Office

ATLANTA — NCR Corp. (NYSE: NCR), an ATM maker and financial tech firm, and Cousins Properties have opened NCR’s two-tower global office campus in Midtown Atlanta. Development costs comprising both private and public investment are estimated at $450 million. The 750,000-square-foot development is situated at the corner of 8th and Spring streets and is expected to house roughly 5,000 employees, who will begin moving into the first tower today, with the second tower opening later this year. “This campus symbolizes the power of reinvention, says Bill Nuti, chairman and CEO of NCR, which moved its headquarters from nearby Duluth in Gwinnett County. “Our move to Midtown is part of our vision for transforming Atlanta into the Silicon Valley of the East.” NCR and Cousins Properties (NYSE: CUZ) entered a long-term, build-to-suit lease for the campus, which will be owned by Cousins. Construction of the first 20-story tower began in November 2015, and in September 2016 NCR announced it would expand the campus and build a second 14-story tower. “We are proud to have helped NCR achieve its vision for a new cutting-edge corporate headquarters in Midtown,” says Larry Gellerstedt, chairman of the board and CEO of Atlanta-based Cousins Properties. “This …

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On the surface, the Washington, D.C., metropolitan office market has shown little change over the past five years. But dig a little deeper, and some interesting trends emerge. Metro D.C.’s office market totaled 377 million square feet as of the third quarter of 2017 and recorded a vacancy rate of just under 15 percent — inclusive of sublease space — and cumulative net absorption of 600,000 square feet year-to-date. The market has demonstrated little change in major market indicators over the last five years. Notably, three of the last five years (2012 to 2016) recorded negative absorption on a regionwide basis — averaging 82,000 square feet annually. Overall vacancy levels have thus far been held in check in part due to vacant buildings being removed from inventory for renovation and retrofitting or for conversion from office to other uses such as schools and residential. Nevertheless, core submarkets and micro-markets are benefitting from occupancy growth and rental rate increases, with tenants demonstrating a decided preference for amenity-rich areas. Tenant Preferences Regionally, the office segment is characterized by flight to quality and tenant-leaning leasing conditions. Tenants continue to favor efficient space design. They’re relying more heavily on building amenities such as conference …

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ROSSLYN, VA. — Washington REIT plans to acquire Arlington Tower, a 398,000-square-foot office tower in Rossyln, less than three miles southwest of Washington, D.C., for $250 million. The name of the seller was not disclosed. Washington REIT is expected to close on the 19-story tower in the first quarter. Located at 1300 N. 17th St., Arlington Tower is situated two blocks from the Rosslyn Metrorail station, offering access to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, the Pentagon and the national capital area. Over the past five years, the building underwent $16 million in renovations, including the addition of a private rooftop deck, fitness center, updated onsite retail amenities, a landscaped outdoor plaza, updated lobby and improved five-level underground parking. Washington REIT plans to further enhance the building with pre-built spec suite options, allowing small and mid-size tenants the option to move in quickly. At the time of sale Arlington Tower was leased to tenants including B. Riley FBR, Raytheon/BBR Technologies, Promontory Interfinancial Network, Pepco, the National Electrical Manufacturers Association and Graham Holdings Co. Carol Weld King and David Reina of Morris, Manning & Martin LLP represented Washington REIT in the acquisition.

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LONGMONT, COLO. — Broe Real Estate Group has purchased a 461,000-square-foot office/lab facility in Longmont, approximately 15 miles northeast of Boulder. The 24-acre business campus was built in 1989. The property was renovated and expanded in 2001 to facilitate a long-term lease with Maxtor Corp. (now Seagate Technology). Seagate vacated the property in 2007, but continued to make lease payments until the expiration of its lease in 2016. Shortly thereafter, the property was transferred through a deed in lieu of foreclosure transaction to a special servicer.

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DENVER — A joint venture between Harbert Management Corporation and Bancroft Capital has obtained a $44.6 million loan to refinance Denver Highlands, a 359,919-square-foot office property in Denver. The asset is located at 10375 and 10065 E. Harvard Ave. The JV acquired the property in 2014 and repositioned the property. Renovations included exterior building improvements, landscaping, renovated lobbies and common areas, new elevators and tenant amenity space. Proceeds will be used to pay off the existing loan and fund leasing costs to bring the property to stabilization. Dennis Williams of NorthMarq Capital arranged the three-year, interest-only loan. Funds were provided by Bedrock Capital.

