NEW YORK CITY — More than 8,741 major retail locations closed their doors in the United States during 2020 totaling over 139 million square feet, largely as a result of lockdowns and restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic. That’s according to the “US and UK Store Closures Review 2020 and US Outlook 2021” report from Coresight Research, a commercial real estate data firm based in New York City. Apparel stores, including clothing, footwear and accessories, took the brunt of the fallout, accounting for 3,151 of the store closures. Home and office retailers came in a distant second with 1,428 store closures. The apparel store closings were driven by a few high-profile bankruptcies. Ascena Retail Group — which includes Ann Taylor, Catherines, Justice, Lane Bryant, LOFT and Lou & Grey brands — closed 1,156 stores; Foot Locker closed 125 stores; Gap closed 119 stores; and Victoria’s Secret closed 231 stores. Eight retailers accounted for 75 percent of the total apparel store closures. The outlook for 2021 doesn’t look much brighter. Coresight predicts total U.S. retail store closures will hit approximately 10,000 locations, a 14 percent increase over 2020. On the other side, Coresight tracked 3,304 new store openings in 2020, and …
DALLAS — The Home Depot (NYSE: HD) has opened a 1.5 million-square-foot distribution center in Dallas as part of the Atlanta-based retailer’s $1.2 billion initiative to expand its national distribution network. Home Depot intends to grow its supply chain footprint in Dallas-Fort Worth from 2.1 million to 4.5 million square feet and to create 1,500 new jobs by the end of the year. The company currently operates 20 distribution centers throughout Texas and 20 retail stores within a 50-mile radius of Dallas.
DALLAS — Legacy Senior Communities (LSC) has delivered The Legacy Midtown Park, a seniors housing community in North Dallas. Located on a 12-acre plot, the property features 184 independent living apartments, 51 assisted living apartments, 36 memory support residences and 54 private skilled nursing and rehabilitation suites. Development costs were estimated at $186 million. Construction began in 2018, with the final building, Aaron Towers Independent Living, receiving a temporary certificate of occupancy in December 2020. Aaron Towers offers 40,000 square feet of amenities and common space designed by local D2 Architecture with interiors by Austin-based StudioSix5. Apartments range in size from 800-square-foot studios to 2,600-square-foot penthouses.
Barbat Holdings Completes Transformation of Former Archdiocese Building in Detroit, Leases to Sonder
DETROIT — Barbat Holdings LLC, a West Bloomfield-based development firm, has completed the transformation and revitalization of 305 Michigan Ave. in Detroit. Now known as Gabriel Houze, the 100,000-square-foot, 10-story property is located in the city’s central business district across from the Westin Book Cadillac. Built in 1915 and formerly known as the Gabriel Richard Building, the property housed the Archdiocese of Detroit for over 50 years. Furniture store Weil & Co. first occupied the property upon its opening. CIBC financed the project in partnership with Invest Detroit. Sonder USA Inc., a residential hospitality concept that offers short-term rentals, has leased the entire building except for 8,000 square feet of retail space on the ground floor. Sonder will offer 125 units for lease. The Houze Living brand is a subsidiary of Barbat Holdings. The developer expects to complete Montgomery Houze in Ann Arbor and Birmingham Houze in Birmingham this summer.
INDIANAPOLIS — CIM Group has provided an $83 million bridge loan to TWG Development for The Whit Apartments in Indianapolis. Built in 2019, the 334-unit property includes 10,700 square feet of retail space and an adjacent 526-stall parking garage. The asset is approximately 80 percent leased. Amenities include a rooftop pool, sundeck, lounge and fitness center. The retail space is fully leased to 16-Bit Arcade Bar and MassageLux. CIM Group originates commercial real estate loans through its CIM Real Estate Credit Strategies business. Michael Zaremski and Michael Shmuely of Berkadia’s New York office secured the loan.
INKSTER, ROCHESTER HILLS AND LANSING, MICH. — Berkadia has arranged $75.1 million in combined financing for three garden-style multifamily properties in Michigan. Aaron Moll of Berkadia arranged the loans on behalf of the borrower, Valleytree Partners. Moll secured a $31.5 million Fannie Mae loan for the refinancing of Dearborn View in Inkster. The loan features five years of interest-only payments and an interest rate below 2.7 percent. Moll arranged a $35.9 million loan with a bridge lender for the acquisition of Bedford Square in Rochester Hills. The nonrecourse loan features an 80 percent loan-to-cost ratio and three years of interest-only payments. Lastly, Moll secured a $7.6 million Freddie Mac loan for the acquisition of Delta Square Apartments in Lansing. The 10-year loan features three years of interest-only payments and a 75 percent loan-to-value ratio.
JOLIET, ILL. — Colliers International has brokered the sale of the Laraway Distribution Center in Joliet for an undisclosed price. The 736,780-square-foot warehouse sits on over 34 acres at 1151 E. Laraway Road within the I-80 submarket. Built in 2008, the facility was fully leased to three tenants at the time of sale. Jeff Devine and Steve Disse of Colliers represented the seller, Clarion Partners LLC. Exeter Property Group purchased the asset.
EVANSTON, ILL. — Interra Realty has arranged the sale of 908 Main St. in Evanston for $5.2 million. The 27-unit multifamily building was originally constructed in 1913 and renovated in the 2000s. It features 15 one-bedroom units and 12 two-bedroom units. The building was fully occupied at the time of sale. Brad Feldman of Interra represented the seller, Robinson Rental, an Evanston-based company that has owned the property since the 1980s. Feldman also represented the international buyer.
FRISCO, TEXAS — Locally based developer StreetLights Residential has completed The Margo, a 358-unit apartment community located at 4545 Mission Ave. in the northern Dallas suburb of Frisco. The Margo features studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom units that range in size from 507 to 2,094 square feet and that feature custom cabinetry, wood-style flooring and individual washers and dryers. Private balconies and yards are also available in select units. Communal amenities include a pool with cabanas and a sun deck, coworking spaces, a pet lawn and spa, outdoor kitchen and a media lounge. Gables Residential is managing the property. Rents start at $1,145 per month for a studio unit, according to Apartments.com.
RICHMOND, TEXAS — A joint venture between Houston-based Read King Commercial Real Estate and Austin-based Wayfinder Real Estate has broken ground on The Waterview, a 295-unit apartment community in the southwestern Houston suburb of Richmond. The property will be located within the 135-acre Waterview Town Center mixed-use development and will offer one-, two- and three-bedroom units. Amenities will include a pool, fitness center, private spa and a resident clubhouse. Houston-based W. Partnership Inc. designed the project, and Austin-based Oden Hughes is serving as the general contractor. The opening is slated for the first quarter of 2022. Read King is also the master developer of Waterview Town Center.