Property Type

Lenders are Slow Out of the Gate as Central Florida Retail Market Begins Recovery, Says Webinar Panel

by Alex Tostado September 3, 2020

Commercial real estate lenders have remained timid as retail businesses in the Central Florida market navigate how to operate successfully during the COVID-19 crisis. As of this writing, Orange County had the 23rd most cases by county in the United States with 36,400 positive coronavirus cases and 378 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University (JHU). The metro Orlando county is currently in Phase II of the Sunshine State’s reopening plan, which includes allowing restaurants to bump up capacity from 50 percent in Phase I to now 75 percent; retailers can operate at full capacity; fitness centers can operate at 50 percent capacity; and bars can operate at 50 percent of standing room capacity. Phase II for most of the state’s counties went into effect June 5. While residents and businesses have begun the process of returning to pre-pandemic shopping norms, Chuck Whittall, president of Unicorp National Developments, said banks are still cautious. “There is a lot of fear on the credit side of the world,” said Whittall. “We experienced it after 9/11, in 2009 and we are experiencing it again now.” Orlando-based Unicorp broke ground last month on O-Town West, a $1 billion mixed-use development along Interstate 4 and three …

September 3, 2020

Acquisitions Development Industrial Northeast Pennsylvania Top Stories

Ball Corp. to Purchase Pennsylvania Plant, Retrofit into Beverage Packaging Facility for $360M

by Alex Tostado September 3, 2020

JENKINS TOWNSHIP, PA. — Ball Corp. plans to invest $360 million to acquire Interstate Distribution Center in Jenkins Township and retrofit the facility as an aluminum beverage packaging plant. The asset comprises nearly 1.1 million square feet and Ball will employ 230 employees at the plant when it begins production, which is slated for mid-2021. According to local newspaper Times Leader, the property is located at 140 Industrial Drive, between Interstates 81 and 476 and eight miles north of downtown Wilkes-Barre. Endurance Real Estate Group built the asset in 2019. The property features 40-foot clear heights, 108 loading docks, two drive-in doors, 421 car parking spaces and 129 trailer parking spaces. “Ball Corp. has a longstanding presence in the international marketplace, and Pennsylvania is pleased with the company’s commitment to expand its manufacturing facilities in the northeast,” says Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf. The project will generate more than $16 million in new employment payroll annually, according to the governor’s office. The state’s Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) offered up to $2 million in Redevelopment Assistance Capital Project (RACP) funding to be distributed upon the creation of the new jobs, as well as $400,000 in funding for workforce development …

September 3, 2020

Features Mixed-Use

Mixed-Use Destinations Must Be Redesigned for Post-Pandemic World

by Taylor Williams September 3, 2020

By J.F. Finn and Duncan Paterson of Gensler Across the globe, people have replaced in-person visits to sports and entertainment venues, retail centers, convention facilities and other mixed-use environments with virtual gatherings and Zoom meetings. Yet the prevailing view in commercial real estate is that virtual engagement is not a long-term solution for authentic human interaction. In fact, the current crisis is only reinforcing the vital role that public spaces play in bringing people together and promoting health and well-being. The question is, “What has to change for mixed-use developments to be both safe and vibrant?” Here are some scenarios and opportunities we believe can help designers and developers transition into the “new normal” requirements for mixed-use environments and public spaces. Modular Building Will Gain Traction COVID-19 has created an acute need for pop-up, flexible and adaptable spaces — facilities that are tailor-made for modular construction. This current surge in demand will both accelerate the removal of many existing barriers to the growth of modular construction and provide some very compelling advantages in the future. These changes should usher in more viable U.S. manufacturers to market as other industries begin to recognize the many benefits of modular construction. Fabricating and …

September 3, 2020

Indiana Market Reports Midwest Midwest Market Reports Multifamily

Opportunity in the Midwest: Why Indiana Is Gaining Favor with Investors

by Kristin Harlow September 3, 2020

By Chris Bruzas, Berkadia While the COVID-19 pandemic has had a dramatic impact on the commercial real estate industry, bright spots have emerged across the multifamily landscape. Nationally, secondary and tertiary markets demonstrate resilience and strong performance, despite challenging circumstances. One of these bright spots is Indiana. Since the start of the year, Berkadia’s investment sales and mortgage banking teams have closed more than $498 million in combined sales and financing across the state. While Indiana has long been a solid market in the Midwest, in recent years it has emerged as particularly attractive to investors for a few key reasons. Available scale The ability to acquire scale is increasingly important to investors looking to break into new markets and MSAs. Immediate scale is attractive for several reasons. For investors, acquisition at scale enhances geographic and unit diversification at the outset. It also allows investors, specifically those new to the region, to maximize business efficiencies on expenses. If a new buyer can acquire 1,000 units in proximity, they can reduce the burden of staff, construction costs and travel costs, to name a few. Additionally, it helps with leasing. If a prospective tenant tours a property that doesn’t have floor plans …

