Philadelphia’s apartment market remains bright as increasing employment fosters stable economic growth, which in turn is bolstering apartment operations. Employers in the metro, which is known as the center of economic activity in Pennsylvania, will increase hiring 1.2 percent this year, adding 35,000 jobs. In 2014, new jobs increased 1.6 percent and the unemployment rate decreased 130 basis points. Total employment is on the upswing, recovering nearly all of the jobs lost during the recession. The favorable employment conditions are supporting demand for apartments and swiftly improving performance throughout the metro, prompting developers to start new multifamily projects. Builders in Philadelphia are focusing their attention in Center City, which includes the central business district and central neighborhoods of Philadelphia, where nearly 25 percent of this year’s deliveries will be placed into service. Developers are on track to complete 3,600 units in 2015, increasing total apartment inventory 1.4 percent. Last year 2,400 rentals were delivered. Part of the reason that demand is especially strong in Philadelphia can be attributed to the increasing popularity of living in the urban core among young professionals and baby boomers. The lack of developable in-fill locations in the area is prompting developers to convert office buildings …
MIDDLETOWN, PA. — Allen Distribution, a third-party logistics service provider, has signed a lease for 321,333 square feet at 100 Capital Lane within Capital Logistics Center in Middletown. The property features an adhered EPDM (ethylene propylene diene terploymer) roof, seven-inch unreinforced concrete floor with 54 doors with 33 knockout panels. Situated on more than 100 acres, the six-building, 1.5 million-square-foot Capital Logistics Center was recently renovated. A joint venture between Woodmont Industrial Partners and AEW Capital Management owns the logistics center. Kim Meincke and Jason Webb of Jones Lang LaSalle represented the tenant, while Michael Hess, Patrick Lafferty and Bart Anderson of CBRE represented Woodmont Industrial Partners in the transaction.
ALLENTOWN, PA. — The Waterfront Development Co. has broken ground for a $400 million mixed-use development along the western banks of the Lehigh River in Allentown. Spanning 26 acres, the project will include six office buildings, including the 157,498-square-foot 615 Waterfront Drive and the 131,457-square-foot 645 Waterfront Drive; three residential complexes, totaling 425 market-rate apartments; three parking structures; a main street and half-mile River Walk. Additionally, each of the 12 new buildings will offer retail and restaurant space. The development company comprises Jaindl Properties LLC, Dunn Twiggar Company LLC and Michael Dunn Co. LTD. Site-wide infrastructure is slated to take approximately 18 months, though building construction will be phased in and begin at any time during that timeframe. The project is expected to take approximately eight years for full build-out.
TREVOSE, PA. — HREC has arranged the sale of Radisson Philadelphia Northeast located at 2400 Old Lincoln Highway in Trevose. Haverford Hotel Partners LP sold the 274-guestroom hotel to TJM Properties for an undisclosed sum. The property is in close proximity to the Sesame Place Theme Park, Parx Casino & Racetrack, Philadelphia Mills Shopping Mall, and The Sportsplex. Ketan Patel and Geoff Davis of HREC’s New York City office represented the seller in the transaction.
EXTON, PA. — Swope Lees Commercial Real Estate has arranged the acquisition of an office building located at 111 Summit Drive within Whiteland Business Park in Exton. Jacquette Consulting Inc. acquired the property for an undisclosed price. The 6,000-square-foot office building features private offices, restrooms, an open bullpen area, conference room and kitchen. Chuck Swope of Swope Lees Commercial represented the buyer, while Jim Dugan of Newmark Grubb Knight Frank and Eric Stretch of First Liberty Partners represented the seller in the transaction.
BRYN MAWR, PA. — Duke Realty plans to develop a 100,300-square-foot medical office building (MOB) for Main Line Health at its Bryn Mawr Hospital campus. Located at 130 Bryn Mawr Ave. in Bryn Mawr, the four-story building is estimated to cost $35 million. The property will house a 24,000-square-foot ambulatory surgery center, 13,000 square feet of primary care services and 10,000 square feet of auxiliary space to meet Main Line’s future needs. Development will begin in February 2016, and completion is slated for February 2017. The building will be owned by Duke Realty Bryn Mawr Development LLC. The Philadelphia office of Francis Cauffman is serving as architect and Health Sciences Construction Group is serving as general contractor for the project.
HANOVER, PA — Colliers International’s Harrisburg, Pa., office has brokered the sale of Centennial Commons Shopping Center in Hanover. Located at 3744-80 Centennial Road, the 48,220-square-foot property sold for $4.4 million. The property is occupied by Food Lion, Dollar General and Subway. William Aiello, George Lulos and Larry Kostelac of Colliers represented the seller, Conewago Contractors Inc., in the transaction. The buyer was Becrett LLC.
MECHANICSBURG AND ENOLA, PA. — HREC Investment Advisors has arranged the sale of two hotels in Pennsylvania. The properties are the 70-room Baymont Inn & Suites Mechanicsburg Harrisburg West in Mechanicsburg and a 69-room Mircotel Inn & Suites by Wyndham in Enola. Ketan Patel and Geoff Davis of HREC represented the undisclosed seller in the transaction. The name of the buyer was not released.
LAWRENCEVILLE, PA. — Developer Chris Desmone has broken ground on for Square View, a luxury apartment building project located at 3413-3415 Butler St. in Lawrenceville near Doughboy Square. Designed by Desmone Architects, the four-story project will feature 12 apartments and 4,300 square feet of street-level retail space. Completion is slated for summer 2016.
PHILADELPHIA — Square Mile Credit Partners, an investment fund managed by Square Mile Capital Management, has originated a $26.8 million first mortgage loan for Penrose Plaza in Philadelphia’s southwest submarket. The loan funds the recent acquisition of the 261,000-square-foot, grocery-anchored retail center, along with planned capital expenditures and tenant improvements. A joint venture between Onyx Properties, Abrams Realty & Development and Siguler Guff acquired the property, which is located at 2900-3000 Island Ave., in July 2015. The property is currently 51.5 percent leased to 17 tenants, including ShopRite supermarket, which signed a 20-year lease extension signed at the time of acquisition.