PHILADELPHIA — PMC Property Group, a Philadelphia-based developer, has broken ground on a 65,000-square-foot flagship store for GIANT Food Stores in Philadelphia. Located within the Gensler-designed Riverwalk mixed-use project, the store will offer more than 600 varieties of fresh and local produce, as well as curbside pickup and delivery services. The store is slated to open by fall 2020.
BETHLEHEM, PA. — A partnership between Lehigh University and Greystar has opened SouthSide Commons, a 426-bed residence hall located on the university’s campus in Bethlehem, about 50 miles northwest of Trenton. The community offers fully furnished studio, two-, three- and four-bedroom units. Atkin Olshin Schade Architects designed the project, construction of which began in May 2018 and was completed July 2018.
PHILADELPHIA — Liberty Property Trust, a publicly-traded real estate investment trust (NYSE: LPT), has opened Four Seasons Philadelphia, a 219-room hotel located within the Comcast Technology Center in Philadelphia. The hotel rises 1,121 feet, making it the tallest building in the city. Amenities at the hotel include a spa and wellness center with a 30,000-gallon swimming pool, restaurant concept Jean-Georges Philadelphia, oyster and cocktail bar Vernick Fish, a 42-seat café called Vernick Coffee Bar and 15,000 square feet of flexible meeting and event space. Foster + Partners designed the property.
DOYLESTOWN, PA. — Hunt Real Estate Capital has provided a $35.8 million Fannie Mae loan for the refinancing of Center Square Towers, a mid-rise multifamily property in Doylestown, a city about 30 miles north of Philadelphia. The property consists of two buildings containing 350 units. The loan carries a 10-year term and 30-year amortization schedule with a fixed interest rate and interest-only payments for the first five years. The borrower was undisclosed.
BETHLEHEM, PA. — Berkadia has negotiated the sale of Birchwood Commons, a newly constructed, 96-unit multifamily community in Bethlehem, a city about 50 miles north of Philadelphia. The property was completed in 2018 and features one- and two-bedroom floor plans averaging 933 square feet. Matt Stefanski, Zac Pierce, Alan Krawitz and Christopher Farmer of Berkadia represented the seller, local developer Ashley Development Corp., in the transaction, and procured the buyer, Philadelphia-based Halfpenny Management Co. Stephen Comly of Berkadia secured acquisition financing through Investors Bank.
STATE COLLEGE, PA. — CA Student Living has begun construction on HERE at State College, an $86 million, 227-unit student housing property located one block from Penn State University. The 12-story complex will feature more than 700 beds and house 30,000 square feet of retail space on the lower two levels. The general contractor is Missouri-based Brinkmann Constructors, and the architect is Shepley Bulfinch. HERE at State College is expected to open in fall 2020.
PITTSBURGH — A joint venture between Pinecrest and Cardinal Group has completed construction on The Bridge on Forbes, a 473-bed student housing property in Pittsburgh. The community offers fully furnished studio-, one-, two- and three-bedroom units to students attending the University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University and Carlow University. Shared amenities include a 24-hour fitness center, an outdoor deck with grilling stations and fire pits, collaboration rooms, a coffee bar and lounge and retail space occupied by Arby’s and Bank of America. The property is fully leased for the upcoming academic year.
EXTON, PA. — Wolfson Group Inc., a Pennsylvania-based developer, has broken ground on Ashbridge, a 420,000-square-foot multifamily property in Exton, about 30 miles west of Philadelphia. The property comprises six buildings with 410 total units, including one-, two- and three-bedroom floor plans. The newly renovated Ashbridge House mansion, also on the property, will be utilized for amenities including a fitness center, lounge and event space. The architect is Philadelphia-based Bernardon. Bozzuto Group will manage the property, which is slated to open in spring 2020.
PHILADELPHIA — Marcus & Millichap has arranged the sale of Eli Court, an 88-unit workforce housing property in Philadelphia, for $4.3 million. The property offers studio and one-bedroom units and access to public transit. Fred Paisley of Marcus & Millichap represented the seller, a locally based private real estate company, in the transaction, as well as the buyer, a limited liability company.
PITTSBURGH — Amazon will construct a 1 million-square-foot distribution center in Pittsburgh, a move that will create 800 new full-time jobs. The property will be Amazon’s 15th operations facility in Pennsylvania. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that Amazon will invest $30 million in the facility and that once the jobs are in place, Amazon will receive $1.6 million in job creation tax credits from the state Department of Community and Economic Development. Hillwood, a Fort Worth-based industrial firm, will lead the development of the project, a construction timeline for which has not yet been established.
