Property Type

By R. Michael Goman, Goman+York In recent years, much of our work has focused on helping our client communities encourage the development of new market-rate affordable housing units. For our purposes, we define market-rate affordable rental housing as housing that is available at rental rates equivalent to 80 percent to 100 percent of 30 percent of the area median income (AMI). It also means that after paying rent, residents still have enough money for food, transportation, health care and similar needs. Rental rates below 80 percent of 30 percent of AMI typically indicate residents who require financial assistance, which falls into a different category. Our advice to communities typically revolves around a few key issues: location, market and financial feasibility, economic impact, and local land-use issues. These are factors that a potential developer will review when considering a possible development opportunity. Our goal is to help the community put together the best possible story that addresses each of these issues in a real-world, quantitative way. The Right Site As with many real estate projects, location is key to success. Optimal sites for new market-rate affordable rental projects are those located near concentrations of employment. The available jobs don’t have to …

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Southeast-Phoenix-Distribution-Center-Chandler-AZ

By Peter Batschelet, Principal, Lee & Associates In a year of unknowns, hypotheticals and uncertainties, the Phoenix metropolitan area and Maricopa County were the complete opposite. In fact, 2020 was a record-setting year in this region’s industrial market for several reasons. For starters, there was nearly 14 million square feet of new construction delivered. This is twice as high as any year in the past decade and roughly equivalent to the deliveries from the past two years. In addition, Phoenix set record absorption numbers to the tune of, ironically, 14 million square feet. Meanwhile, vacancy rates have decreased to roughly 7.7 percent and rents continue to see moderate growth.  There does not appear to be an end in sight to the impressive growth. There is an additional 15 million square feet currently under construction. This space is both speculative development and build-to-suit opportunities from household names like Merit Partners, Prologis, Trammell Crow Majestic Realty and others.   Ecommerce sales represent roughly 15 percent of the national retail industry, which means there is plenty of capacity for additional investment and capital into the Greater Phoenix area based on our population and anticipated growth. There remains plenty of upside for the bulk …

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Uptown-Station-Oakland

OAKLAND, CALIF. — Los Angeles-based investor and developer CIM Group has sold Uptown Station, a 397,000-square-foot office building in Oakland. Local media outlets including the East Bay Times report that the sales price was $419 million, and that the property sold to Mapletree Investments, which is based in Singapore. The price equates to roughly $1,057 per square foot, which the Times reports would be a record for an Oakland office building. Newmark brokered the deal. Square Inc., a locally based provider of financial services like mobile payments that is headed by Twitter founder Jack Dorsey, occupies the entire eight-story building. The property was originally built in 1929 to house a Sears department store. CIM Group acquired the asset in December 2017 from Uber, which was in the process of redeveloping the building into an urban office campus. Uptown Station is situated at the nexus of three arteries — Broadway, Telegraph Avenue, and 20th Street — in Oakland’s Uptown district. The property is located directly above a BART station, offers outdoor roof decks and includes 35,000 square feet of retail space that is leased to Shake Shack and One Medical. “CIM Group delivered on its vision for Uptown Station, bringing a …

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The impacts of COVID-19 on the U.S. multifamily market vary significantly across metro areas. Not surprisingly, the nation’s denser gateway markets have been hardest hit, while secondary and tertiary markets have fared better. In a reversal of pre-pandemic trends, suburban locations have gained favor over urban submarkets from both renters and investors. As many employees continue to work from home, larger and more affordable units in suburban submarkets have become more appealing. Elevated construction costs are also a factor, driving garden-style development versus more costly podium construction. The Triangle’s suburban submarkets are experiencing the strongest construction activity, most notably in the North Cary/Morrisville submarket, where 1,784 units averaging over 1,000 square feet per unit are currently underway. As ongoing work-from-home arrangements prompt more tenants to consider living further from the Triangle’s primary employment centers, developers are increasingly willing to look at sites in outlying communities such as Wendell and Clayton. Demand is expected to return to the Triangle’s urban submarkets as employees return to the office and retailers and restaurants fully reopen, but the recovery in these areas is likely to be protracted. Solid footing The Triangle’s multifamily sector ended 2020 on relatively firm footing despite a tumultuous year. Both …

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Cross Creek Ranch

MALIBU, CALIF. — Pacific Equity Properties Inc. has received $130 million in construction financing for Cross Creek Ranch Malibu, a 112,000-square-foot mixed-use development in Malibu, a beach city just west of downtown Los Angeles. Cross Creek Ranch is the largest development to be approved since Malibu incorporated in 1991, according to the developer. The property will offer 70,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space, including 10,000 square feet of interior dining, and 42,000 square feet of Class A office space. More than 80 percent of Cross Creek Ranch’s 12.9-acre grounds will be dedicated to landscape architecture, water treatments and gathering places. The development will also feature subterranean and perimeter surface parking. The project is slated for completion in 2023. “As opposed to focusing exclusively on the shopping experience of the center, we have put an emphasis on the communal aspect of Cross Creek Ranch. Our aim is to create an intimate, rural village atmosphere,” says Bryan Gordon, CEO of Pacific Equity Properties. The site is located near shopping destinations such as Malibu Country Mart, Malibu Village, The Park at Cross Creek and Malibu Lumber Yard, immediately adjacent to a new expansion campus of Santa Monica College. Integrated Capital Management …

