Metro Philadelphia’s industrial market saw strong demand, developer confidence and declining vacancy rates in 2015. Asking rents averaged $4.43 per square foot for the region, a 4 percent increase from 2014. The overall vacancy has decreased to 7.7 percent as demand kept pace with 5.7 million square feet of completed spec development. The only submarket that is posting greater than 10 percent vacancy is New Castle County, Delaware; however, New Castle’s vacancy rate was trending downward at the end of 2015. We continue to see healthy demand for industrial space in 2016. There could be some impact from global uncertainties, but these will be offset by continued on-shoring of manufacturing requirements and last-mile delivery expansion. Companies seeking between 25,000 to 80,000 square feet have seen limited availability in most submarkets, particularly for purchase. Due to strong demand and reduced availability for modern, net-leased, single-tenant buildings, some investors must consider lesser-quality assets and/or secondary locations. Sale prices and rents have increased. It is not unusual for modern bulk facilities with long-term leases in place to trade in the $90-per-square-foot range. In one recent deal, a private investor paid more than $78 per square foot for the leaseback transaction of an 85-year-old …
WEST CONSHOHOCKEN, PA. — PCCP has provided a $43.4 million senior loan to Arden Group for the refinancing of an office building located at 100 and 200 Four Falls Corporate Center in West Conshohocken, a suburb of Philadelphia. Arden Group acquired the 253,985-square-foot asset in late 2013 and has since invested $2.5 million in renovations, including upgrades to the lobby, corridors and terraces, as well as a new conference center and other projects. The office building features two distinct six-story wings linked by a recently renovated six-story atrium lobby. Additionally, the building features 22,000-square-foot floor plates, a third-party managed conference facility, a full-service café, a substantial lobby and a multi-level subterranean parking garage. The building is currently 69 percent occupied by 27 tenants.
CANONSBURG, PA. — Marcus & Millichap has arranged the sale of a Dunkin’ Donuts ground lease at 105 Casavina Drive in Canonsburg. A private investor acquired the 2,653-square-foot net-leased property for $1 million. Alan Cafiero and Ben Sgambati of Marcus & Millichap represented the seller, a partnership, and secured and represented the buyer in the transaction.
PHILADELPHIA — Drexel University and Brandywine Realty Trust (NYSE: BDN) will co-develop the Schuylkill Yards mixed-use community on a 14-acre site in Philadelphia. The development costs weren’t disclosed, but the Philadelphia Business Journal estimates total costs will reach $3.5 billion. Initial phases of the projected 20-year innovation development plan will consist of 5 million square feet of mixed-use real estate on a 10-acre site next to Drexel’s main campus and adjacent to Amtrak’s 30th Street Station. The master-planned neighborhood within Philadelphia’s University City submarket will feature entrepreneurial spaces, educational facilities and research laboratories, corporate offices, residential and retail spaces, hospitality, cultural venues and public open spaces. “Drexel University and Brandywine’s shared vision for the continued renaissance of University City provides a strong foundation for a long-term partnership. Together, we will create a dynamic and world-class innovation hub to attract the brightest minds to our region,” says Gerard Sweeney, president and CEO of Brandywine Realty Trust. “Schuylkill Yards will transform Philadelphia’s skyline as new towers rise on the west side of the Schuylkill River,” he continues. “Brandywine’s existing Cira Centre, EVO and FMC Tower at Cira Centre South projects in University City will provide a synergistic connection to Schuylkill Yards, creating …
BETHEL, PA. — Dermody Properties and Granite Real Estate Investment Trust leased 500,400 square feet of industrial space at Berks Park 78 in Bethel to a global consumer electronics company. The company will move into the facility in April and use the space for the distribution of its consumer home appliances. Gerry Blinebury and Adam Campbell with Cushman & Wakefield represented Dermody Properties in the lease, while Vincent Ranalli and John Schumacher of CBRE represented the tenant in the transaction.
