The real estate environment in the Greater Portland region has been incredibly strong this year. On top of the favorable vacancy rates in the industrial, retail, and multifamily sectors, the office market vacancy in the region continues to dwindle, following the trend we’ve seen over the last five years. In a state with a geographic footprint that could nearly fit the rest of New England, the bulk of office inventory is concentrated in the southern region. Specifically, the supply is in the Greater Portland area, which comprises seven cities and towns. This region features just over 10.5 million square feet of Class A and Class B office space, with an additional 1.25 million square feet of medical space. Of that, 40 percent is located in downtown Portland. Portland is in the midst of a renaissance of sorts. Demand and desirability to live and work here, especially downtown, has grown significantly in recent years. We’ve become a “foodie” destination with a surge of new high-end restaurants and hotels. This coupled with beautiful water views and a unique way of life has attracted a younger demographic. Baby boomers and empty nesters are also relocating to this area from the suburbs. The movement …
WILLISTON, VT. — Cypress Equities has acquired Maple Tree Place, a mixed-use retail/office property located in Williston. Retail Properties of America sold the 488,975-square-foot property for $90 million. Developed between 2001 and 2005, Maple Tree Place is anchored by a variety of national and regional retailers including Dick’s Sporting Goods, Christmas Tree Shops, Best Buy, Shaw’s, Staples, Guitar Center and Majestic Cinemas. Jeffrey Dunne, David Gavin and Travis Langer of CBRE represented the seller and procured the buyer in the transaction.
HOUSTON — Method Architecture has completed an interior renovation of Level Office, located in downtown Houston’s Scanlan Building. Constructed in 1909, the Scanlan Building reaches 11 stories, situated at the intersection of Main and Preston streets. Purchased in late 2013 by Chicago-based Level Office, the three-story renovation project includes revitalizing office suites and common areas and establishing a co-working facility. Geared toward freelancers, entrepreneurs and small businesses, the suites offer an entry receptionist, card reader security and access to shared spaces including a common lounge, kitchen and conference facilities. Method Architecture preserved the building’s original marble and wood flooring and paired those elements with exposed ceilings, wrought iron columns and Edison bulb lighting. Burton Construction was the general contractor on the project.
YORBA LINDA, CALIF. — Savi Ranch Property Holdings has purchased Savi Tech Center, a 376,808-square-foot office/technology campus in Yorba Linda, for an undisclosed sum. The campus is located within the Savi Ranch business park at 22705-22745 Savi Ranch Parkway, about 40 miles south of downtown Los Angeles. The campus is fully leased to five tenants within the technology, healthcare and housing sectors. The seller, a joint venture between Hines and Oaktree Capital Management, previously invested $13 million to update the campus’ common areas, roof, HVAC systems, and interiors and exteriors. Jeffrey Cole, Jeff Chiate, Ed Hernandez and Rick Ellison of Cushman & Wakefield represented the sellers in the transaction.
DALLAS — Drever Capital Management has announced the new name for 1401 Elm St., a 50-story, 1.5 million-square-foot tower occupying an entire city block in the Dallas central business district. The building, originally the First National Bank of Dallas, will now be known as The Drever. The building is being redeveloped into a combination of residential, hotel, spa, retail, office and restaurants with an expected delivery date of 2018. The building’s entrance faces Elm Street and is bordered by Akard Street, Pacific Avenue and North Field Street. Project specifics include a planned 236-room hotel, 27 floors of multifamily with 348 residential rental units, office space, a spa and wellness center, restaurants and entertainment options. On-site amenities for The Drever will include an outdoor terrace rooftop deck, infinity pool, fire pits, fitness center, dog concierge, dog park and public art throughout the interior and exterior of the building. When completed, the eight-story base of the tower will include more than 27,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space, 44,000-square-feet of office space, the hotel, residents’ lobbies and a ballroom. A wraparound amenity deck with sightlines to surrounding buildings, including a pool, a spa and exercise room, will be on the ninth floor. …
TAMPA, FLA. — Cushman & Wakefield has acquired Taylor & Mathis of Florida LLC, a Tampa-based commercial real estate company specializing in agency leasing and property management. Over the past six years, Taylor & Mathis of Florida has developed more than 600,000 square feet of office and retail product valued in excess of $250 million. The firm currently manages and leases a portfolio of office and industrial properties totaling 12.5 million square feet for both private and institutional property owners. The acquisition makes Cushman & Wakefield the second largest property management firm in Florida. The company currently manages nearly 32 million square feet in the state. The Taylor & Mathis of Florida acquisition creates a combined portfolio of 41 million square feet, employing 270 property management professionals throughout Florida.
NEW YORK CITY — PGIM Realty Estate has acquired a 40 percent interest in Eleven Madison Avenue, a 2.3 million-square-foot office property in Midtown South, from SL Green Realty Corp. for $480 million. The new ownership joint venture is seeking a modification to the mortgage on the property. If the modification is not obtained within six months after the closing, SL Green may repurchase the sold interest from PGIM Real Estate. The partnership expects the modification to be granted during the fourth quarter of 2016. PGIM Real Estate has a one-year option to acquire an additional 9 percent stake in the venture at the same gross property valuation of $2.6 million. Darcy Stacom and William Shanahan of CBRE advised SL Green on the deal.
MT. LAUREL, N.J. — Four Springs Capital Trust has acquired a single-tenant office building located in Mt. Laurel. An undisclosed seller sold the property for $19.4 million. The 87,460-square-foot office building is home to the Southern New Jersey operations of Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, which serves approximately 3.8 million members. Four Springs Capital Trust’s portfolio now contains 44 properties, which are leased to 22 tenants, in located 20 states.
HOBOKEN, N.J. — Marsh & McLennan has renewed its long-term lease at Waterfront Corporate Center II in Hoboken. The global professional services firm will occupy 138,000 square feet of office space at the building for the next 15 years. David Falk, Andrew Sachs, Timothy Greiner and Hope Brodsky of Newmark Grubb Knight Frank represented the tenant, while Jeff Schotz and Peter Bronsnick provided in-house representation for the landlord, SJP Properties.
SAN ANTONIO — CBRE has arranged the sale of Northwest Atrium, a three-story, 93,540-square-foot office building in San Antonio. Austin-based Kennedy Wilson purchased the asset from San Antonio-based NWA Limited Partnership for an undisclosed price. Carrie Caesar, Todd Mills and Hunter Mills of CBRE’s San Antonio office represented the seller. The property, located at 11550 W. Interstate Highway 10 in the northwest San Antonio submarket, is adjacent to University Park, a 3.2-million-square-foot master-planned business park. The asset was 89 percent occupied at closing to tenants including Civil Engineering Consultants, Benefit Management and NovaTel.