WASHINGTON, D.C. — The National Multifamily Housing Council (NMHC) has found that 75.4 percent of apartment households paid rent as of Dec. 6. NMHC surveyed its network of 11.4 million professionally managed units as part of its Rent Payment Tracker metric. The most recent figure is an 894,864-household decrease, or 7.8 percent, from Dec. 6, 2019. The December numbers are also a 500-basis point drop from Nov. 6, 2020, though the NMHC notes that Dec. 6, 2020, fell on a weekend, meaning the data might not be a true direct comparison. “While the initial rent collection figures for the first week of December are concerning, only a full month’s results will paint a complete picture,” says Doug Bibby, president of Washington, D.C.-based NMHC. “However, it should not come as a surprise that a rising number of households are struggling to make ends meet. As the nation enters a winter with increasing COVID-19 case levels and even greater economic distress — as indicated by last week’s disquieting employment report — it is only a matter of time before both renters and housing providers reach the end of their resources.” NMHC releases the survey in partnership with apartment management platforms RealPage, ResMan, Yardi, …
HAMPTON, VA. — Branch Properties has sold Mercury Plaza, a 98,066-square-foot shopping center in Hampton. Walmart Neighborhood Market and Marshalls anchor the center, which is situated at the intersection of West Mercury Boulevard and Power Plant Parkway, 21 miles north of downtown Norfolk in Virginia’s Hampton Roads region. Branch acquired the property in 2018 for $25 million and invested $2.6 million to build a new inline building next to Marshalls that is occupied by Rack Rooms Shoes and other shop tenants. The Atlanta-based seller also sold four outparcels in 2019 for $9.7 million. Fain Hicks, Margaret Jones, John Owendoff and Lane Breedlove of Cushman & Wakefield represented the seller in the transaction. The buyer and sales price were not disclosed.
BIRMINGHAM, ALA. — Lexerd Capital Management LLC has acquired Emerald Pointe, a 152-unit multifamily community in Birmingham, through one of its funds. The property comprises 21 two- and three-story buildings offering one-, two- and three-bedroom floor plans. Communal amenities include a clubhouse, pool, sundeck, picnic area, playground and an onsite childcare facility. The asset is situated at 2149 Emerald Pointe Drive, 11 miles south of downtown Birmingham. The seller and sales price were not disclosed.
OVERLAND PARK, KAN. — The new name of the former Sprint headquarters will be Aspiria, according to owner Occidental Management. The name change will be effective Jan. 1. Occidental submitted a preliminary development plan to the city in mid-September. The mixed-use project will revitalize the existing 17 buildings housing approximately 3.5 million square feet of Class A office space. Occidental will also build an additional 60 acres into retail, restaurant, entertainment, office and multifamily space. There will be space for outdoor gatherings and events as well as expanded walking and biking trails. Occidental says it will continue to release more details about the project over the coming months. Leasing is underway for the existing buildings as well as the first new office building at the corner of 119th Street and Nall Avenue. Sprint sold the campus to Occidental in summer 2019. Sprint later merged with T-Mobile. “Aspiria reflects an innovative and transformative destination — one we are eager to watch take shape,” says Gary Oborny, CEO and chairman of Occidental. “The project is of a grand scale on the global stage, and we needed a name and brand that was representative of an environment with limitless options.”
DES MOINES — Spruce Properties has acquired a six-property multifamily portfolio in suburban Des Moines for $56.7 million. The portfolio includes: Lake Shore, Lake Shore Park, Lake Shore Place and Peachtree Apartments in Ankeny; Saylorville Lakeside in Polk City; and Sunrise Meadows in Waukee. Lake Shore was built in phases between 2015 and 2017 while the other assets date back to the 1970s to early 2000s. David Gaines, Marcus Pitts, Justin Lossner and Michael Minard of JLL Capital Markets represented the seller, BBK Apartments. Trent Niederberger of JLL originated a 10-year acquisition loan through Fannie Mae on behalf of the buyer. The loan features a fixed interest rate of 2.77 percent.
FORT WORTH, TEXAS — JLL has negotiated the sale of Speedway Logistics Crossing, a newly built, 798,246-square-foot industrial complex in Fort Worth. The two-building property is situated on 55 acres within two miles of the intersection of Interstate 35 and State Highway 114 and was 82 percent leased at the time of sale. Building features include 36-foot clear heights, 134 dock-high doors, 173 trailer parking spaces and ESFR sprinkler systems. John Huguenard, Dustin Volz, Stephen Bailey, Dom Espinosa and Zach Riebe of JLL represented the seller, Scannell Properties, in the transaction. James Campbell Co., a Hawaii-based investment firm, purchased the property for an undisclosed price.
NORMAL, ILL. — An affiliate of Phoenix Investors has unveiled plans to build Phase II of the North Normal Industrial Park in Normal near Bloomington. The 500,000-square-foot addition will be built on 30 acres of land at 301 W. Kerrick Road. In June, Phoenix acquired the partially completed Phase I, which consists of 500,000 square feet that is leased to electric vehicle company Rivian. Phoenix expects to complete construction of Phase I in early 2021 and Rivian plans to take occupancy in March. Plans for Phase II include a clear height of 32 feet and 50 exterior docks. The space will be easily divisible for two users. The City of Normal approved tax-increment financing for the project.
MINNEAPOLIS — Mortgage banking company Merchants Capital has provided more than $21.5 million in debt financing for The Bessemer at Seward Commons, a 128-unit apartment community currently under construction in Minneapolis. Located at 2200 Snelling Avenue, the transit-oriented development will include a clubroom, fitness center, outdoor terrace, dog run, package system, pet wash station and bicycle storage. The property is part of a larger development known as Seward Commons, which includes four separate housing developments. Merchants secured the 30-month construction loan on behalf of the co-developers, Schafer Richardson, Seward Redesign and Noor Cos. The City of Minneapolis awarded $5.4 million in tax-increment financing over a 26-year period. The project also received environmental clean-up funds from Hennepin County, Metropolitan Council and MN Department of Employment and Economic Development. A timeline for completion was not disclosed.
PEORIA, ILL. — Triad Real Estate Partners has brokered the sale of Dunlap Falls in Peoria for $16.8 million. The 180-unit apartment complex was built in 1997. The property underwent a $4.2 million renovation in 2019 that included a new clubhouse and fitness center along with upgrades made to nearly 150 units. A Massachusetts-based portfolio owner sold the asset to a Chicago-based owner and operator.
AUSTIN, TEXAS — CapitaLand Ltd., an investment and development firm based in Singapore, will develop a 341-unit apartment community in Austin. The firm has entered into an 80/20 joint venture with an undisclosed local developer to build the project, which will be located on a 4.7-acre parcel on the city’s north side. The property’s location puts it near The Domain, as well as the new McKalla Place Major League Soccer Stadium that is slated to open this spring. Units at the new community will feature studio, one- and two-bedroom floor plans. Completion is slated for 2023.