WARWICK, R.I. — MCR Development has acquired the Hilton Garden Inn Providence Airport/Warwick in Warwick. The price was not disclosed. The 160-room hotel opened in 2005 and is located at Rhode Island’s T.F. Green International Airport, which serves 4 million passengers annually. Amenities at the hotel include a fitness center, indoor pool, 24-hour convenience store, free airport shuttle and a connection to the Iron Works Tavern, a community bar housed in the historic 1867 R.I. Malleable Iron Works Factory building. The seller was not disclosed.
The Rhode Island retail market has seen a considerable level of activity over the last year that presents promising signs of a strengthening economy and an improving property market. Generally speaking, each submarket has seen positive absorption of retail space, with the new concepts entering the market for the first time, as well as existing operators further expanding their footprints and market share. From street retail to lifestyle and big-box centers, each class has seen significant activity that represents a much healthier retail climate than popular opinion and media reporting might suggest. Some specific transactions are worth noting. Garden City Center in Cranston continues to outperform as the dominant outdoor shopping destination in the greater Providence market. This past year, The Wilder Companies built an approximately 29,800-square-foot addition at Garden City, which allowed them to bring Boston favorites Legal C Bar and Tavern in the Square to town. These are the first Rhode Island locations for both operators, which points to the strength of the local Rhode Island economy as well as the faith tenants have in the long-term viability of the best retail projects. Wilder was also able to bring The Simple Greek, Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza, Z Gallerie …
WOONSOCKET, R.I. — Out of the Box Ventures, a subsidiary of Lionheart Capital, has acquired Walnut Hill Plaza in Woonsocket for an undisclosed price. The seller was undisclosed. The 300,000-square-foot shopping center is located at 1500 Diamond Hill Road and anchored by Aero Trampoline, Planet Fitness, and Walnut Hill Bowl. Other tenants include Olympia Sports, Weight Watchers, Payless Shoe Source, GameStop and T-Mobile. Walnut Hill Plaza is the first acquisition in Rhode Island for Miami-based Lionheart Capital.
NEWPORT, R.I. — E4H Environments for Health Architecture has started a $12.5 million renovation on the emergency department of Newport Hospital in Newport. The five-phase renovation and expansion is slated for completion in September 2019. Once completed, the new 21,000-square-foot emergency department will provide 35 total treatment areas including a rapid treatment area with six exam rooms. Other features of the renovated emergency department will include an open reception desk and waiting area, expanded staff lounge and conference room and energy-efficient LED lighting with dimming controls for occupants.
The office sector in Rhode Island’s commercial real estate market has seen a strong carryover and positive momentum from 2017, into 2018, which we continue to enjoy today. The market has seen positive absorption in most areas and with little speculative development on the horizon, lease rates are being affected accordingly. It’s safe to say, it is no longer a Tenant’s market. In Providence, vacancy rates are hovering in the 12 percent range, down from 16.5 percent just a few years ago. Recent projects include the redevelopment of South Street Landing, a $230 million dollar renovation of the former Narragansett Electric power station which is now home to the URI/CCRI Nursing School as well as some of the administrative offices of Brown University. Just a block away, construction is underway for the 191,000-square-foot Providence Innovation Center. This will be occupied by the Brown University School of Professional Studies, Johnson & Johnson and the Cambridge Innovation Center. The redevelopment of 75 Fountain Street, a 160,000-square-foot building, once fully occupied by the Providence Journal, has also enjoyed positive absorption. The redevelopment by Nordblom Company and Cornish Associates has attracted companies such as Tufts Healthcare, GE Digital and Virgin Pulse to join the Providence …
EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. — CBRE New England has brokered the $3.4 million sale of a single-story, 50,664-square-foot office building in East Providence. Located on nearly eight acres at 20 Risho Ave., the property includes 283 parking spaces. John Cregan of CBRE represented the seller, the Maurice Mizrahi and Sophie Mizrahi Trust, in the transaction. Fox Paw Properties purchased the property. Currently two tenants occupy 13,164 square feet at the building. The buyer plans to renovate the property and occupy the remaining space.
NORTH PROVIDENCE, R.I. — CBRE has brokered the $1.7 million sale of 1635 Mineral Spring Ave., a two-story, 20,694-square-foot medical office facility in North Providence. The property, which is 80 percent leased, was built in 1976 and renovated in 2016. Located on a two-acre lot, the property includes 82 parking spaces. John Cregan of CBRE represented the undisclosed seller in the transaction. The buyer was Arkland LLC.
PAWTUCKET, R.I. — WinnCos. and Omni Development Corp. have broken ground on a $42 million redevelopment of Prospect Heights Apartments, an affordable housing property in Pawtucket. Built in 1942, Prospect Heights qualified for Federal Historic Tax Credits after being placed on the National Register of Historic Places in December 2016. The project will rehabilitate 292 units spread across 35 buildings and add 20 new units of housing on the 21-acre site. A joint venture between WinnDevelopment and Omni Development acquired the ground lease for the property from the Pawtucket Housing Authority in June 2017. Rhode Island Housing and Mortgage Finance Corp. provided tax-exempt bond financing for the construction and permanent loans, the Low Income Housing Tax Credits and separate bridge financing for the project.
RICHMOND, R.I. — HFF has negotiated the sale of 22 Kingstown Road, a 60,488-square-foot shopping center in Richmond. The property includes a Super Stop & Shop grocery store, Super Stop & Shop Fuel Center and a 5,000-square-foot Anytime Fitness. HFF represented the undisclosed seller in the transaction and procured the institutional buyer. The shopping center serves the surrounding communities of Narragansett, Block Island and Charlestown.
NEWPORT, R.I. — NKF Capital Markets has orchestrated the sale of the Newport Grand Casino in Newport for $10.1 million. NKF represented the seller, Twin River Management Group, in the transaction. The buyer was Carpionato Group. Initially serving as an arena for jai alai, Newport Grand added slot machines in 1992 and was renovated in 2008 to add space for a full casino. The property will continue to operate as the Newport Grand Casino until the gaming facility relocates to Tiverton, Rhode Island later this year. The buyer plans to redevelop the 23.5-acre site into a mixed-use project.