BOSTON — Nauset Construction has started construction on a mixed-use project at Ten Essex St. in Cambridge, Mass., that will transform a surface parking lot into a transit-oriented five-story development with 46 apartments and 3,000 square feet of retail space. The project is being built by Nauset for owner 3MJ Realty. Designed by Golden Architects of Quincy, Perkins Eastman and Mark Boyes-Watson Architects, the project is located directly on the Central Square Red Line. Amenities will include a rooftop patio and second-floor deck, bike storage, a green roof terrace and balconies in several of the units. Café Nero and H Mart, an Asian-inspired supermarket, will anchor the ground floor. Nauset previously converted the Holmes building in Central Square from offices to apartments in 2013. The project is slated for completion in January 2019.
Mixed-Use
WILLIAMSBURG, VA. — Broad Street Realty has broken ground on Midtown Row, a mixed-use redevelopment in Williamsburg. The Bethesda, Md.-based firm is transforming Williamsburg Shopping Center and the adjoining Monticello Shopping Center, which it acquired in 2017 for $13.3 million and $4.2 million, respectively. The project will include ground up construction, as well as renovations. At full build-out, Midtown Row will feature 233,047 square feet of retail, including 56,243 square feet of new retail; up to 628 apartment units; 6,319 square feet of office space; and a $3 million streetscape improvement, developed in partnership with the City of Williamsburg. Earth Fare is the first tenant to break ground at the former Monticello Shopping Center. The Fletcher, N.C.-based organic grocer is expected to open this June or July. Ace Peninsula Hardware, a division of Ace Hardware, will relocate within Midtown Row by the fall. Other restaurants and businesses that already exist in the shopping center, including Sal’s by Victor, the ABC Store and Food Lion, plan to remain in the new development, according to local media reports. Broad Street Realty will deliver Midtown Row in phases between this year and 2020.
SummerHill Apartment Communities Receives Approval for Mixed-Use Project in South San Francisco
by Amy Works
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, CALIF. — The City Council of South San Francisco has approved SummerHill Apartment Communities’ plans for a mixed-use community at 988 El Camino Real in South San Francisco. Serving as the gateway to the city’s El Camino Real/Chestnut Area, the development is located across from the future site of the Community Civic Campus, adjacent to Centennial Way Trail and near the Bay Area Rapid Transit station. KTGY Architecture + Planning designed the six-story project featuring 172 apartments ranging in size from studios to two-bedroom units and 11,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space. On-site amenities will include a lounge, fitness studio, bike hub, dog park, club room, two resort-style courtyards with spa, fire pits, outdoor kitchen and dining areas, lounge areas, and spur trail connecting to Centennial Way Trail. Additionally, the project will feature commercial and visitor parking at the ground level, a 212-space underground parking garage for residents, 130 bike parking spaces and electric vehicle charging stations.
MINNEAPOLIS — Minnesota-based Cub Foods Inc. will be opening a 46,000-square-foot grocery store in the Longfellow neighborhood of Minneapolis. The store will anchor a five-story, 148-unit apartment development slated to open in spring 2019. The new Cub will feature a large deli area with made-to-order meals, a popcorn shop, produce section, floral gift space and pharmacy. An outdoor seating area will include bicycle parking and a walk-up window serving coffee, ice cream and cookie sandwiches. Oppidan Investment Co. is developing the apartment.
AUSTIN, TEXAS — Cambrian Development and Austin-based Bercy Chen Studios will develop Shady Lane Creative Studios, a mixed-use property in east Austin that will include 47,723 square feet of office space, 7,714 square feet of ground-floor retail space and a 9,000-square-foot central courtyard. The project carries a price tag of roughly $13 million, according to the Austin Business Journal. The property will connect to Govalle Park, as well as bike trails and a proposed commuter rail line. A timeline for construction has not yet been established.
MRC Provides $37.5M Loan for Mixed-Use Development Site, Commercial Buildings in Queens
by Amy Works
NEW YORK CITY – Madison Realty Capital (MRC) has provided a $37.5 million first mortgage loan collateralized by a mixed-use development site and two adjacent commercial buildings in the Ridgewood neighborhood of Queens. The borrower, AB Capstone, used the loan proceeds to buy out an existing partner, complete the acquisition of the two commercial properties, pay off previous financing on the development site and fund construction of the new building’s foundation. Located along Myrtle Avenue, St. Nicholas Avenue and Palmetto Street, the proposed development will feature a 17-story, 234,623-square-foot mixed-use building containing 129 residential units, 90,000 square feet of commercial space, 3,300 square feet of community facility space and 352 parking spaces. The two adjacent commercial buildings, totaling 12,170 square feet of space, are currently occupied by retail, office and medical office users.
NEW YORK CITY – Cushman & Wakefield has arranged the sale of a mixed-use property located at 217 E. Third St. in Manhattan’s East Village neighborhood. An undisclosed buyer acquired the property from the estate of Michael Mendez for $5.1 million. The mixed-use property consists of a vacant turn-key restaurant space on the ground floor and three free-market, floor-through apartments. The property is approximately 4,160 square feet above grade, not including a one-story structure situated at the rear of the site and separated by a small courtyard area. Additionally, the property includes 4,700 square feet of air rights and a useable basement that houses mechanicals and a storage area. Michael DeCheser of Cushman & Wakefield represented the seller in the transaction.
WOBURN, MASS. – NKF and Cushman & Wakefield have arranged the sale of Montvale Hill, a development parcel in Woburn, a suburb of Boston. Leggat McCall Properties acquired the development opportunity from Kraft Heinz for an undisclosed price. The development site can accommodate users from 300,000 square feet to 700,000 square feet. Torin Taylor, Justin Smith and Robert Griffin of NKF, along with Christopher Porter of Cushman & Wakefield, represented the seller in the deal.
LOUISVILLE, KY. — Omni Hotels & Resorts has opened the 612-room Omni Louisville Hotel in downtown Louisville. The project created roughly 400 permanent jobs and represents a $300 million investment by Omni Hotels & Resorts and the metro Louisville government. The hotel features dining concepts including the Library Bar, The Water Co. and Texas-based Bob’s Steak & Chop House. The hotel is also home to Falls City Market, an urban market and food hall that offers food, beverages and grocery staples; Pin + Proof, a speakeasy with four professional bowling lanes; and Lewis + Louis, a bourbon retail and tasting room. Hotel amenities include a rooftop pool, fitness center, spa, local art gallery and 70,000 square feet of meeting and event space. Atop the hotel, 225 one- and two-bedroom apartment units are available for preleasing and are expected to open in May.
ATLANTA — Dine-in theater concept iPic Theaters will open its first Georgia location at Midtown Atlanta’s Colony Square, a mixed-use destination under redevelopment by North American Properties. Located at the corner of Peachtree and 14th streets, Colony Square was originally built in 1968. Upon completion, the reimagined development will include 260,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space, 262 apartment units, 940,000 square feet of office space, a 466-room hotel and community gathering spaces. The new iPic Theater will operate nine auditoriums seating between 40 and 60, alongside a 6,700-square-foot restaurant/bar. In addition to traditional movies, the theater will feature live shows including magic, comedy and gaming competitions. iPic Theater is expected to open at Colony Square in 2020.