HOUSTON — Beauty Empire has signed a 14,471-square-foot retail lease at Barker Cypress Marketplace in West Houston. According to LoopNet Inc., the property was built on 16.5 acres in 1999 and totals 81,360 square feet. Jason Gaines of Sturbridge Commercial Real Estate represented the undisclosed landlord in the lease negotiations. Okyi Urbina-Torres of W. Realty & Investment Group represented the tenant, which will backfill a space previously occupied by CVS.
CHICAGO — General contractor Focus has completed construction of a high-rise, luxury apartment tower in downtown Chicago named 8o8. Located at 808 N. Cleveland Ave., the 23-story building features 200 apartment units, 20,000 square feet of office space and 7,500 square feet of retail space. DAC Developments and Bayview USA Holdings developed the property, which features amenities such as a pool, spa, fitness spaces, game rooms, coworking space, dog run and pet spa. Designed by Pappageorge Haymes, the project features multiple outdoor areas and 101 parking stalls. The development also features 20 affordable housing units. Monthly rents for market-rate units start at $2,175.
SKOKIE, ILL. — A joint venture between Wingspan Development Group and Tucker Development has acquired 5400 Old Orchard Road in Skokie with plans to redevelop it into a luxury apartment project with 294 units. The site currently houses an office building, demolition of which is scheduled to begin this fall. Nicholas & Associates will serve as general contractor. Plans call for 245 apartment units and 49 rental townhomes as well as commercial space. Designed by HKM Architects + Planners, the project will feature amenities such as a courtyard, pool, lounge, fitness center and coworking stations. A timeline for completion was not provided.
HOUSTON — Three new retailers have signed leases to open stores at Rice Village District, a shopping center located at 6225 Kirby Drive in Houston. Boutique retailer Luminary Lifestyle, jewelry brand gorjana and apparel retailer Mizzen+Main are all scheduled to open spaces at the property in early 2024. Bluestone Lane, [solidcore], The Rice Box and Navy Blue also recently opened at the center.
CHICAGO — McHugh Construction has completed Platform 4611, a nine-story apartment building in Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood. The John Buck Co. and Free Market Ventures developed the project at 4611 N. Broadway St. The property features 200 apartment units and 9,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space. Designed by Pappageorge Haymes, the development features a mix of studio, one- and two-bedroom units on floors two through eight as well as two- and three-bedroom penthouse units on the top floor. Amenities include a fitness center, reservable office space and a rooftop amenity floor with coworking space, an outdoor terrace and grilling stations. The property was 43 percent occupied as of late May. Platform 4611 is a transit-oriented development located steps from the Wilson CTA train station’s Red and Purple Lines. Monthly rents start at $1,890.
MERRILLVILLE, IND. — The Opus Group has broken ground on a 289,000-square-foot speculative industrial building in Merrillville, a city in Northwest Indiana. The 37-acre project site is located one mile from I-65. The building will feature a clear height of 32 feet, 30 dock doors, 239 auto parking stalls and 58 dedicated trailer parking stalls. Completion is slated for December. Opus is the developer, design-builder, architect and structural engineer. Old National Bank is the construction lender. Ryan Klink and Sean Henrick of Cushman & Wakefield are marketing the project for lease.
BATTLE CREEK, MICH. — Friedman Real Estate has brokered the sale of Health Park South, a 35,858-square-foot medical office building in Battle Creek, about 25 miles east of Kalamazoo. The sales price was undisclosed. Located at 2845 SW Capital Ave., the property is home to Ascension Borgess Hospital, Bronson Health Internal Medicine and Fresenius Kidney Care. Andrew Bower of Friedman represented the undisclosed buyer.
ELIZABETH, N.J. — Chicago-based lender and investment firm Pearlmark has provided a $10 million mezzanine loan for the refinancing of Vinty Apartments, a 267-unit multifamily property located in the Northern New Jersey community of Elizabeth. The five-story building includes 27,000 square feet of retail space that is 68 percent leased. The property offers studio, one- and two-bedroom units and amenities such as a game room, fitness center and a juice bar. Michael Klein and Steven Klein of JLL arranged the debt on behalf of the sponsor, a partnership between LeCesse Development Corp. and MAS Development Group. Vinty Apartments was 85 percent occupied at the time of the loan closing. Argentic Investment Management provided the senior loan, which totaled $97.2 million.
EAST LONGMEADOW, MASS. — New York City-based ShopOne Centers REIT Inc. has acquired Heritage Park Plaza, a 117,337-square-foot retail property in East Longmeadow, located in Hampden County in western Massachusetts. Grocer Stop & Shop anchors the property, which was 98 percent leased at the time of sale. Other tenants at Heritage Park Plaza include Petco, orangetheory Fitness, Panera Bread, Dollar Tree, Pure Barre, 99 Restaurant & Pub and H & R Block. ShopOne Centers acquired the asset in a joint venture with Pantheon Group and an undisclosed institutional investor. The seller was also not disclosed.
HOWELL, N.J. — A partnership between New Jersey-based investment firm AMS Acquisitions and Miami-based holding company Vector Group has broken ground on a 100-unit seniors housing project in Howell, located east of Trenton near the Jersey Shore. The site spans 14 acres, and the four-building project will feature one- and two-bedroom units that will be reserved for renters age 55 and above. Amenities will include a pool, great room with a communal kitchen, fitness center, outdoor grilling areas and a tenant lounge. Construction is expected to last about 18 months.