MECHANICSBURG, PA. — The Hampshire Companies has completed the disposition of a 596,703-square-foot industrial building located at 1225 S. Market St. in Mechanicsburg. Allen Distribution acquired the property for an undisclosed price. Situated on more than 100 acres, the property features ceiling heights ranging from 16 feet to 30 feet, 58 loading doors, one drive-in door, 747 car parking spots and 24 trailer stalls. Additional features include a fire suppression system, office-chiller air handler HVAC system, warehouse rooftop cooling units, gas-fired heating air rotation units, on-site helicopter pad and power sub-station. At the time of sale, the property was 65 percent occupied with an available 205,858 square feet of vacancy. Gerard Blinebury, Marie Connell and Samantha Kennedy of Cushman & Wakefield brokered the transaction.
PHILADELPHIA AND WARMINSTER, PA. — Newmark Grubb Knight Frank (NGKF) has brokered the sales of two industrial properties in the greater Philadelphia area. In the first transaction, Wolf Pack LP acquired a 21,500-square-foot industrial building, located at 3015 Darnell Road in Philadelphia, for $1 million, or $47.67 per square foot. Neil Shupak and Justin Bell of NGFK represented the sellers, Jerry and Brenda Frebowitz, in the transaction. In the second deal, D&B Pharma Real Estate Partners acquired an industrial building located at 200 Park Ave. in Warminster for $3.8 million, or $25.67 per square foot. Situated on 5.8 acres, the 150,000-square-foot building features 26-foot ceiling heights, off-street parking and loading capabilities. Shupak and Bell represented the undisclosed seller, while Kurt Eisenschmid of Penn’s Grant Realty represented the buyer in the transaction.
NEW JERSEY, PENNSYLVANIA AND FLORIDA — Prologis has acquired a 5.4 million-square-foot portfolio consisting of 3.2 million square feet of industrial properties and 2.2 million square feet of retail properties in multiple states. Morris Realty Associates sold the portfolio for an undisclosed sum. Included in the portfolio are ten industrial properties, eight of which are in Northern New Jersey, as well as 13 retail properties in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Florida. After the initial acquisition, Prologis sold the retail portion of the portfolio to Blackstone Real Estate Advisors for an undisclosed price. The company plans to retain the industrial properties for long-term investment purposes. Thomas Monahan, Noah Balanoff, Anastasia Lazarides and Gerard Monahan of CBRE’s Saddle Brook, New Jersey, office represented Prologis in the acquisition. Bill Kent, also of CBRE, spearheaded the multi-state team that brokered the disposition of the retail properties.
CARLISLE, PA. — American Realty Advisors has acquired a cross-docked bulk warehouse/distribution property located at 2 Ames Drive in Carlisle. Situated on more than 53 acres, the 700,000-square-foot building is fully leased to a Fortune 50 tenant through 2024. A joint venture between Dermody Properties and PCCP sold the property for an undisclosed sum. The property features 32-foot clear heights, full air conditioning, 481 car spaces, 149 trailer spaces, T-5 lighting and 8,000 amps of power. Additionally, the building was designed and constructed to LEED core and shell standards. Michael Hines and Brian Fiumara of CBRE National Partners represented the seller in the transaction.
STATE COLLEGE, PA. — RSR EB-5 Regional Centers (RSR), an affiliate of Switzenbaum & Associates, has funded a $15.5 million loan for the financing of a ground-up construction mixed-use property in State College, through the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) EB-5 immigrant investor program. The interest-only loan is in conjunction with a $26.5 million senior construction loan from Fulton Bank, which provided the remainder of the required debt for the project. Originally structured for 30 investors, the project opened an additional spot due to increased demand. While USCIS requirements for EB-5 stipulate that a minimum of 10 new jobs must be created for every investor, this project’s construction and operation will create an estimated 521 jobs. The borrower, Fraser Partners, an affiliate of Real Estate Capital Management and Brickbox Enterprises, will use the funds to construct The Fraser Centre, a 265,000-square-foot mixed-use project on the crest of Pennsylvania State University’s main campus. Slated for completion this fall, the development will feature 50,000 square feet of retail space, a 165-room Hyatt Place Hotel and 26 residential condominiums.