WASHINGTON, D.C. — The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) has urged the U.S. Congress to pass another COVID-19 relief bill, citing a lack of holiday travel plans by most Americans surveyed and a continuation of stymied business travel. Morning Consult conducted a survey of 2,200 adults from Nov. 2 to 4 on behalf of AHLA. The results found 69 percent of adults have no travel plans for Thanksgiving and 72 percent of adults don’t plan to travel over Christmas. According to research from STR, the national hotel occupancy for the week ending Oct. 31 was 44.4 percent, down from 62.6 percent a year ago. On the business travel side, 8 percent of survey respondents said they have stayed in a hotel overnight for work since March. Sixty-two percent of employed respondents said they have no plans to stay in a hotel for work in the next six months. “This holiday season will be an especially difficult time for all Americans, and our industry is no exception,” says Chip Rogers, president and CEO of the AHLA. “Fewer people will be traveling, and business travel remains nearly non-existent. That’s why it’s so important for Congress to pass a relief bill now. …
NAPLES, FLA. — Halvorsen Holdings has broken ground on Fiddler’s Creek Plaza, a 60,000-square-foot, Publix-anchored shopping center in Naples. The 48,000-square-foot Publix is one of the company’s newest prototype models, featuring a drive-thru pharmacy and an updated layout with a mezzanine level. There is 12,000 square feet of shop space available as well, including a 2,925-square-foot end-cap restaurant space with an outdoor patio. Three outparcels are available for sale or ground lease. The property is located at the intersection of U.S. Highway 41 and Sandpiper Drive, 12 miles southeast of downtown Naples. Boca Raton, Fla.-based Halvorsen Holdings expects to complete Fiddler’s Creek Plaza in summer 2021.
NEWPORT NEWS AND PRINCE GEORGE, VA. — NorthMarq has provided a $41.8 million refinancing loan for a three-property apartment portfolio in Newport News and Prince George. The 10-year Freddie Mac loan features a fixed interest rate below 3 percent, five years of interest-only payments and a 30-year amortization schedule. The 724-unit portfolio comprises the 232-unit Reserve at Deer Run Apartments and the 272-unit Newport Commons Apartments in Newport News, as well as the 220-unit Jefferson Pointe Apartments in Prince George. Bob Harrington and Paul Whalen of NorthMarq originated the loan on behalf of the undisclosed borrower.
RANDOLPH, MASS. — Chicago-based investment firm Waterton has acquired Rosemont Square at 2 Chestnut West, a 503-unit apartment community located in the southern Boston suburb of Randolph. The property comprises 20 three- and four-story buildings that were constructed in phases between 1982 and 2012. Units feature one and two-bedroom floor plans. Amenities include a pool, outdoor grilling stations and multiple playgrounds. The transaction, the seller in which was not disclosed, marks Waterton’s first multifamily acquisition in the greater Boston market. Waterton will also implement a value-add program to select unit interiors, common area and amenity spaces and pieces of landscaping.
SOMERSET, N.J. — NAI DiLeo-Bram has negotiated a 308,000-square-foot industrial lease at 481 Weston Canal Road in the Northern New Jersey city of Somerset. Bridge Development Partners recently completed the property, which is located within the three-building Bridge Point Somerset development. Building features include 36-foot clear heights, 78 trailer stalls, 50 loading docks and proximity to Interstate 287 and the New Jersey Turnpike. Eric Bram Johnston and Christopher Galiano of NAI DiLeo-Bram represented the tenant, an undisclosed furniture manufacturer that is relocating from Edison, in the lease negotiations. JLL represented Bridge Development Partners.
BURLINGTON, N.J. — A partnership between an affiliate of Endurance Real Estate Group and Boston-based Cabot Properties has broken ground on a 289,042-square-foot speculative industrial project in Burlington, about 20 miles northwest of Philadelphia. The 56.6-acre site at 2609 Rancocas Road will house two warehouses that are expected to be complete in the fourth quarter of 2021. Building I will feature 217,986 square feet, 36-foot clear heights, 180 car parking spaces and 28 trailer parking spaces. Building II will total 71,056 square feet and will offer 32-foot clear heights and 69 car parking spaces. John Plower, Nate Demetsky and Ryan Cottone represented the development team in the acquisition of the land. Newmark represented the seller of the land.
DANBURY AND FAIRFIELD, CONN. — Floor & Décor will open its first two stores in Connecticut during the first half of 2021 when the home improvement retailer rolls out a 74,000-square-foot store in Danbury and an 80,000-square-foot store in Fairfield. In Danbury, Floor & Décor purchased a 150,000-square-foot building that formerly housed Pilgrim Furniture and Bob’s Stores. In Fairfield, the company will backfill a space formerly occupied by Kohl’s. Grocer Aldi will share the backfilled space with Floor & Décor. Brian Katz of Katz & Associates represented the retailer in both deals.
BOSTON — JLL has negotiated the $12.2 million sale of a 26,500-square-foot industrial property located at 202 Southampton St. near downtown Boston. The single-story building features 29-foot clear heights, six loading docks with four drive-in doors and 33,000 square feet of excess parking housing 150 spaces. Michael Restivo of JLL represented the seller in the transaction. Brett Paulsrud and Sam Campbell of JLL arranged fixed-rate acquisition financing through Webster Five Centers Savings Bank on behalf of the buyer, a partnership between Oliver Street Capital and Bain Capital Real Estate.
CLEVELAND — KeyBank Real Estate Capital (KBREC) and KeyBanc Capital Markets (KBCM) have structured $31 million in financing for the renovation of Carnegie Tower at Fairfax in Cleveland. Built in 1976, the affordable seniors housing property rises 12 stories and features 171 units. It is a project-based Section 8 building and is situated on two acres next to Cleveland Clinic. Units come in one- and two-bedroom floor plans and are reserved for residents age 62 and older. KBREC provided a $14 million HUD construction-to-permanent loan while KBCM sold $17 million of tax-exempt bonds. Additionally, KeyBank Community Development Corp. provided $10 million of low-income housing tax credit equity to purchase credits awarded to the project. Robbie Lynn, Kelly Frank, Ryan Olman and Sam Adams of KeyBank structured the financing on behalf of the borrower, Columbus-based National Church Residences. The project will preserve the building as affordable housing and ensure the long-term viability of the development, according to KeyBank.
CHICAGO — Associated Bank has provided an equity investment totaling $9.4 million of low-income housing tax credits and federal historic tax credits for the rehabilitation of Major Jenkins Apartments in Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood. The two apartment buildings, originally constructed in 1928, are connected and each rise four stories. Upon completion of the renovations, there will be 156 units designated for individuals who are homeless, at risk of homelessness, physically disabled or have chronic or mental illnesses. The units will be further broken down by resident income. There will be 40 units designated for residents earning up to 30 percent of the area median income (AMI), 54 units for those earning up to 50 percent of AMI and 62 units for those earning up to 60 percent of AMI. Completion is slated for the first quarter of 2022. Teresa Rubio of Associated Community Development LLC managed the equity investment on behalf of the borrower, nonprofit developer Mercy Housing Lakefront. Associated Bank partnered with RBC Community Investments for the financing.