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FAIRFAX, VA. — Avison Young has arranged the sale of Merrifield-Fairfax Medical Campus, a 119,788-square-foot medical office building located at 3023 Hamaker Court in Fairfax, roughly 20 miles west of Washington, D.C. Grosvenor Americas Inc. sold the asset for $62.5 million to Harrison Street Real Estate, according to the Washington Business Journal. Jim Kornick, Chip Ryan, Mike Wilson, Erik Foster and Mark Johnson of Avison Young arranged the transaction. Situated adjacent to the Inova Fairfax Hospital campus, the building was 84.5 percent leased at the time of sale to tenants including Children’s National Health System and Pediatric Specialists of Virginia, a venture between Children’s and Inova. In addition, the transaction included a 120,000-square-foot adjacent site that has been approved for a second phase of development.

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ATLANTA — ATPS Realty Partners, a joint venture between Israel-based Sage Equities and Atlanta-based Anchor Capital Partners, has acquired Live Oak Square, a 201,488-square-foot office building in Atlanta’s Buckhead district. The Atlanta Business Chronicle reports HighBrook Investors sold the asset for approximately $50 million. Justin Parsonnet, Jay O’Meara, Will Yowell and Ryan Reeth of of CBRE arranged the transaction on behalf of the seller. The 10-story building is located at the intersection of Peachtree and Lenox roads, across the street from both Lenox Square mall and Phipps Plaza and within walking distance of the Lenox MARTA Station. The University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business anchors the building, which was 74 percent leased at the time of sale to tenants including Merchant E-Solutions, MRI Software and The Bucket Shop Café. Kevin Lott and Claire Ross of JLL will oversee the building’s leasing assignment, and JLL’s Stacy Goldworn will manage the property.

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MILWAUKEE — Colliers International has brokered the sale of 310 W. Wisconsin Avenue in Milwaukee for an undisclosed price. The 578,000-square-foot office complex is the third largest multi-tenant, stand-alone office complex in the state of Wisconsin, according to Colliers. Built in 1984, the blue glass building features two office towers connected by an atrium that reaches 14 stories high. The property is situated on the planned streetcar path and is walking distance to the new Bucks arena currently under construction and the proposed Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra development. Major tenants at the property include Captel, Previant Law, the General Services Administration, 540 ESPN and the Capital Grille. Tom Shepherd and Dan Wroblewski of Colliers represented the seller, RAIT Reuss Federal Plaza LLC. Time Equities Inc. purchased the complex and an attached 606-stall parking deck.

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EDEN PRAIRIE, MINN. — CBRE Capital Markets has arranged the sale of the Southwest Office/Tech portfolio in Eden Prairie, a southwestern suburb of Minneapolis, for an undisclosed price. The portfolio consists of three flex office buildings totaling 166,650 square feet: Edenvale Executive Center A & B and Valley Gate North. The buildings were constructed between 1986 and 1987. The portfolio is currently 82 percent occupied. Judd Welliver, Ryan Watts, Sonja Dusil and Tom Holtz of CBRE represented the undisclosed seller. Red Tail Acquisitions, a private real estate investment firm based in Irvine, Calif., purchased the portfolio.

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BEVERLY HILLS, CALIF. — CIM Commercial Trust Corp. (NASDAQ: CMCT), a REIT that owns and manages Class A office assets, has signed a definitive agreement to purchase a nine-story office building located at 9460 Wilshire Blvd. in the Golden Triangle area of Beverly Hills. The sales price was undisclosed, but multiple media outlets are reporting the Dallas-based REIT bought the Class A office building from Beverly Union Co. for approximately $130 million. The acquisition is expected to close this quarter. “9460 Wilshire is in a highly desirable and high-barrier-to-entry office market. It is a strong addition to CIM Commercial Trust’s portfolio,” says Charles Garner, CEO of CIM Commercial Trust. “The property has not changed ownership in almost 40 years, and is positioned for growth by tapping CIM’s operational expertise and long-term experience in the Los Angeles market.” The 97,000-square-foot office building was built in 1959 and last renovated in 2008. The building is located at the corner of Wilshire Boulevard and Beverly Drive, adjacent to the Four Seasons Beverly Wilshire Hotel and one block from the future Metro Purple Line Wilshire/Rodeo Station. Beverly Hills is situated within the Los Angeles West office submarket, which had a vacancy rate of 12.7 …

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