The booming land market in north Texas reflects a convergence of economic and demographic trends resulting in a dramatic expansion of residential communities, new mixed-use developments and the transformation of retail centers across the region. The result is higher land values, shifting land uses and developers, planners and designers adapting to the evolving lifestyles of a new generation of workers. Demand for well-located land parcels across multiple property types is reaping handsome returns for landowners. The land market in Dallas/Fort Worth is experiencing strong transaction volume and record prices due to a range of factors. Developers are responding to strong housing demand by building new residential communities that are accessible to Dallas/Fort Worth employment centers. Multifamily construction continues as some 360 people move into the region daily, many not ready for home ownership. New mixed-use developments are catering to a steady stream of corporations relocating to the area and seeking work settings that provide live/work/eat/play environments. Neighborhood grocery stores and restaurants are multiplying to support growing demand, while regional malls are being repurposed as spending habits shift. These trends have played a major role in the growth of urban centers like Dallas’ central business district, Uptown Dallas and Fort Worth’s …
NEW YORK CITY — Oxford Properties Group and Crown Acquisitions has completed a 175,000-square-foot lease extension through 2035 with the National Basketball Association (NBA) at Olympic Tower, located at 646 Fifth Ave. in Midtown Manhattan. The property owners plan to significantly modernize the office property’s lobby and public space to deliver a more engaging, customer-focused experience. Adam Frazier of Oxford, along with Paul Amrich, Howard Fiddle, Neil King and Patrice Meagher of CBRE, represented the owners, while Mary Ann Tighe, Gregory Tosko, Andrew Sussman and Munish Viralam of CBRE represented the tenant in the transaction.
SALT LAKE CITY — The Kissel Co. has purchased the Sweet Candy Building in downtown Salt Lake City for an undisclosed sum. The historic building is located at 200 West and 224 South. The 97,000-square-foot property was built in two phases between 1911 and 1922. The Sweet Candy Building was renovated in 2001, at which time it was converted into retro tech space. It is fully leased. CBRE’s Marty Plunkett and Craig Thomas represented the seller, Olafson II LLC, in this transaction.
SAN ANTONIO — On behalf of Seavest Healthcare Properties, Trammell Crow Co. has begun construction on a medical office building located at 1434 E. Sonterra Blvd. in San Antonio. Seavest Healthcare Properties will own the new three-story, 60,000-square-foot Children’s Hospital of San Antonio Health Pavilion at Stone Oak. The medical office building will focus on pediatric services. CHRISTUS Santa Rosa will lease 88 percent of the property, with the remaining space leased to MedCare Associates, a primary healthcare group. Construction has already begun and is scheduled for completion in fall 2017. The development team includes general contractor Joeris, architect MKS Associates, Cooper-Lochte Landscape Architecture, Pape Dawson, RGM Engineering and Alpha Consulting Engineers.
TULSA, OKLA. — CBRE has arranged the sale of BOK Place at Southern Hills, a 126,656-square-foot, Class A office building in Tulsa. The eight-story asset was 89 percent occupied at closing. Mary Martin of CBRE’s Tulsa office represented the seller, Allegiancy Houston LLC, in the transaction. The building is located at 5727 S. Lewis Ave. near the intersection of East 61st Street and South Lewis Avenue with close proximity to Southern Hills Country Club. Building amenities include high-speed internet, on-site banking with drive thru lanes and an on-site deli. Major tenants include Bank of Oklahoma and The Home Depot.
FLOWER MOUND, TEXAS — JLL has negotiated a 21,803-square-foot office lease for IntelliCentrics Inc. a healthcare network. The company’s new U.S. headquarters will be at Lakeside Commerce Center, located at 1420 Lakeside Parkway in Flower Mound. JLL’s Steve Thelen and Doug Carignan negotiated the lease on behalf of the tenant. Blake Kendrick of Stream Realty Partners represented the landlord, Exeter Lakeside I LP.
NORFOLK, VA. — Cushman & Wakefield | Thalhimer has brokered the $10.8 million sale of a 16-story, 230,316-square-foot office building located at 500 E. Main St. in Norfolk’s central business district. Richmond, Va.-based Riverstone Properties LLC purchased the asset from the undisclosed seller. The building was 59 percent leased at the time of sale to 32 tenants. BB&T anchors the property and operates a full-service bank branch on the ground floor. Other tenants include Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce, Hunton & Williams and Brown & Brown. Eric Robinson and John Duffy of Cushman & Wakefield | Thalhimer brokered the transaction.
EAST HAVEN, CONN. — O,R&L Commercial has arranged the sale of the former Connecticut Food Bank building, located at 150 Bradley St. in East Haven. Mario Luciani acquired the 28,712-square-foot industrial and office property for an undisclosed price. The buyer plans to use the building as headquarters for his ServPro franchises. Frank Hird and Tim McMahon of O,R&L Commercial represented the undisclosed seller, while Natuzza Dimasi of William Raveis Real Estate represented the buyer in the transaction.
ST. LOUIS — McGrath & Associates has completed construction of the $1.9 million expansion and renovation of the Pi Beta Phi Fraternity for Women international headquarters in St. Louis. The 4,200-square-foot, two-story expansion connects to Pi Beta Phi’s international headquarters building on Town and Country Commons Drive in West St. Louis County, which McGrath built in 2002. The expansion includes an enlarged break room, conference room and mailroom on the first floor, and office space and expanded archives on the second floor. HKW was the architect.
ATLANTA — A partnership between Banyan Street Capital and funds managed by Oaktree Capital Management has purchased 191 Peachtree Tower from Cousins Properties in downtown Atlanta. The partnership bought the 50-story office tower for $268 million. The 1.2 million-square-foot office tower was 93 percent leased at the time of sale to tenants such as the Robert W. Woodruff Foundation, Deloitte, Cooper Carry, Hall Booth Smith and The Commerce Club. The Metro Atlanta Chamber is also relocating to the LEED Silver-certified building later this year. “Downtown Atlanta is a premier destination for business and commerce, and 191 Peachtree is the market’s landmark office building,” says Rudy Touzet, CEO of Banyan Street Capital. “This acquisition is an important expansion of our Atlanta portfolio and demonstrates the demand for Class A office located within walkable urban centers.” 191 Peachtree offers direct access to the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, which features retail and restaurant tenants such as Alma Cucina, Bistro 191, The Bean Counter and Jos. A Bank. It is also located directly across from a MARTA transit station. The new ownership has selected Cushman & Wakefield to lease the office tower and plans to initiate select upgrades to 191 Peachtree in the near future. “191 …