EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Local developer Diversified Properties LLC has broken ground on a 480 Flatz, a 35-unit multifamily property in East Rutherford. The four-story property will offer one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments that will range in size from 700 to 1,100 square feet. Units will feature quartz countertops and stainless steel appliances, as well as proximity to public transit lines and retail hubs. Thomas J. Brennan Architects is designing the project.
We’ve seen it time and again: Companies go through a painstaking process of identifying suitable locations for developing new projects. They settle on a location and make a deal with the developer that is initially met with much fanfare — only to have the project eventually scuttled as a result of community opposition or governmental roadblocks. One need look no further than Amazon’s announcement of plans to locate half its HQ2 in New York City, representing 25,000 jobs, only to find it necessary to withdraw those plans in the face of challenges posed by so-called “community leaders.” Situations like that arise repeatedly, not only with the Amazons of the world, but also with lesser-known companies working with development partners to build new facilities, whether they be for office, industrial or retail uses. In many jurisdictions, the public approval process can be challenging to navigate. There is often a cacophony of voices from community residents, community organizations and governmental entities with different — sometimes conflicting agendas — that may or may not be economically viable or even in the community’s best interests. Those voices carry weight and are often enough to ground an ambitious project. The lessons we’ve learned as a …
NEW YORK CITY — Publicis Group, a French marketing, advertising and public relations firm, has signed a lease renewal and expansion at 375 Hudson Street in Manhattan. The firm is renewing its original 680,000-square-foot lease, which is set to expire in 2023, and taking on an additional 280,000 square feet. The new lease term is 20 years, and the firm will take occupancy of the expanded space in August. Tishman Speyer owns 375 Hudson, which was built in 1987 and spans a full city block from King to West Houston streets. Howard Fiddle, Paul Amrich, and Ben Joseph of CBRE represented ownership in the lease negotiations. John Maher, Paul Myers, Mike Wellen, Greg Maurer-Hollaender and Cara Chayet, also with CBRE, represented Publicis.
NEW YORK CITY — A partnership between two local investment firms, Camber Property Group and California-based Belveron Partners, has acquired Highbridge House, a 400-unit multifamily property in The Bronx, for $77 million. The property is located at 113 Ogden Ave. and originally opened in 1972. The new ownership plans to convert the property into an affordable housing complex and invest $3 million in capital improvements to the building’s elevator and utility systems. Aaron Jungreis of Rosewood Realty Group represented the seller, Stellar Management, and the buyers in the transaction. New York Community Bank provided a $57 million acquisition loan for the deal.
NEW YORK CITY — Boston-based Colliers International Group has formed Colliers Project Leaders | USA, a division of the global investment firm that combines project management, development management, planning and advisory services into one division. The new unit will focus on projects for a range of property types in the Northeast tri-state area, including healthcare, residential, mixed-use, hospitality and retail. In the United States and Canada, Colliers Project Leaders serves corporate, institutional and public sector clients with more than 780 professionals from 33 offices.
NEW YORK CITY — Hodges Ward Elliott (HWE) has arranged the $36 million sale of River Court and Gerard Court, a 252-unit multifamily property in The Bronx for $36 million. The complex, which is located at 1065-1075 Gerard Ave. near Yankee Stadium, offers studio, one- and two-bedroom units with elevator access. Daniel Parker, Paul Gillen and Ariel Tambor of HWE represented the seller, Related Cos., in the transaction. The buyer was Prana Investments, an investment firm with offices on both coasts.
CAMP HILL, PA. — Marcus & Millichap has negotiated the sale of a 26,541-square-foot office property in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania. The property is located at 355 N. 21st St and Cumberland Blvd. The sales price was $3.9 million. The building offers 16 office suites leased to tenants in an array of industries, including medicine, finance and law. Craig Dunkle of Marcus & Millichap’s Philadelphia office represented the seller, 355 N. 21st Camp Hill Associates, as well as the buyer, Thank You Hashem, in the transaction.
NEW YORK CITY — Eastern Consolidated has topped out a 531-room, dual-branded hotel in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan that will include the by Springhill Suites and TownePlace Suites brands. Designed by Gene Kaufman Architects, the 46-story property will ultimately span 178,000 square feet upon completion, which is slated for the end of 2019, according to local media sources. The two hotels will have separate lobbies, but will share a 1,500-square-foot public arcade, fitness center, meeting rooms and dining rooms. The property will also be located near several public transit lines, as well as Madison Square Garden and the Hudson Yards mixed-use development.
SUNDERLAND, MASS. — A partnership between Dallas-based Fountain Residential Partners and HC2 Capital has broken ground on a 150-unit student housing community near the University of Massachusetts Amherst. The property, which will include 38 units of affordable housing for other Sunderland residents, will offer one-, two- and three-bedroom floor plans. Amenities will include an 8,000-square-foot clubhouse with a gym, as well as outdoor gathering spaces. Stuart Roosth Architects designed the project, which is expected to be complete by summer 2020. Western Builders is serving as the general contractor.
NEW YORK CITY — W.P. Carey, a publicly traded REIT specializing in sale-leasebacks, build-to-suits and single-tenant net-leased properties, has completed the $70 million sale-leaseback of a food production and distribution plant in New York City. The seller and tenant was an undisclosed provider of ice cream and beverage products that has used the 400,000-square-foot property as its headquarters and primary production facility since it was founded. The tenant is under a triple-net lease with a term of 25 years.