WASHINGTON, D.C. — Retail imports at major U.S. ports are expected to see their lowest annual totals in four years as the coronavirus continues to affect the economy, according to the National Retail Federation (NRF). The NRF forecasts year-end 2020 totals to reach 19.6 million TEUs, which would be a 9.4 percent decrease from 2019 and the lowest number seen since the 19.1 million TEUs of imports in 2016. The NRF and Hackett Associates released their monthly Global Port Tracker report, which found that U.S. ports handled 1.6 million 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in June, which was up 4.9 percent from May 2020 but down 10.5 percent year-over-year. “The economy is recovering but retailers are being careful not to import more than they can sell,” says Jonathan Gold, NRF vice president for supply chain and customs policy. “Shelves will be stocked, but this is not the year to be left with warehouses full of unsold merchandise. The more Congress does to put spending money in consumers’ pockets and provide businesses with liquidity, the sooner we can get back to normal.”
BETHESDA, MD. — Marriott International (Nasdaq: MAR) has reported that its second-quarter revenue per available room (RevPAR) declined 84.4 percent worldwide at its hotels due to the coronavirus pandemic. RevPAR in its North American portfolio dropped 83.6 percent. Additionally, the hotelier’s occupancy rates are slowly recovering, having reached 34 percent during the week ending Aug. 1 after bottoming out at 11 percent April 11. Currently, 91 percent of the company’s hotels are open, compared to 74 percent in April. Marriott reported a net loss of $210 million in the second quarter, a significant drop from second-quarter 2019 when the company gained $525 million. The Bethesda-based company is seeing bright spots when it comes to its international recovery, especially in the area it refers to as “Greater China” (the area encompassing China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan). “Greater China continues to lead the recovery,” says Arne Sorenson, president and CEO of Marriott. “As of early May, all our hotels in the region are open, and occupancy levels are now reaching 60 percent, compared to 70 percent the same time last year. While Greater China’s recovery was originally led by demand from leisure travelers, particularly in resorts and drive-to destinations, we are now seeing …
FORT MILL, S.C. — Crescent Communities has delivered Stateline Logistics Center, a 104,000-square-foot industrial facility in Fort Mill. The property offers 30 dock doors, two drive-ins, a 130-foot truck court and parking for trailers and cars. The asset is located within Lakemont Business Park, which is situated along Interstate 77 and 14 miles south of Charlotte Douglas International Airport. Merriman Schmitt Architects designed the building, Intercon Building Corp. was the general contractor and Cushman & Wakefield is handling leasing.
HIALEAH, FLA. — The Estate Cos. has acquired a former Ramada Inn in Hialeah for $15.3 million. The non-operational hotel was originally built in 1970 with expansions completed in 1973, 1979 and 1988. The property offers 258 rooms and sits on five acres at 1950 W. 49th St., 15 miles northwest of downtown Miami. Camilo Niño, Ricardo Uribe and Alen Hernandez of LV Lending originated an $11.5 million acquisition loan on behalf of the buyer. The seller was a partnership between UCH1 LLC, Miami Corporate Partners, Bidart Dairy II LLC and Noriega Properties. Details of renovation plans were not disclosed.
ROMEOVILLE, ILL. — Colliers International has brokered the sale of Interchange 55 Logistics Park in Romeoville for $98 million. Located near I-55, the two-building industrial development spans 1.3 million square feet. Completed in late 2019, the project was 30 percent occupied at the time of sale. Both buildings feature clear heights of 36 feet. Jeff Devine and Steve Disse of Colliers International represented the seller, Macquarie Real Estate. Prologis purchased the asset.
WHITESTOWN, IND. — Exeter Property Group has acquired Fishback 4, a 604,000-square-foot speculative industrial building within Fishback Creek Business Park in the northwest Indianapolis suburb of Whitestown. The purchase price was undisclosed. There are three other buildings within the industrial park. A planned second phase of development will provide an additional 1.5 million square feet of industrial space at the site. Terry Busch and Jared Scaringe of CBRE represented the seller, INDHLAND LLC.
NEW LENOX, ILL. — Premier Design + Build Group has completed construction of a two-story, 41,724-square-foot medical office building in New Lenox, about seven miles east of Joliet. HSA|Primecare was the developer. The ground floor of the property houses a Silver Cross urgent care facility as well as a primary care unit. Located at 1851 Silver Cross Blvd. across the street from Silver Cross Hospital’s Pavilion A & B, the new building is known as Pavilion D. The urgent care space features an X-ray room, laboratory, six exam rooms, offices and a waiting area. The second floor is designed for clinical and medical office use. The project team included Eppstein Uhen Architects, Ruettiger, Tonelli & Associates, Pierce Engineers and IMEP.
IRVING, TEXAS — Uline, a provider of packaging and shipping materials for warehouse workers, has signed a 1.1 million-square-foot industrial lease at 2600 Rental Car Drive in Irving. The Wisconsin-based company will lease the entirety of Building 1 within Passport Industrial Park, a 2 million-square-foot development by Trammell Crow Co. and its joint venture partner CBRE Global Investors. Uline plans to take occupancy of the cross-dock distribution center in May 2021. Development of the park, which comprises four buildings situated on 130 acres, began in December 2018.
CENTRALIA, ILL. — Marcus & Millichap has arranged the sale of a 13,650-square-foot property occupied by Walgreens in Centralia, about 60 miles east of St. Louis. The sales price was undisclosed. The building is located at 225 N. Elm St. and features a pharmacy drive-thru window. Walgreens has operated at the property since 2003. Brian Parmacek and Victor Cornelio of Marcus & Millichap marketed the building on behalf of the seller and procured the buyer, One Family Property.
CADILLAC, MICH. — Woda Cooper Cos. Inc. has completed a $3.2 million rehabilitation of the 24-unit Maple Hill Apartments in Cadillac in northwest Michigan. The project scope included new kitchens, baths, flooring, windows, doors, plumbing, insulation, roofs, energy-efficient HVAC systems and landscaping. Woda Cooper received federal low-income housing tax credits allocated by the Michigan State Housing Development Authority as well as loans from Bellwether Enterprise to finance the rehabilitation. InSite Capital invested in the tax credits and Chemical Bank provided a construction loan.