FALLS CHURCH, VA. — Federal Realty Investment Trust will redevelop Graham Park, a 132,000-square-foot community shopping center located at 7263 Arlington Boulevard in Falls Church. Graham Park’s redevelopment project will include façade renovation, new signage, enhanced landscaping, decorative lighting and outdoor amenity areas. The renovation is projected to begin in July and be completed by the end of the year. Graham Park is anchored by Giant Food and features a mix of retail, dining and services including Celebrity Delly, Advanced Auto Parts, Mavana Nails & Waxing and Verizon Wireless. The shopping center opened in 1971 and was acquired by Federal Realty Investment Trust in 1983. Federal Realty Investment Trust is a real estate investment trust based in Rockville, Maryland.
CHICAGO — Blackstone Real Estate Income Trust Inc. (BREIT) has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Chicago-based Home Partners of America (HPA), valuing the company at $6 billion. HPA purchases, owns and operates single-family rental homes and provides a path to homeownership for individuals and families across the United States. HPA’s portfolio includes more than 17,000 homes across the country. BREIT intends to support the HPA management team as it explores opportunities to expand access to high-quality housing for lower-income households, including by formally launching its Choice Lease program. This program aims to provide a direct and tangible opportunity to help address housing affordability challenges for families, according to Blackstone. “The fundamental premise of the HPA platform is to provide residents with the opportunity to live in their chosen home with the option to purchase it,” says Jacob Werner, senior managing director with Blackstone Real Estate. “We intend to build on that goal and expand access to homes across the United States.” The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter. BREIT is externally managed by a subsidiary of Blackstone (NYSE: BX), which maintains approximately $196 billion in investor capital under management.
IOWA CITY AND CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA — JLL has arranged the sale of a 1.4 million-square-foot industrial portfolio in Iowa City and Cedar Rapids for $54 million. The Class B portfolio, currently 80 percent occupied, consists of five buildings that were constructed in the early 2000s. Three properties are in Iowa City at 2561, 2570 and 2610 Independence Road. The others are in Cedar Rapids at 5404 and 5507 Ely Road. Marcus Pitts, Justin Lossner, Michael Minard and Austin Hedstrom of JLL represented the seller, 2570 Independence LLC. JLL will continue to serve as leasing agent on behalf of the undisclosed buyer. The sale represents the largest industrial portfolio sale ever recorded in Iowa, according to JLL.
EVANSTON, ILL. — Marcus & Millichap has brokered the sale of Evanston Plaza in Evanston for $36.2 million. The 212,759-square-foot shopping center is located at 1910 Dempster St. Valli Fresh Market anchors the center and occupies 69,210 square feet. Renovated in 2015, the property was 97 percent leased at the time of sale. Adrian Mendoza, Austin Weisenbeck and Sean Sharko of Marcus & Millichap marketed the center on behalf of the seller, a private investor. The team also secured and represented the buyer, a limited liability company.
HOPEWELL, N.J. — Newmark has arranged a $76 million acquisition loan for Princeton West Innovation Campus, a 1.1 million-square-foot life sciences property in Hopewell, about 55 miles southwest of New York City. The property, which formerly served as the global R&D headquarters of pharmaceutical giant Bristol Myers Squibb, is located less than 10 miles from its namesake university’s main campus. Amenities include a full-service cafeteria, an 8,000-square-foot fitness center, a 28,000-square-foot child development center and multiple conference areas. The borrower was a partnership between H.I.G. Realty Partners and Lincoln Equities Group. Dustin Stolly and Jordan Roeschlaub of Newmark placed the debt through Denver-based ArrowMark Partners. The new ownership will use a portion of the proceeds to fund capital improvements and speculative leasing costs.
GLEN ELLYN, ILL. — Kinzie Builders has completed construction of Avere on Duane, a $15 million luxury apartment building in the Chicago suburb of Glen Ellyn. Located on Duane Street, the property rises four stories with 48 units. Units range from 868 to 1,615 square feet. Amenities include a community room, dog washing station, package room, bike storage and heated parking. REVA Development Partners was the developer. The project team included BSB Design Inc., RTM & Associates Engineering Consultants, LETech Inc., Pierce Engineering, Loren Stanton Design, Haeger Engineering and Lakota Group. Monthly rents start at $1,975.
NEW ALBANY, IND. — Berkadia has arranged an $8.9 million bridge loan for the acquisition of The Annex of New Albany, a 141-unit student housing property in New Albany near Louisville. The property is located at 4100 Prestwick Square and is adjacent to Indiana University Southeast. Jason Brown and Sam Orman of Berkadia Indianapolis arranged the bridge loan on behalf of the borrower, Indiana-based Zidan Management Group Inc. Old National Bank provided the three-year loan, which features a 3 percent floating interest rate. David Gaines, Scott Clifton and Kyle Butler of JLL Capital Markets represented the seller, The Annex Group, in the $11.8 million sale.
LAWNSIDE, N.J. — Developer Sterling Properties has opened Station Place, a 144-unit apartment community in Lawnside, located outside of Philadelphia. The transit-oriented property offers studio, one- and two-bedroom units with European-style cabinetry, stainless steel appliances, quartz countertops and in-unit washers and dryers. Amenities include a pool, resident lounge, fitness center, bocce courts, outdoor grilling area, package lockers and a private parking garage.
CHELSEA, MASS. — Burgess Properties LLC has brokered the sales of two industrial buildings located in the northeastern Boston suburb of Chelsea for a combined $17.5 million. The first property at 3-7 Griffin Way spans 33,515 square feet and features a clear height of 20 feet. Oliver Street Capital purchased that asset for $10 million. The second building at 25 Griffin Way totals 25,000 square feet and features a clear height of 27 feet. That property sold to an undisclosed, Boston-based investor for $7.5 million. Steve Nohrden of Burgess Properties brokered the deals. The sellers in both transactions requested anonymity.
NEW YORK CITY — Dattner Architects has signed a 30,000-square-foot office lease at 498 Seventh Avenue, a 25-story building in Midtown Manhattan. Recent capital improvements at 498 Seventh Avenue include new lobbies and entrances, new retail storefronts, upgraded destination dispatch elevators, new turnstiles with facial recognition software, a grab-and-go coffee kiosk by Ground Central Coffee and a dedicated lounge area for tenants. Robert Frost and Andy Weiss of Signature Partners LLC represented the tenant in the lease negotiations. Andrew Conrad and Matt Coudert represented the landlord, George Comfort & Sons, on an internal basis.