NEW YORK CITY — Huge Inc. has signed a 16,909-square-foot office lease in Midtown Manhattan. The global design and technology company will occupy the entire eighth floor of the 12-story building at 53 W. 23rd St. Jeff Buslik, Brad Cohn and Alan Bonett of Adams & Co. represented the landlord, an entity doing business as 23 R.P. Associates LLC, in the lease negotiations. Gabe Marans and David Mahoney of Savills represented the tenant.
By Emily Ackley, NAI DESCO The St. Louis retail market could be perceived as a contrasting story — national headlines continue to spotlight store closures and shifting consumer habits, and yet on the ground, St. Louis is working to write a quite different narrative. Vacancy rates remain tight, redevelopment projects are reshaping corridors and both suburban and urban districts are evolving to meet the demands of today’s consumers. It is not a market without its challenges, but St. Louis retail is far from stagnant. Market conditions As of the second quarter of 2025, the St. Louis retail market experienced a dynamic shift as a result of low vacancy rates, evolving consumer behavior and significant redevelopment projects across the St. Louis MSA. The overall retail vacancy rate stands at 4.7 percent, reflecting a 40-basis-point decrease quarter over quarter and an 80-basis-point decrease year over year, indicating a tightening market. Leasing activity remains robust, particularly in suburban areas of St. Louis, such as West County and St. Charles County, where vacancy rates have decreased by up to 140 basis points in the past year. This is being supported by a combination of steady population growth in the suburbs, shifting migration patterns and …
By Louis Rogers of Capital Square Navigating the complex tax rules of a Section 1031 exchange can be a complicated experience. For many, investing in a Delaware Statutory Trust, or DST replacement property, simplifies and streamlines the process so that more investors can enjoy the benefits of Section 1031. Introduction to Section 1031 Exchanges Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code, commonly referred to as a “tax-deferred exchange,” provides for the complete deferral of federal and state taxes on the sale of investment real estate. The seller must reinvest the net sale proceeds into a qualifying replacement property, which can be any type of real property. The gain that would have been recognized in a taxable sale is deferred until the replacement property is sold in a taxable transaction. Section 1031 has been in the tax code since 1921. Historically, most exchangers have acquired a “whole” property, meaning they acquired an entire replacement property. However, starting in 2002, many exchangers have acquired a fractionalized interest in their replacement property, first using the Tenant in Common (TIC) structure and, more recently, the DST structure. Instead of acquiring a whole property, they acquire a fractionalized interest or a percentage of a replacement …
OLD BRIDGE, N.J. — Madison Realty Capital has originated a $654 million mortgage and mezzanine loan for Central 9 Logistics Park, an industrial project currently underway in Old Bridge, roughly 35 miles southwest of New York City. New Jersey-based development firm 2020 Acquisitions is the borrower. Upon completion, the development will comprise 4.1 million square feet across nine buildings. The property is situated in close proximity to Garden State Parkway, New Jersey Turnpike and I-287, with access to the Port of New York and New Jersey’s Port Newark-Elizabeth Marine Terminal and Newark Liberty International Airport. The borrower will use the funds to refinance five buildings in Phase I of Central 9 Logistics Park and to cover construction and leasing costs for two buildings in Phase II. The finished buildings at the campus range from 192,000 to 818,000 square feet in size. The buildings planned for Phase II will total 139,000 and 809,000 square feet, respectively. 2020 Acquisitions is also planning Phase III at Central 9 Logistics Park, which will comprise two final buildings. “With three leases signed over the past 45 days totaling approximately 900,000 square feet, we are accelerating the construction of Phase II and will begin construction immediately,” says Efrem …
