KUTZTOWN, PA. — Marcus & Millichap has brokered the sale of a 546-unit self-storage portfolio in the Eastern Pennsylvania city of Kutztown. The portfolio consists of two existing facilities totaling 22,243 net rentable square feet across 131 climate- and non-climate-controlled units, as well as a development site for which 148 climate-controlled and 268 non-climate-controlled units have been proposed. Nathan Coe, Brett Hatcher and Gabriel Coe of Marcus & Millichap represented the buyer and seller, both of which were private investment groups based in Eastern Pennsylvania that requested anonymity, in the transaction. Sean Beuche of Marcus & Millichap assisted in closing the deal as the broker of record.
PHILADELPHIA AND IRVINE, CALIF. — Independence Realty Trust Inc. (NYSE: IRT), a publicly traded apartment REIT based in Philadelphia, has agreed to acquire Irvine-based Steadfast Apartment REIT Inc. On a pro-forma basis, the combined company is expected to have a total enterprise value of approximately $7 billion and be equally owned by shareholders of both firms. Post-merger, the company will operate under the Independence Realty Trust banner and trade under the same stock symbol. The portfolio will total 131 apartment communities comprising approximately 38,000 units across 16 states. The combined company’s 10 largest markets by unit count would be Atlanta, Dallas-Fort Worth, Denver, Oklahoma City, Louisville, Columbus, Indianapolis, Raleigh-Durham, Houston and Memphis. According to an investor presentation, the portfolio averages $1,231 in effective rent per month and is 96.2 percent occupied. The combined company would rank at No. 26 on the National Multifamily Housing Council’s (NMHC) 2021 ranking of the top 50 apartment owners. Neither Independence Realty Trust nor Steadfast Apartment REIT is on the NMHC Top 50 Owners ranking for 2021. Both companies expect the transaction to close during the fourth quarter of 2021, subject to customary closing conditions, including approval of both companies’ stockholders. The boards of directors …
WATERVILLE, MAINE — General contractor Consigli Construction Co. has completed the Harold Alfond Athletics and Recreation Center, a 350,000-square-foot facility at Colby College, a private liberal arts college in Waterville, Maine. The facility features a 200-meter track, tennis courts, an ice arena, Olympic-sized pool, competition gym for basketball and volleyball, squash courts, a strength and fitness center, multi-purpose studios, locker rooms, sports medicine facilities and offices. Sasaki and Hopkins Architects led the design of the project.
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — The STRO Cos., a New Jersey-based investment firm, has acquired a 141,000-square-foot office and data center that is situated on a 14.4-acre site in the Northern New Jersey community of Florham Park. The company purchased the asset from Bank of New York Mellon (BNY), which also occupies the building, for an undisclosed price. Jose Cruz, Michael Oliver, Steve Simonelli, Kevin O’Hearn, J.B. Bruno, Jordan Avanzato and Michael Kavanaugh of JLL represented BNY in the transaction. Prudential Bank provided acquisition financing.
WOODBRIDGE, N.J. — Woodmont Industrial Partners has sold a 101,425-square-foot distribution center in Woodbridge, about 30 miles south of New York City. Woodmont completed construction of the property in the second quarter and subsequently executed a lease with Bentley Labs, a formulator and provider of beauty products. The property features a clear height of 36 feet and 12 dock doors with the option to expand to 24. The buyer was Denver-based EverWest Real Estate Investors.
WILTON, CONN. — CBRE has negotiated the $3.7 million sale of a 47,040-square-foot office and industrial building in Wilton, located in Fairfield County. The property, which was built in 1965 and renovated in 2006, was vacant at the time of sale. Louis Zuckerman, Tom Pajolek and Pat Colwell of CBRE represented the undisclosed seller in the transaction. The team also procured the buyer, a joint venture between Fuller Development and Spinnaker Real Estate Partners that plans to reposition the property for residential use.
NEW YORK CITY — Locally based landlord George Comfort & Sons has completed the renovation of 135 W. 50th St., a 925,000-square-foot office tower in Midtown Manhattan. Global architecture firm Gensler designed the project, which included the reimagining of the lobby and entrance, as well as the creation of a new tenant amenity center. This 20,000-square-foot space features collaborative workspaces, executive conference rooms, a game room, lounges and a bar area. George Comfort & Sons also installed wellness features such as touchless entry at main entrances, facial recognition software at security turnstiles, an upgraded air filtration system and touchless fixtures in all common area bathrooms.
PITTSBURGH — A partnership between nonprofit developer The University Financing Foundation (TUFF) and full-service firm Collaborative Real Estate has acquired Bridgeside Point, a 160,000-square-foot life sciences facility in Pittsburgh. The property is located adjacent to the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University campuses and includes lab, office and academic space. Patterson Real Estate Advisory Group arranged acquisition financing for the deal through Georgia-based Ameris Bank.
ASBURY PARK, N.J. — New Jersey-based brokerage firm The Kislak Co. Inc. has arranged the $18.5 million sale of Kingsley Arms Apartments, a 98-unit multifamily building in Asbury Park. The unit mix consists of 23 studios, 68 one-bedroom units, five two-bedroom units and two penthouses. Units were renovated in 2016, and building upgrades were completed earlier this year. Amenities include a fitness center, media room and a rooftop terrace. Daniel Lanni of Kislak represented the seller, Sackman Residential Holdings LLC, and the buyer, an entity doing business as 200 Deal Lake LLC, in the transaction. ConnectOne Bank provided acquisition financing.
CHERRY HILL, N.J. — Wharton Industrial, a division of New York City-based development and investment firm Wharton Equity Partners, has purchased a 130,000-square-foot portfolio in the Philadelphia suburb of Cherry Hill. Wharton acquired the three-building portfolio from an undisclosed seller in an off-market transaction and will implement a capital improvement program. Renovations will include replacing certain roofs, upgrading landscaping, repairing and painting exteriors and improving truck loading stations.