BALDWIN, WIS. — NAI Pfefferle has arranged the sale of a 17,000-square-foot office building in Baldwin, about 50 miles east of Minneapolis. The property is located at 890 Spruce St. The sales price was undisclosed, but the asking price was $2.3 million. TJ Morice of NAI Pfefferle and Don Timmerman of Keller Williams brokered the sale.
High interest rates and stubborn inflation have somewhat hindered the days of excess — for both student housing developers and their residents. Yet, the need for more student housing units continues. Student accommodations booking platform Amber notes that the 175 largest U.S. universities can only provide housing for 22 percent of their undergraduates. New deliveries have also slowed, with the average annual number of new bed deliveries coming in at 33,700 between 2021 and 2023. The average number of beds delivered annually between 2013 and 2020 was 56,200, according to JLL Capital Markets. This has led some colleges and universities to get creative when housing is scarce and development is not only cost consuming, but time consuming. “In some cases, universities lease all or a portion of our neighboring communities when they need more housing inventory than presently available on campus,” says James Wilhelm, chief development officer at American Campus Communities (ACC). “In addition, some universities have approached us to purchase our off-campus assets to grow and expand their upper-division student housing offerings. The purchase of our communities is generally fueled by a desire to add beds on an expedited timeline at a fraction of the cost of new construction.” …
— By Nellie Day — Employers all over the nation are looking for ways to bring employees back into the office. In many cases, it’s been a large ask, as employees have adapted to the work-from-home environment and its perceived perks. One of the biggest strategies employers have undertaken is creating an enticing environment where employees want to be. This can include intriguing office spaces, useful amenities, opportunities for socializing and beautiful outdoor spaces. This strategy can go even further when local businesses and municipalities work together. Such is the case with South Coast Metro Alliance, a non-profit corporation of Orange County, Calif.-based property owners and major businesses that have a long-term investment in the area through ownership and/or long-term leases. The economic development organization, which encompasses north Costa Mesa and south Santa Ana, has worked to ensure employers are proud of the spaces they can offer their employees — and that, in turn, employees are excited to return to the office. WREB spoke to Diane Pritchett, executive director of the South Coast Metro Alliance, to discuss the specific strategies employed by businesses and the South Coast Metro Alliance to reactive the local office environment. WREB: How has the introduction …
Company NewsIndustrialNorth CarolinaNortheastPennsylvaniaProperty TypeSelf-StorageSoutheastTop Stories
Go Store It, Snapbox Merge, Creating 10 MSF Self-Storage Giant
CHARLOTTE, N.C. AND PHILADELPHIA — Go Store It Self Storage and Snapbox Self Storage have merged. The combined company is now one of the largest private self-storage operators in the United States, according to a press release issued by the companies. Operating under the Go Store It Self Storage brand name, the new entity will oversee a portfolio totaling more than 10 million square feet of storage space across 145 locations in 23 states. Executive leadership will include Ryan Hanks and Jake Ramage as chief executive officers (CEOs), with Matt Lang serving as president. The merger is designed to enhance operational efficiency as well as stimulate growth in the areas of acquisition, development and third-party management. Founded in 2013 in Charlotte, N.C., Go Store It is a subsidiary of Madison Capital Group Holdings. Philadelphia-based Snapbox was also founded in 2013. Both companies are FrontRange Capital portfolio companies. FrontRange has invested roughly $100 million in Madison Capital and its affiliates, including Go Store It, and is making a co-general partner (co-GP) commitment to the new entity. — Hayden Spiess
CHICAGO — Lamar Johnson Collaborative (LJC), a full-service architecture firm based in Chicago, has released renderings for a transformative vision for Michigan Avenue’s Magnificent Mile retail corridor in downtown Chicago. The Magnificent Mile Association commissioned the plan, known as MM2050, to explore innovative solutions for addressing vacancies spurred by the pandemic. LJC created a series of conceptual renderings, guided by four design pillars: people, place, technology and experience. The renderings showcase ideas for enhancing public spaces, improving pedestrian connectivity and encouraging sustainable, mixed-use development. The MM2050 renderings are currently on display at the Chicago Architecture Center (CAC) as part of a newly launched exhibition titled The New Magnificent: Visions to Renew and Reconnect the Mag Mile. The exhibit is part of the CAC’s Loop as Lab: Reshaping Downtowns initiative, which explores post-pandemic ideas for revitalizing Chicago’s central business district. The LJC designs are one of two concepts from architectural firms on display. LJC’s vision focuses on four points of improvement along the mile-long corridor:
CHICAGO — Roti, a Mediterranean fast-casual restaurant group based in Chicago, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The company intends to use Chapter 11 to seek new investors or purchasers on an accelerated time frame while reorganizing its finances. Roti intends to keep its locations across Chicago, Minneapolis and the Washington, D.C. metro areas operating. “After careful consideration, filing for bankruptcy protection was the best way to address our challenges, including financial performance, higher costs, mixed location performance and tough market conditions,” says Justin Seamonds, CEO and prime minister of fun at Roti. Roti says it was disproportionately affected by the COVID pandemic as 50 percent of its restaurants are based in downtown districts. The company states that the current restaurant climate is mired in a consumer spending downturn.
MADISON, WIS. — CBRE has negotiated the sale of Royster Commons and 515@Royster, two apartment properties totaling 174 units in Madison. Weidner Apartment Homes purchased the communities from Ruedebusch Development & Construction for $34 million. Gretchen Richards, Patrick Gallagher, Matson Holbrook and Ted Nevermann of CBRE represented the seller. CBRE also provided acquisition financing for the buyer. Built in 2019, Royster Commons includes 86 units averaging 956 square feet each. Constructed in 2022, the 88-unit 515@Royster features floor plans averaging 791 square feet each.
CHICAGO — DarwinPW Realty/CORFAC International has brokered the sale of a 14,000-square-foot building and 3.3 acres of industrial outdoor storage at 4150 S. Packers Ave. in Chicago’s Stockyards neighborhood. The sales price was undisclosed. The property is situated within an Enterprise Zone and is zoned for industrial use. Ed Wabick and Terry Lynch of DarwinPW Realty/CORFAC International represented the seller, Stockyard Bricks. The buyer, Midwest Trailer Repair, intends to use the site and building to expand its business. Humberto Garcia of Realty at Home represented the buyer.
AUBURN HILLS, MICH. — Behavioral Health Practice Services LLC, doing business as LifeStance Health, has signed a 4,810-square-foot medical office lease at 2251 N. Squirrel Road in Auburn Hills. David McHabnay and James Mitchell of Dominion Real Estate Advisors LLC represented the landlord, Five Points Professional Office Building LLC. Brandon Carnegie and Jamee Jester of CBRE represented the tenant, which signed an 89-month lease.
ALLEN, TEXAS — A partnership between Dallas-based Pillar Commercial and Oklahoma City-based Hall Capital will develop One Bethany North, a 225,000-square-foot office project in the northeastern Dallas suburb of Allen. The Allen Economic Development Corp. owns, which is situated within the Watters Creek business district. The building will rise nine stories and feature a fitness center, tenant lounge and conference facilities, as well as a courtyard with pickleball courts, putting greens and other activated green spaces. The partnership purchased the sister buildings, One Bethany East and One Bethany West, which total about 320,000 square feet combined, over the past several years. Construction of One Bethany North, which has a total price tag of more than $100 million, is expected to last 18 to 24 months.