— By Jason Price of Commercial Properties Inc./CORFAC International — The Phoenix office market continues to show balance as leasing patterns shift and tenants prioritize smaller footprints. The metro’s office inventory totals 195.5 million square feet across roughly 9,000 buildings. Construction has edged upward year over year, with a little more than 900,000 square feet currently underway compared with 844,000 square feet a year ago. Another 1.5 million square feet is expected to deliver between 2025 and 2026, a restrained pace that should help prevent oversupply. This discipline has become critical as companies continue to right-size and lenders remain cautious. The overall market faces slower demand for large contiguous blocks, limited financing availability and an elevated level of sublease inventory that will take time to absorb. Most of the sublease space consists of second-generation Class A and B product in downtown and the Camelback Corridor, where tenants are evaluating long-term space requirements before recommitting. Even so, Phoenix’s fundamentals remain relatively healthy compared with many other metros. The city’s diversified economy, steady population inflow and expanding employment base continue to support leasing activity, particularly for move-in-ready suites of less than 10,000 square feet. Small-business confidence and the return-to-office movement among local …
ACWORTH, GA. — Wellstar Health System, an owner and operator of hospitals and healthcare clinics in Georgia, has received state approval to develop a new $1 billion hospital in Acworth, a northwest suburb of Atlanta in Cobb County. The construction timeline was not disclosed, but The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that Wellstar officials said the hospital could open to patients by 2031. The AJC also reported that competing hospitals have the right to appeal the Georgia Department of Community Health’s decision. In June, Wellstar filed for a certificate of need, a formal document that is necessary in the construction for new hospitals. The Marietta, Ga.-based health system plans to develop a 230-bed hospital spanning 675,000 square feet across Cobb Parkway from the existing Wellstar Acworth Health Park. In addition to the new Acworth hospital, Wellstar is underway on $1.4 billion in major construction projects, including expanding its flagship Wellstar Kennestone hospital in Marietta with a new tower and a $300 million expansion of Wellstar Paulding Medical Center in Hiram, Ga., with a new tower totaling 112 beds across two phases.
SARASOTA COUNTY, FLA. — Capital Funding Group (CFG) has provided a $179.8 million construction loan to Erickson Senior Living. The seniors housing owner and operator will use the financing for the first phase of development of Emerson Lakes, a continuing care retirement community (CCRC) currently underway in Sarasota County. Situated within the Lakewood Ranch community, the first phase of Emerson Lakes will comprise four buildings — three residential buildings and one community building. Together, the three residential buildings will total 319 independent living units. Upon completion, Emerson Lakes will span 87 acres with 1,015 independent living residences and 130 continuing care units. Erickson will operate the community.
BLACKSBURG, VA. — A joint venture between Cardinal Group Development and PGIM has broken ground on a 493-bed student housing development near the Virginia Tech campus in Blacksburg. Located at 501 S. Main St., the community will offer 215 units across two five-story buildings and 50 three-story townhomes. The property will also feature 17,456 square feet of retail space on the ground level. Shared amenities are set to include a pool and hot tub, fitness center, clubhouse and collaborative study lounges. Each townhome will offer a private rooftop terrace and two-car garage. The project is scheduled for completion ahead of Virginia Tech’s 2027-2028 academic year.
KNOXVILLE, TENN. — Dwight Mortgage Trust has provided a $53 million bridge loan for the refinancing of South Banks, a 230-unit, garden-style apartment community located in Knoxville. The community, which comprises 118 one-bedroom apartments and 112 two-bedroom units, is situated along the Tennessee River near downtown Knoxville and the University of Tennessee. The property also features 3,000 square feet of commercial space, a fitness center, saltwater pool, outdoor kitchen, resident lounges, coworking spaces and a rooftop gathering area. Josh Hoffman and Jonathan Pomper of Dwight Mortgage Trust originated the loan on behalf of the owner, locally based Dominion Group.
GALLATIN AND SPRING HILL, TENN. — Affinius Capital has provided a $17.3 million loan for the refinancing of a two-property self-storage portfolio in the Nashville suburbs of Gallatin and Spring Hill. Storelocal operates both facilities, which total 1,341 units. Amit Tyagi and Andy Bratt of Gantry arranged the loan on behalf of the borrower, Pruitt Investments. Each property features drive-up entry, climate-controlled units, onsite management, controlled gate access with keypad entry, a leasing office and 24/7 digital surveillance.