ATLANTA — When it comes to creating a “connected Atlanta,” experts say the foundation is in building a connected community. At a Nov. 2 luncheon hosted by the Atlanta chapter of Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW Atlanta), representatives from Atlanta’s local transit authority, MARTA, and Dallas-based development firm KDC highlighted projects around the city all centered around a common theme: mass transit. “MARTA has five transit-oriented development (TOD) projects in various stages of development along the north and east rail lines,” said Debbie Frank, senior development project manager in MARTA’s office of TOD and Real Estate. “These developments are vibrant, pedestrian-friendly and generally integrated within our spaces.” The projects are part of MARTA’s larger goal to increase ridership, generate revenue and support both local community development and regional economic development. Each project will utilize underused parking lots for new commercial and residential development, which will include apartments, office space and retail. “We want to take a different approach to parking by reducing the number of parking spaces provided in our TOD projects,” said Frank. “A foundational principle of TOD is one that reflects the replacement of some car trips. Not all, but some, by taking the train, walking or biking.” …
Mixed-Use
MCKINNEY, TEXAS — Developer Shane Jordan will build Hub 121, a 22-acre mixed-use property that will be located within the Craig Ranch development in McKinney. The first phase of the project will deliver a 40,000-square-foot restaurant park with pedestrian walkways that connect to Independent Bank’s 400,000-square-foot headquarters and the development’s 2,500-unit residential community. Phase I will also deliver a 6,500-square-foot entertainment pavilion, 20,000 square feet of retail space and 287 residential units. Construction of Phase I will begin in January 2018, with the first restaurants scheduled to open in January 2019. Phase II will deliver a 200,000-square-foot office building, additional retail space and a hotel.
LINDON, UTAH — WI Commercial Properties (WICP), a developer based in Tampa, Fla., is building out a new master-planned campus in Lindon known as Mountain Technology Center. The $200 million development is situated about 12 miles north of Provo in Utah County. WICP has already invested over $80 million in the 55-acre development and will be investing another $120 million before the project’s completion. The campus sits west of the Pleasant Grove Boulevard freeway interchange and features unobstructed mountain views with lake views to the south. At full build-out, the mixed-use development will feature 650,000 square feet of Class A office and industrial space spread over 10 buildings, as well as a food court off Pleasant Grove Boulevard. The new components coming to the campus include Mountain Tech North, which comprises an 88,000-square-foot flex industrial facility known as Mountain Tech III and the new food court. Mountain Tech III will be the first building with 32-foot clear heights in Utah County, according to WICP. Mountain Tech South is planned on the south side of Pleasant Grove Boulevard. This phase will include two four-story office buildings and four office/warehouse hybrid facilities. Construction on Mountain Tech South is scheduled to begin in …
CHICAGO — Walker & Dunlop Inc. has arranged a $9.7 million loan for the refinancing of Portage Park in Chicago. Formerly a bank building, the mixed-use property now incorporates office and retail space. Situated on seven acres, the property features 60,500 square feet of rentable space and a 180-space parking lot. Tenants include Binny’s Beverage Depot, Retro Fitness and Immigration Lawyers PC. A portion of the vacant space is a historic theater that was formerly home to the Northwest Chicago Film Society, and will be preserved as a performing arts facility. Luke Erlandson, Jeff Robbins and Matt Ewig arranged the 10-year loan, which features a 30-year amortization schedule. Loan proceeds will be used to pay off an existing construction loan. Cui Properties was the borrower.
