LAS VEGAS — At the September meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC), the Federal Reserve lowered the federal funds rate by 50 basis points, which is the first easing of monetary policy in four years. This move lowered the short-term interest rate to a target range of 4.75 to 5 percent. Elevated borrowing costs have stifled commercial real estate transaction volumes the past couple years as buyers and sellers found that values were a moving target. Now with a reduction in interest rates, many real estate professionals expect transaction volume to rebound at least moderately. “In 2025, we expect lower interest rates will reduce borrowing costs, aid in price discovery and ultimately encourage an uptick in [commercial real estate] transactions,” said Angela Cain, global CEO of the Urban Land Institute (ULI). Cain’s comments came in a prepared statement to summarize the findings of Emerging Trends in Real Estate 2025, an annual report jointly produced by PwC US and ULI. The report was published in conjunction with ULI’s Fall Meeting, which is taking place this week at Resort World Las Vegas. Cain said that the real estate professionals surveyed for the report relayed that sentiment is improving, though many remain cautious. …
Hospitality
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KANSAS CITY, MO. — The Woodspring Suites Hotel has opened at the southwest corner of I-29 and 64th Street in Kansas City. The four-story, 49,000-square-foot hotel is situated on two acres within the Tremont Square East development near the Kansas City International Airport. Philip Goforth, Omid Shahbazian and Todd Kobayashi, partners of Genesis Construction Management LLC, led the development of the property. Block & Co. Inc. Realtors Development & Construction Management LLC supervised the hotel development. David Block and Tony DeTommaso of Block & Co. negotiated the hotel sale on behalf of ownership.
CLAYTON, MO. — Koplar Properties, Homebase Partners, Eagle Realty and Concord Hospitality Enterprises have opened the AC Hotel Clayton in the St. Louis suburb of Clayton. The $50 million project rises 11 stories with 207 rooms. The property features the AC Lounge and AC Kitchen along with High Bar Clayton, the area’s first rooftop bar. Concord Hospitality Enterprises manages the property. The project was built on the site of the former headquarters of the Clayton Police Department at 227 S. Central Ave. The city began seeking a way to repurpose the site in 2011. The hotel was proposed in 2018, and Midas Construction broke ground on the property in September 2022. Designed by DLR Group, the property features a fitness center and 3,000 square feet of top-floor meeting space.
BD Hotels Secures $75M Construction Financing for Hotel at Nora District in West Palm Beach
by John Nelson
WEST PALM BEACH, FLA. — BD Hotels has secured a $75 million construction loan for The Nora Hotel, a 201-room hotel to be developed within the Nora District mixed-use project in West Palm Beach. Metropolitan Commercial Bank provided the financing, which Steven Klein and Mark Fisher of JLL arranged on behalf of the borrower. Developed in partnership with NDT Development, Place Projects and Wheelock Street Capital, the property will feature Pastis West Palm Beach as a ground-floor restaurant, and STARR Restaurants will operate the hotel’s rooftop restaurant and lounge, as well as the hotel’s in-room dining service. A construction timeline for the hotel was not disclosed. Phase 1 of the Nora District broke ground in June 2023 and will feature 150,000 square feet of retail, office and hospitality space. Confirmed retailers at the project include Loco Taqueria & Oyster Bar, H&H Bagels, Van Leeuwen Ice Cream, The Garret Group, Juliana’s Pizza, Celis Juice Bar and Café, Del Mar Mediterranean Restaurant, Sana Skin Studio, Mint, The Spot Barbershop, [solidcore] and Sunday Motor Co.
Frampton Begins Construction on 100-Room Residence Inn Hotel in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina
by John Nelson
MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. — Frampton Construction Co. has broken ground on a new, 100-room hotel in Mount Pleasant. Frampton is serving as the general contractor on behalf of the developer, Bennett Hospitality, which will operate the property as Residence Inn. Upon completion, the hotel will total 82,000 square feet across five stories. The Residence Inn will be situated within the five-phase, $500 million Patriots Annex development located on the east side of Charleston Harbor and will be within walking distance of Patriots Point Soccer Stadium, the College of Charleston Baseball Stadium x Tennis Center, the Patriots Point Links golf course and the Patriots Point Naval and U.S. /Maritime Museum. The Residence Inn hotel will feature a fitness center, pool, meeting rooms and dining and bar areas. The project team includes Winford Lindsay Architect and civil engineer Seamon Whiteside. Completion of the hotel is scheduled for 2026.
DALLAS — Locally based hospitality investment and management firm NewcrestImage has acquired the 296-room Beeman Hotel in the Highland Park area of Dallas. The nine-story hotel was renovated in 2021 and houses an indoor pool, fitness center, 12,000 square feet of meeting and event space, coffee shop, video game lounge and an onsite barbeque restaurant. The seller and sales price were not disclosed. NewcrestImage has tapped Dallas-based Coury Hospitality to manage the property.
NORTH OLMSTED, OHIO — Marcus & Millichap Capital Corp. (MMCC) has secured an $8.5 million CMBS loan for the refinancing of the Hampton Inn by Hilton North Olmsted Cleveland Airport hotel in North Olmsted, a southwest suburb of Cleveland. Built in 2016, the 118-room property features a dining area, business center, meeting space, fitness center and indoor pool. Pete Fehlman and Jake Marshall of MMCC arranged the loan on behalf of the borrower, Riley Hotel Group. The five-year loan features interest-only payments for the full term, a fixed interest rate of 6.91 percent and a 70 percent loan-to-cost ratio.
NEWTOWN SQUARE, PA. — Locally based investment firm Equus Capital Partners has completed a 140-room hotel in Newtown Square, a western suburb of Philadelphia, that is operated under the AC by Marriott brand. The site of the five-story building is located within the 218-acre Ellis Preserve master-planned community and was formerly home to the Charles Ellis School for fatherless girls. Amenities include 2,200 square feet of meeting and event space, a daytime café that turns into a nighttime lounge and a 24-hour fitness center. Gulph Creek Hotels manages the property.
CARLSBAD, CALIF. — Berkadia has arranged $92.5 million in refinancing for two hotels in Carlsbad — Cape Rey Carlsbad Beach, a Hilton Resort & Spa and Hilton Garden Inn Carlsbad Beach. Scott Hall and Aaron Lapping of Berkadia Hotels & Hospitality secured the loan through MetLife Investment Management on behalf of the borrower, California-based Wave Crest Hotels and Resorts. The five-year loan features a half-term interest-only provision and a 65 percent loan-to-value ratio. The 215-key Cape Rey Carlsbad Beach and the 161-key Hilton Garden Inn Carlsbad Beach both offer access to beaches, shopping, golf, Legoland and the Flower Fields. The hotels feature ocean views, outdoor pool areas and meeting and event venues.
BELGRADE, MONT. — Rimrock Cos. has developed the first Extended Stay America-branded hotel in Montana. Located at 101 Abby St. in Belgrade, the four-story Extended Stay America Premier Suites Belgrade – Bozeman – Yellowstone Airport offers 124 guest rooms and convenient access to the area’s top attractions and businesses. The hotel features free Wi-Fi, complimentary breakfast, premium cable, a 24-hour fitness room, on-site guest laundry, a dedicated pet area, and a grill and picnic area, as well as the Extended Stay America Premier Suites’ signature lobby with vending options. Each suite includes signature bedding, recliner, workspace and a fully equipped kitchen with a full-size refrigerator, microwaves, stovetops, cookware, utensils and dishes. Hotel Management & Consulting will manage the hotel.