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ASHBURN, VA. — Dwight Capital has provided a $66.8 million HUD 223(f) refinancing loan for Ashburn Meadows Apartments, a 336-unit affordable housing community located in Ashburn. Brandon Baksh of Dwight Capital originated the transaction, which is the fourth refinance that Dwight has closed for the undisclosed borrower. The loan includes a reduced Mortgage Insurance Premium (MIP) set at 25 basis points as the property is classified by HUD as “Broadly Affordable.” Built in two phases in 2000 and 2002, Ashburn Meadows includes 14 three-story apartment buildings and a one-story clubhouse situated on over 18.3 acres. Community amenities feature a fitness center, barbeque grill area, swimming pool with sundeck and walking trails.

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Lofts at Wildlight

YULEE, FLA. — RAS Property Group has acquired The Lofts at Wildlight, a new 279-unit apartment complex located in Yulee, for $55.8 million. The seller was not disclosed. Situated approximately 22 miles from downtown Jacksonville, The Lofts at Wildlight include five buildings and offers one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments. Community amenities include a pool with sundeck, outdoor dining spaces and a 24-hour fitness center. The property is part of the 2,900-acre Wildlight community in Nassau County. Upon completion, Wildlight will offer 7 million square feet of office, commercial, medical, industrial and residential space. Adam Bieber of Philips Realty Capital advised RAS on capitalization of the property. RAS Realty Partners, parent company of RAS Property Group, is a real estate investment and development company based in Boca Raton, Fla.

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Fifth + Broadway Project

NASHVILLE, TENN. — Brookfield Properties has opened the retail and dining component at Fifth + Broadway, a six-acre mixed-use project in downtown Nashville. Brookfield and local developer Pat Emery partnered on the development, which formerly was the location of the Nashville Convention Center. General contractor Skanska broke ground on the project in April 2017, when San Diego-based OliverMcMillan was the lead developer before its acquisition by Brookfield in February 2018. Designed by Gresham Smith and Gensler, the newly opened portion of Fifth + Broadway features 200,000 square feet of restaurants and retail space, along with parking garages that hold 2,145 cars. Retail tenants include Nash Collection, REVV, Ariat, Ray-Ban, Free People, The Dry House, Veseo Lingerie & Swimwear, Molly Green and others. Restaurant tenants include Hattie B’s Hot Chicken, Eddie V’s, Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream and Shake Shack, among others. The retail center also includes the 56,000-square-foot National Museum of African American Music. Later this spring, Fifth + Broadway’s Assembly Food Hall will debut 15 new eateries dubbed collectively as “South Hall.” The expanded food hall will also include a rooftop concert venue and a full-service restaurant from FB Society (formerly Front Burner Society). Fifth + Broadway also includes The …

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Oakmont Logistics Center

KENNESAW, GA. — Oakmont Industrial Group has broken ground on a 484,323-square-foot cross-dock logistics center in Kennesaw. Oakmont is developing the facility on a speculative basis through a joint venture with Pacolet Milliken. The Conlan Co. is the project’s general contractor, and Regions Bank is providing construction financing. The project, Oakmont Cobb International, is situated on 35 acres within Cobb International Park, a business park located near Interstate 75 and U.S. Highway 41 (also known as Cobb Parkway). In addition to Oakmont Cobb International, Oakmont is also underway with a 468,000-square-foot building off Hartman Road in Atlanta’s I-20 West industrial submarket. Oakmont Cobb International will feature at least 40-foot clear heights, cross-dock loading offering 103 dock-high loading doors, an enhanced 7-inch Ductilcrete floor slab system, 70-foot loading bays and full-concrete truck courts providing for up to 147 trailer storage spaces. Additionally, the project provides a lot at the north end of the building that will provide additional function and flexibility based on the end-user’s specific needs. Oakmont Industrial Group is an industrial real estate development and management company based in Atlanta. Pacolet Milliken is a private, family-owned investment company based in Greenville, S.C.

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Harwood-14-Dallas

DALLAS — Harwood International has begun construction on Harwood No. 14, a 27-story office tower in Dallas. The building will span approximately 360,000 square feet and will feature a 17,000-square-foot rooftop terrace and sky garden, as well as a fitness center with locker rooms and a multi-purpose flex space. The development team includes Manhattan Construction Co. (general contractor), Dallas-based HDF (architect of record), Dallas-based Corgan (associate architect) and Tokyo-based Kengo Kuma & Associates (design architect). Law firm Haynes & Boone LP has committed to 125,000 square feet at the building upon completion, which is scheduled for 2023.

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