VIRGINIA BEACH, VA. — Williams-Sonoma and Pottery Barn have inked leases at the Town Center of Virginia Beach, a multi-phase mixed-use development in Virginia Beach. The homeware and home furnishings retailers will occupy a combined 18,000 square feet as part of the project’s sixth phase of development. A public-private partnership between the City of Virginia Beach and Virginia Beach-based Armada Hoffler Properties, Town Center is an ongoing development that started in 2000. The project spans 17 city blocks and features retail, dining, office space, residential units, hotels and entertainment venues. The two new retailers will be part of the latest addition to Town Center, which will include 39,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space, a 300-seat performing arts theater, an open-air public plaza and a pedestrian bridge. Williams-Sonoma and Pottery Barn are expected to open in spring 2018. Divaris Real Estate is handling retail leasing for Town Center, and S.L. Nusbaum is managing the project’s residential component.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — CBRE has arranged the $6.3 million sale of Monroe Business Park, a five-building, 54,200-square-foot mixed-use center in southeast Charlotte’s Oakhurst neighborhood. Matt Smith, Patrick Gildea and Grayson Hawkins of CBRE represented the seller, Nova Capital Partners, in the transaction. An investment group affiliated with Waters Inc. purchased the asset. At the time of sale, Monroe Business Park’s tenant roster included PPG Paints, IronTribe Fitness and Common Market.
ST. CHARLES, MO. — Cullinan Properties Ltd. has unveiled plans for the next phase of construction at Streets of St. Charles, which is located about 25 miles northwest of St. Louis. Phase II will include a 60,000-square-foot, three-story building designed to accommodate more retail and office tenants. Construction is slated to begin in spring 2018. The building, located at the northeast corner of Beale and Lombard streets, will incorporate 20,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space and 40,000 square feet of office space. Cullinan Properties will handle leasing efforts for the retail space, while Balke Brown Transwestern will market the office space. Streets of St. Charles, which opened in 2012, features tenants such as Prasino, Tucanos Brazilian Grill, Firebirds Wood Fired Grill, Leopard Boutique, Olivino Tasting Bar and Sole & Blues.
BAKERSFIELD, CALIF. — World Oil Corp. and Trammell Crow Co. have unveiled plans for Bakersfield Commons, a pedestrian-orientated, master-planned mixed-use community located in Bakersfield. The 260-acre project will feature office, retail, residential, recreational and industrial space. Construction is slated to begin in 2018, with the first development pads delivered in late 2018. The fully approved entitlements for the commons include 400,000 square feet of office, 300,000 square feet of retail, 280,000 square feet of light industrial, more than 1,000 residential units and a 200-bed hospital. Slated for delivery in 2019, Phase I will feature 220,000 square feet of retail, 120,000 square feet of Class A office space, 325 resort-style residential units, a 130-key national branded hotel and 2.2 miles of walking paths.
CHICAGO — The University of Illinois has unveiled plans to develop an interdisciplinary public-private research and innovation center known as the Discovery Partners Institute (DPI) in Chicago. The $1.2 billion project will be situated at The 78, a mixed-use development by Related Midwest. DPI will be developed on a donated portion of the 62-acre site bordered by Roosevelt Road, Clark Street, 16th Street and the Chicago River. The facility is the first step in the development of the Illinois Innovation Network (IIN), which will join businesses, public sector partners and research universities to focus on the study of computing and big data, food and agriculture and health and wellness. Led by the University of Illinois system, with its campuses in Champaign, Springfield and Chicago, DPI will bring together students, faculty and businesses. DPI will be operated through private donations, government support and partnerships with industry business. The size of the institute’s site at The 78 is still to be determined. A timetable for the opening is slated to be complete next year. At full operation, DPI is expected to have as many as 90 faculty members — sourced from the University of Illinois system’s three universities as well as partner …
FORSYTH COUNTY, GA. — RocaPoint Partners and The Georgetown Co. have unveiled plans to open Cherry Street Brewing at Halcyon, a 150-acre mixed-use project under development in south Forsyth County. The Cumming, Ga.-based brewery will open an 8,000-square-foot brewpub and beer garden in the center of Halcyon’s restaurant village. The brewpub will have a seasonal food menu and 16 Cherry Street beers on tap, as well as a new Halcyon-specific brew. The beer garden will feature communal tables, bar space and a stage for special events. Nick Tanner, Cherry Street owner and brewmaster, will own and operate the new brewpub alongside his sister, Alisa Tanner. Halcyon is slated to open in 2018. Upon completion, the development will feature more than 480,000 square feet of office and retail space, a movie theater, two hotels and 690 residential and seniors housing units.