WATERTOWN, MASS. — National Development has purchased Watertown Mall, located on the western outskirts of Boston, with plans to enhance the property and continue its operation as a retail destination, as confirmed in a statement by the regional owner-operator. According to reports from multiple publications, including Axios and the Boston Business Journal, the sales price was $100 million, and the purchase represents a split from an original plan to repurpose the property to support life sciences usage. Best Buy and Target are the current anchors of Watertown Mall. The seller was not disclosed.
Northeast
BUFFALO, N.Y. — Lee & Associates has brokered the $33.2 million sale of a 102,000-square-foot academic building located at 75 W. Huron St. in Buffalo. The Buffalo School of Culinary Arts & Hospitality Management occupies the entirety of the seven-story building, which was originally built in the late 19th century as a horse livery and was later used as a multi-story parking garage before being transformed into a school. Dave Carswell and Ben Tapper of Lee & Associates represented the seller, locally based firm McGuire Development Co., in the transaction. Carswell also assisted the buyer, Mercer Street Partners, in securing acquisition financing for the deal.
LOWER MACUNGIE, PA. — New Jersey-based Woodmont Properties has begun leasing a 120-unit multifamily project in the Lehigh Valley community of Lower Macungie. The project, which represents Phase II of a larger development known as Woodmont Valley, comprises 10 buildings and 13,000 square feet of commercial space on a 14-acre site. The majority (99) of the units are designed as two-bedroom townhome-style residences, while the remainding 21 units are flat-style apartments that come in one- and two-bedroom formats. Amenities include a pool, fitness center, clubhouse and resident lounge, outdoor grilling and dining stations, a game room, theater, bark park, walking trails and package concierge service. Construction of Phase II began last fall. Phase I totals 204 units and was completed in 2017. Colliers is leasing the commercial component.
WORCESTER, MASS. — Nonprofit owner-operator The Community Builders (TCB) has completed the renovation of The Aurora, an 85-unit affordable housing complex in downtown Worcester. The historic six-story building was originally constructed as a hotel in 1898 and offers 30 units that are reserved for those earning up to 30 percent of the area median income (AMI). In addition, a portion of residences are reserved for households earning 80 percent or less of AMI and for renters who make 60 percent or less of AMI. Architecture Environmental Life Inc. designed the project, and Keith Construction served as the general contractor.
HYANNIS, MASS. — MassDevelopment and BankFive have provided $11 million in financing for a 45-unit multifamily project in the Cape Cod community of Hyannis. The building at 199 Barnstable Road will house 40 market-rate units and five affordable units that will be earmarked for households earning 65 percent or less of the area median income. Units will have an average size of 550 square feet. The developer, Bratt LLC, is a real estate holding entity owned by Bradley Sprinkle and Timothy Telman; the former’s family-owned contracting business most recently occupied the site. Completion is slated for mid-2026.
PASSAIC, N.J. — A joint venture between Los Angeles-based PCCP LLC and Atlanta-based Stonemont Financial Group has received $65.4 million in bridge financing for a 295,506-square-foot industrial property in Northern New Jersey. Built on a 17.7-acre site at 122 Eighth St. in 2024, Passaic Logistics Center features a clear height of 40 feet, 40 dock-high doors, 130-foot truck court depths and parking for 55 trailers and 167 cars. In addition, the building can accommodate a single or multiple users. JLL arranged the financing through TPG Real Estate Credit on behalf of the joint venture. Specific loan terms were not disclosed.
EDGEWATER, N.J. — JLL has negotiated the $53.2 million sale of Edgewater Towne Center, a mixed-use property located about 10 miles outside of New York City. Built on 14 acres in 2000, Edgewater Towne Center comprises 76,525 square feet of retail space and 64 market-rate apartments. Anchored by Whole Foods Market, the retail portion was 98 percent leased at the time of sale to tenants such as Club Pilates, Amazon One Medical, Bond Vet and Pure Barre. The residential component of the building was 94 percent occupied at closing. Jose Cruz, Kevin O’Hearn and J.B. Bruno of JLL represented the seller, Site Centers Corp., in the transaction and procured the local private buyer.
DANBURY AND NORWALK, CONN. — CBRE has brokered the $39.7 million sale of a portfolio of two affordable seniors housing properties totaling 169 units in Connecticut. Residences at both the 116-unit Kimberly Place in Danbury and the 53-unit One Leonard in Norwalk are reserved for renters age 62 and above. Simon Butler, Biria St. John, Jeff Dunne, Eric Apfel, Tim Flint and Taylor Froland of CBRE represented the seller, an affiliate of First Atlantic LLC, in the transaction and procured the buyer, an affiliate of Heritage Housing Inc.
WORCESTER, MASS. — Nonprofit owner-operator The Community Builders (TCB) has completed Merrick at the Square, a 49-unit affordable housing project in downtown Worcester. The building offers 11 units for households earning up to 30 percent or less of the area median income (AMI), five units reserved for renters earning 50 percent or less of AMI and 33 units for those making 60 percent or less of AMI. Amenta Emma Architects designed the project, and Saloomey Construction served as the general contractor.
NEW YORK CITY — The New York State Office of General Services has signed a 15-year, 66,106-square-foot office lease expansion at 919 Third Avenue in Midtown Manhattan. The space spans the entire 46th and 47th floors of the 1.5 million-square-foot building and brings the tenant’s footprint at the property to 117,390 square feet. Stephen Siegel, Liz Lash, Peter Larkin and Mark Bezold of CBRE represented the tenant in the lease negotiations. Robert Alexander, Ryan Alexander, Emily Chabrier, Taylor Callahan, Alex D’Amario and Nicole Marshal, also with CBRE, represented the landlord, SL Green.
 
  
  
   
  