & Associates is serving as the development’s exclusive retail leasing agent. Hudson Lights, designed by architecture and planning firm Arquitectonica, is the western portion of a 16-acre site in Fort Lee undergoing comprehensive redevelopment. The second phase of Hudson Lights will include an additional 201 residential units, about 50,000 square feet of retail space and parking and a 175-room hotel.
WALTHAM, MASS. — Fantini & Gorga has arranged a $35 million permanent mortgage for a 335,000-square-foot office and industrial portfolio in Waltham, a suburb of Boston. The portfolio includes two Class A office buildings and one industrial building, which were close to 90 percent occupancy at the time of closing.
NEW YORK CITY — Madison Realty Capital (MRC) has originated a $5 million loan, secured by a 243,230-square-foot, newly constructed condominium building in Brooklyn. The five-story property includes 25 residential units and 13 parking spots and is located at 345 Ovington Ave. in the Bay Ridge neighborhood. The loan will be used to retire the existing mortgage, fund closing costs and a future project. The property is roughly 95 percent complete and features one-, two-, and three-bedroom units. The developer has already executed 24 sale agreements and units are expected to begin closing soon.
PITMAN, N.J. — Broadway Stages has acquired the 495,166-square-foot former Sony facility in Pitman, a city in southeast New Jersey. The New York City-based film, television and music video production company purchased the property as an investment, according to Binswanger, which brokered the sale. The high-tech facility was previously used to manufacture compact discs and DVDs and includes 19 dock high doors, parking for approximately 830 vehicles, 35,048 square feet of office space and a full-service cafeteria. Binswanger will be marketing the property, which is located at 400 N. Woodbury Road, on behalf of Broadway Stages.
SADDLE BROOK, N.J. — CBRE Group Inc. has arranged $18 million in financing for Fairfield Business Center in Fairfield, on behalf of a partnership owned and managed by Denholtz Associates and The Zaro Group. James Gunning, Donna Falzarano and Evan Kleppe of CBRE’s debt & equity finance group secured the non-recourse loan with Redwood Trust. The 10-year, fixed-rate loan includes a 30-year amortization schedule. Fairfield Business Center is a seven-building, 336,000-square-foot flex/office park situated in the heart of the Fairfield/Route 46 submarket. The portfolio was 85 percent occupied at the time of the transaction.
NEW YORK CITY — Madison Realty Capital (MRC) has provided a $7.2 million construction loan for a partially complete mixed-use property in Queens. The property is located at 28-18 Astoria Blvd. in the neighborhood of Astoria. Proceeds from the loan will be used to retire outstanding debt and fund the completion of construction for the building. The seven-story, 24,992-square-foot property includes 21,514 square feet of residential, as well as 2,289 square feet of retail space and 1,189 square feet of community space. The final phase of the project includes the construction of 28 one-bedroom units.