BOULDER, COLO. — UniversityParent has launched Best for Parents, a certification tool created to help parents determine which student housing options meet their priorities, and to allow businesses providing student housing to express their value to these stakeholders in housing decisions. Best for Parents certification takes into account the aspects of housing that matter most to parents, such as safety, convenience, student-friendly features, and professional, accessible management and maintenance. Along with providing financial input, parents are a source of support and advice to students. The Best for Parents certification allows parents to make well-informed suggestions regarding their student’s housing. Housing facilities that earn the Best for Parents label receive a parent page on the UniversityParent site outlining the housing company’s answers to the top parent questions, recognition as a Best for Parents facility in the UniversityParent directory, and a plaque and window cling for display.
Philadelphia’s apartment market remains bright as increasing employment fosters stable economic growth, which in turn is bolstering apartment operations. Employers in the metro, which is known as the center of economic activity in Pennsylvania, will increase hiring 1.2 percent this year, adding 35,000 jobs. In 2014, new jobs increased 1.6 percent and the unemployment rate decreased 130 basis points. Total employment is on the upswing, recovering nearly all of the jobs lost during the recession. The favorable employment conditions are supporting demand for apartments and swiftly improving performance throughout the metro, prompting developers to start new multifamily projects. Builders in Philadelphia are focusing their attention in Center City, which includes the central business district and central neighborhoods of Philadelphia, where nearly 25 percent of this year’s deliveries will be placed into service. Developers are on track to complete 3,600 units in 2015, increasing total apartment inventory 1.4 percent. Last year 2,400 rentals were delivered. Part of the reason that demand is especially strong in Philadelphia can be attributed to the increasing popularity of living in the urban core among young professionals and baby boomers. The lack of developable in-fill locations in the area is prompting developers to convert office buildings …
COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS — Skanska USA has been awarded a $21 million contract with Texas A&M University to oversee the construction of the Agriculture & Life Science Building 4. The project broke ground on Nov. 13 and it will be completed in February 2017. The five-story, 80,000-square-foot building will house the university’s Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences. The first three floors will include offices, conference rooms and dry work areas. The top two floors will include teaching and wet research laboratories. Kirskey Architecture is project architect.
NEW YORK CITY — A partnership between Adam America, Slate Property Group and China Vanke has acquired a development site, located at 10 Nevins in downtown Brooklyn, for $50 million. The site is approved for plans to develop a mixed-used project with 184 residential units and ground-floor retail space. Ofer Cohen and Melissa Warren of TerraCRG were the sole brokers in the transaction. The name of the seller was not released.
NEWNAN, GA. — The RADCO Cos. has purchased Columns at White Oak, a 561-unit apartment community located in the Atlanta suburb of Newnan. Atlanta-based RADCO purchased the property from ECI Group for $53 million. Cushman & Wakefield brokered the transaction. RADCO has renamed the project Creekside at White Oaks. The property includes three swimming pools, two large fitness centers, a private fishing lake, dog and play parks, grilling and gathering areas, balconies and garages. RADCO financed the acquisition with private capital and financing from CIBC Bank. Since August 2011, the company has raised $330 million of private capital to fund its purchases. RADCO will invest about $5.5 million to renovate the community’s clubhouse, leasing center, fitness center and pool deck. The Atlanta-based firm will also build a new playground, upgrade the interior unit finishes and enhance the property’s landscaping. RADCO’s portfolio now includes 46 multifamily assets with three additional properties under contract set to close by the end of December.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — CAS Riegler Cos. has completed construction on HOLM, a 38-unit luxury apartment community located at 1550 11th St. N.W. in Washington, D.C.’s Logan Circle neighborhood. The four-story property includes a rooftop deck, approximately 3,000 square feet of street-level retail space, catering kitchen, below-grade parking garage, private courtyard and bike storage. This new apartment community is pet-friendly and is situated right across the street from Shaw Dog Park and four blocks for a Metrorail station. Monthly rental prices start at $2,250 for one-bedroom apartments and $3,200 for two-bedroom units; penthouse apartments range from $4,200 for a one-bedroom unit to more than $7,500 for a three-bedroom residence.
PRAIRIEVILLE, LA. — Greystone has provided a $30.6 million construction loan for Manchac Lake Apartments, a 272-unit luxury multifamily community that is set to be built in Prairieville. Donny Rosenberg of Greystone originated the FHA-insured loan on behalf of the borrower, Noland McKay Manchac LP. The loan features a 40-year term following the initial construction period. Upon completion, the property will feature a business center, clubhouse with fitness center, indoor sport court, beach approach pool and detached garages.
MADERA, CALIF. — Lancaster Pollard has arranged the refinancing of an $11.3 million bridge loan into a $13.3 million, non-recourse FHA permanent loan for Cedar Creek Senior Living, a 112-unit independent living, assisted living and memory care community in Madera, a small town between San Francisco and Los Angeles. Woodset Partners LLC owns the property, which Integral Senior Living operates. The property opened in 2005 and in 2010 was the winner of the Assisted Living Federation of America’s (ALFA) Best of the Best Award. Lancaster originally arranged the bridge loan in 2013 to ensure Woodset retained ownership of the community. The intent was to refinance the loan into permanent financing through FHA. The new loan structure removed many covenants, paid off the $11.3 million bridge loan and $900,000 in mezzanine debt, and provides debt service savings. In addition, the financing funds repairs to the property and a $445,000 deposit to the replacement reserve account. Jason Dopoulos led the transaction for Lancaster Pollard.
SAN MARCOS, CALIF. — Capstone On-Campus Management (COCM) has been selected to assume management of University Village Apartments and The QUAD student housing communities, both serving students on the campus of California State University San Marcos (CSUSM). The two student communities provide housing for a total of 1,527 CSUSM students. University Village Apartments, providing 638 beds, is located directly on the CSUSM campus and is owned by an auxiliary organization of CSUSM. Living arrangements are two- and four-bedroom apartments, all fully furnished. The QUAD, providing 889 beds on a site adjoining the campus, is a privately owned, CSUSM-affiliated community. Living arrangements are private and shared bedrooms, within two-, three-, and four-bedroom apartments, all fully furnished.
HOUSTON — Holly Minter, David Schwarz and Tip Strickland of ARA Newmark represented a partnership between Invictus and Oak Coast Properties in the acquisition of Falls at Clear Lake Apartments in Houston. Minter, Schwarz and Strickland also closed an 80 percent loan-to-value, 10-year fixed rate loan through ARA Newmark’s Fannie Mae DUS platform. The Class B apartment community was built in 1983, features 400 units and offers one- and two-bedroom apartment homes located in the Clear Lake submarket.