MOORESTOWN, N.J. — NAI Mertz has brokered the $13.5 million sale of a 209,000-square-foot industrial property in Moorestown. Located at 540 Glen Ave., the property is currently fully leased to two tenants and features 18- to 24-foot clear heights as well as 40-by-40 foot column spacing. Fred Meyer and Jonathan Klear of NAI Mertz represented the seller, 540 Glen LLC, in the transaction. The buyer was One Liberty Properties Inc.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Greystone Real Estate Advisors has closed the sale of two seniors housing properties in Rhode Island: Chapel Hill in Cumberland and Smithfield Woods in Smithfield. The sales price was not disclosed. Both properties are located in the Providence metro area. Mike Garbers and Cody Tremper of Greystone Real Estate Advisors represented the seller in the transaction, a publicly traded REIT. The buyer was a partnership between GMF Capital, a New York-based private equity firm, and Meridian Senior Living, which will operate the properties. The communities were built between 1989 and 1999. The properties offer 272 units of assisted living, memory care and skilled nursing.
BETHLEHEM, PA. — Markward Group has negotiated the sale of a 32,000-square-foot flex facility in Bethlehem. The sales price was undisclosed. Located at 2147 Ave. C, the property consists of a 30,500-square-foot heated warehouse and 1,500 square feet of office space. Michael Capobianco of Markward Group represented both the buyer, J.G. Petrucci, and the undisclosed seller in the transaction.
PAWTUCKET, R.I. — CBRE has arranged the sale of a 64,000-square-foot industrial flex facility in Pawtucket. Located at 670-710 Narragansett Park Drive, the property is currently 96 percent occupied by a tenant roster that includes Cintas, Granite City Electrical Supply, Johnson Controls, Rhode Island PBS, Shred-It and Sprint Corp. Situated on the first turn of the former Narragansett race track where famed race horse Seabiscuit once ran, the building and park are adjacent to the East Providence city line. Alden Anderson and Dan Cregan of CBRE represented the seller, Marshall Properties, in the transaction. The buyer was Legacy Gansett LLC, an entity owned by Legacy Real Estate Ventures.
HARRISON, N.J. — HFF has arranged a $70 million loan to refinance Steel Works, a recently completed, 286-unit apartment community in Harrison. Located at 1200 Frank E. Rodgers Boulevard South, the five-story property is currently 96 percent occupied and consists of a mix of studio, one- and two-bedroom floor plans. Amenities include an outdoor swimming pool with sundeck, fitness center, resident clubroom, dog park and electric car charging stations. Greg Nalbandian and Jim Cadranell of HFF secured financing for the borrower, a joint venture between Advance Realty and DeBartolo Development, to secure a 10-year, fixed-rate loan through an institutional lender. Loan proceeds were used to retire existing construction financing.
PISCATAWAY, N.J. — NAI James E. Hanson has negotiated the sale of a 41,700-square-foot industrial building in Piscataway. The sales price was not disclosed. Located at 727 S. Ave., the property features 14-foot ceilings, five loading platforms and one drive-in door as well as 2,500 square feet of office space. Eric Demmers and Russell Verducci of NAI James E. Hanson represented the buyer, cabinet manufacturer Cavalli Cabinets LLC, in the transaction. The seller was Deals for Less LLC. Cavalli Cabinets plans to use the space for kitchen cabinet manufacturing, warehouse and distribution.
BETHLEHEM TOWNSHIP, PA. — Colliers International has arranged the sale of a 29-acre development site in Bethlehem Township. The sales price was not disclosed. The parcel is located near Route 33, I-78 and Route 22. Future plans have not been finalized, but the property’s zoning allows for multiple uses. Kelly Berfield and Ryan Dietrick of Colliers International’s Allentown office represented the buyer, River Hills Estates, in the transaction. The seller was Joanne Turocy.
NEW LONDON, CONN. — The Hampshire Cos. has acquired a two-acre parcel in New London and has unveiled plans to develop a 100,000-square-foot self-storage facility on the site. The development site is located at 351 N. Frontage Road. The 800-unit facility will feature modern architecture with four levels of climate-controlled storage space. Construction is slated to begin in the second quarter. Hampshire Cos. has repositioned or developed 33 self-storage facilities with an aggregate value of more than $415 million since 2012.
NEW YORK CITY — Marcus & Millichap has brokered the $4.7 million sale of a four-unit apartment property in Brooklyn. Located at 91 1st Place, the five-story property measures 7,200 square feet. Shaun Riney, Michael Salvatico and John Barney of Marcus & Millichap’s Brooklyn office represented the seller, a private investor, in the transaction. The buyer was also a private investor.
For developers of affordable housing, a certain amount of NIMBYism is virtually inevitable. But the contentiousness of our times has amplified the rumbling of, “not in my backyard,” into a shout. Time consumed in countering the claims and tactics of affordable housing opponents can damage or derail a developer’s plans — delaying approvals, raising costs and in some cases causing the project to be abandoned altogether. At a time when large segments of the population have been priced out of many neighborhoods, the need to defuse NIMBYism is critical, not simply for preserving individual communities, but also for protecting the greater social fabric. Fortunately, time-tested strategies that have long been used to win over local affordable housing opponents become even more effective when shifted to web-based platforms. Savvy developers are now using their websites and social media to discredit stereotypes about affordable housing communities, demonstrate transparency and promote dialogue. When community members realize that affordable housing is something that can contribute to their neighborhood rather than detract from it, the conversation changes dramatically. Introduce Yourself with a Compelling Website Opponents of affordable housing often couch their objections as an appeal to the greater good, highlighting the potential effect a community …