September 3, 2020

Company News New York Northeast Retail

Macy’s Reports 34.7 Percent Drop in Second-Quarter Sales, Strong Digital Growth

by Taylor Williams September 2, 2020

NEW YORK CITY — Macy’s Inc. (NYSE: M) reported approximately $3.56 billion in net sales across its Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s and Bluemercury brands during its fiscal second quarter ending Aug. 1, a 34.7 percent decline from the same period in 2019. However, the New York City-based retailer said its second-quarter performance exceeded expectations, thanks largely to a 53 percent spike in year-over-year sales across its digital platforms. Digital sales represented 54 percent of Macy’s total revenue figure for the quarter. Macy’s CEO Jeff Gennette also said that the successful reopening of a number of stores helped the company beat expectations for the second quarter, and that Macy’s top priority moving forward was the execution of a successful holiday shopping season. Macy’s stock price opened at $7.45 per share on Wednesday, Sept. 2, up 8 percent from the previous day but down nearly 50 percent from $14.65 per share a year ago.

September 2, 2020

Acquisitions Industrial New Jersey New York Northeast

Sitex Group Acquires Two Industrial Properties Totaling 65,670 SF in The Bronx, Hackensack

by Taylor Williams September 2, 2020

NEW YORK CITY AND HACKENSACK, N.J. — Locally based investment firm Sitex Group has acquired two industrial properties totaling 65,670 square feet in the New York City area. The first property is a 25,670-square-foot warehouse located at 1155 Commerce Ave. in The Bronx that is occupied by the New York City Department of Sanitation. The second building is a 40,000-square-foot maintenance facility located at 600 S. River St. in Hackensack, New Jersey, that was formerly occupied by truck repair company Deluxe International Trucks. Greiner Maltz’s Atanu Bhattacharjee, Waterstreet Capital’s Carl Bronstein and Douglas Elliman Commercial’s Rick Dana arranged the transaction.

September 2, 2020

Leasing Activity New York Northeast Office

NKF Negotiates 25,000 SF Office Lease for Law Firm in Purchase, New York

by Taylor Williams September 2, 2020

PURCHASE, N.Y. — Newmark Knight Frank (NKF) has negotiated a 25,000-square-foot office lease for law firm Milber Makris Plousadis & Seiden LLP at 100 Manhattanville Road in Purchase, located north of New York City in Westchester County. The four-story building spans 290,631 square feet, is situated on 23.8 acres and features a full-service cafeteria, fitness center and a concierge desk. Patricia Valenti of NKF represented the tenant in the lease negotiations. Lawrence Ruggieri, also with NKF, represented the landlord, RPW Group Inc.

September 2, 2020

Leasing Activity New Jersey Northeast Office

Mendham Capital Management Signs 3,243 SF Office Lease Extension in Basking Ridge, New Jersey

by Taylor Williams September 2, 2020

BASKING RIDGE, N.J. — Mendham Capital Management, an affiliate of Raymond James, has signed a 3,243-square-foot office lease extension in the Northern New Jersey city of Basking Ridge. Rick Genthe and Sean O’Brien of Lincoln Property Co. represented the landlord, CIG Properties, in the lease negotiations. Lee Barnes of Woodman Group represented the tenant.

September 2, 2020

Loans Office Texas

CIM Group Provides $190M Bridge Loan for Refinancing of Metro Dallas Office Complex

by Taylor Williams September 2, 2020

FARMERS BRANCH, TEXAS — Los Angeles-based CIM Group has provided a $190 million bridge loan for the refinancing of International Plaza, a 780,000-square-foot office campus located in the northern Dallas metro of Farmers Branch. The Class A property consists of a 13-story building and a 15-story building that were recently upgraded to offer new indoor and outdoor amenities. Rob Rubano, Greg Napper and Brian Share of Cushman & Wakefield arranged the loan, which was structured with a five-year term and a floating interest rate. The borrower, Taconic Capital Partners, acquired the asset in 2018.

September 2, 2020

Acquisitions Industrial Texas

Mohr Capital Sells 400,000 SF Warehouse in Grand Prairie to TA Realty

by Taylor Williams September 2, 2020

GRAND PRAIRIE, TEXAS — Dallas-based Mohr Capital has sold a 400,000-square-foot warehouse in the central metroplex city of Grand Prairie to Boston-based investment firm TA Realty. The sale is Mohr Capital’s seventh transaction in 2020 and comes after more than 13 years of ownership of the property. Jonathan Bryan of CBRE represented Mohr Capital in the transaction. TA Realty was self-represented.

September 2, 2020

Newer Posts

Older Posts