HARRISBURG, PA. — Some construction projects, including public and private residential and non-residential construction, in Pennsylvania will be allowed to restart on May 8, according to Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf. The state shut down all nonessential businesses on March 21, including most construction projects not related to healthcare or critical infrastructure. Restrictions on new construction also extended to housing developments that had not been issued a final occupancy permit. In a public statement, the governor said that when construction sites do restart, development teams should adhere to social distancing, personnel limits and other guidance provided by the administration. If cases of COVID-19 flare up again in the state, construction sites will have to close once more.
BETHLEHEM, PA. — Colliers International has brokered the $3 million sale of a 33,000-square-foot office building located at 257 Brodhead Road in Bethlehem, an eastern suburb of Allentown. The seller, First Commonwealth Federal Credit Union (FCFCU), previously used the building as its corporate headquarters and will move to a new space within the Trexler Business Center development currently under construction in Trexlertown, Pennsylvania. An undisclosed new tenant has already been procured. Derek Zerfass of Colliers represented FCFCU in the transaction. Ryan Dietrick and Kelly Berfield, also of Colliers, represented the buyer, Brodhead Road Holdings LLC.
MIDDLETOWN, PA. — True Commercial Real Estate has negotiated a 3,500-square-foot retail lease for Great Clips at Mid-Town Plaza, a 102,000-square-foot retail center in the southeastern Harrisburg suburb of Middletown. A 59,000-square-foot Giant Supermarket anchors the shopping center, which is located at 450 E. Main St. Other tenants include Dollar Tree, AutoZone and H&R Block. The new lease brings the property to 100 percent occupancy. Steve Clipman of True Commercial represented Great Clips in the lease negotiations. Sidney Singer represented the landlord, Levin Management Corp., on an internal basis.
BETHLEHEM, PA. — Medical supplies distributor TwinMed has signed a 189,721-square-foot industrial lease in Bethlehem, an eastern suburb of Allentown. TwinMed will occupy a space at 1198 Feather Way in Steel City Trade Center, a partially completed Class A logistics facility. Construction of TwinMed’s facility moved forward amid halts related to the COVID-19 outbreak. Another speculative distribution center is planned for completion later this year, which will bring the total footprint of the development to 294,240 square feet. Mark Chubb, Michael Zerbe, Summer Coulter and Christopher Volkert of Colliers International represented TwinMed in the lease negotiations. Vincent Ranalli of CBRE represented the owner and developer, a joint venture between Dallas-based Trammell Crow and New York-based Clarion Partners.
PHILADELPHIA — The Wistar Institute, a nonprofit infectious disease and vaccine research institution, has preleased an 8,000-square-foot research lab space in Philadelphia. The space, which will be known as Wistar Discovery Center, will be located on the third floor of 3.0 University Place, a 250,000-square-foot life sciences office development in the University City area. Wistar will maintain its headquarters at 3601 Spruce St. The building is slated for completion in the third quarter of 2021. University Place Associates is the developer.
PHILADELPHIA — Patagon Ventures LLC, a Utah-based developer and investment firm, has acquired a 29,994-square-foot industrial building located at 533 E. Hunting Park Ave in Philadelphia for $1.6 million. Patagon plans to redevelop the property as a self-storage facility. A construction timeline was not released. Jason Ostach and Chris Pennington of Binswanger Commercial Real Estate Services represented Patagon in the transaction. Tony Rod of The Flynn Co. represented the seller, SBG Real Estate LLC.
LEBANON AND MOUNT JOY, PA. — BMO Harris Bank’s Healthcare Real Estate Finance group has provided a $12.3 million refinancing for two seniors housing properties owned by Juniper Communities LLC. The loan will refinance the mortgages on Juniper Village at Lebanon and Juniper Village at Mount Joy, both located in southeastern Pennsylvania. The Lebanon location features 40 independent living and 83 assisted living units, while the Mount Joy location features 63 assisted living units. An affiliate of Juniper Communities LLC, Juniper Management LLC, has managed the Lebanon and Mount Joy locations since acquisition in 2012.
PITTSBURGH — MultiVersity Housing Partners has acquired Union on 5th, a 94-bed student housing community located near Duquesne University and the University of Pittsburgh, for an undisclosed price. The property features 35 fully furnished units in two- and three-bedroom floor plans. Renovations are planned for the property and will include a redesign of the lobby, the relocation of the office and leasing area, the addition of study space, hallway renovations, the construction of additional beds and the addition of a new package locker system. MultiVersity Property Management will oversee renovations and has been tapped to manage the community. Ryan Lang, Brandon Buell and Jack Brett of NKF Student Housing represented MultiVersity in the transaction. The seller was undisclosed.
BLUE BELL, PA. — JLL has arranged the sale of a 123,087-square-foot office building in Blue Bell, a northern suburb of Philadelphia. Located at 518 Township Line Road, the building was completed in 2001 and renovated in 2019 with a new lobby, conference center, café and fitness center. At the time of sale, the property was 80 percent leased to six tenants including Jefferson Blue Bell Surgery. Doug Rodio, Brett Segal and Brett Grifo of JLL represented the seller, a partnership between Kairos Real Estate Partners and Artemis Real Estate Partners. The team also procured the buyer, Apex Financial Advisors.
EASTON, PA. — Domino’s Pizza has signed a 1,300-square-foot retail lease in Easton, approximately 70 miles north of Philadelphia. Located at 3011 William Penn Highway in William Penn Plaza shopping center, the retail space has been vacant for the last four years. Other tenants include Weis Supermarket, GameStop and several other retail businesses and restaurants. The new lease for the 1,300-square-foot space carries a 10-year initial term. The opening is slated for late spring or early summer 2020, in accordance with timelines established by the state regarding COVID-19. Seth Lacey and Scott Horner of Colliers International represented the landlord in the lease negotiations.