Industrial leasing activity in the greater Baltimore metropolitan region last year began with a whimper thanks to the federal government shutdown in January and February, but quickly gathered steam and never looked back, even in the final days to close out the year. In fact, the pace was record-breaking and historic by any measurement, with more than 9.5 million square feet of space absorbed. This figure was approximately 40 percent higher than 2018, which was also a tremendous year. There is more good news locally for companies that make their living developing warehouse and industrial space, brokers who match end-users for the available spaces and related professionals. Central to this activity is that fact that lots of people live in the Combined Statistic Area of Baltimore-Washington, D.C. region, which is the fourth largest MSA in the country and is still growing. A certain Seattle-based online retail company is establishing its second headquarters just down the road in Northern Virginia and its positive impact is being felt throughout the region. The central Maryland marketplace boasts an enviable transportation network led by major north-south axis Interstate 95, is within close proximity to several major seaports (Baltimore, Wilmington and Philadelphia) and one-third of …
ATLANTA — The 32nd annual Hunter Hotel Investment Conference, slated to take place at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis from March 18 to 20, has been postponed as part of a concerted effort worldwide to contain the spread of COVID-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus. The conference presenter, Atlanta-based Hunter Hotel Advisors, says it will identify alternative dates for the event. An education and networking event for hotel investors, the conference attracted more than 1,850 attendees from across the Southeast and beyond in 2019. A note posted to the conference website Thursday afternoon read in part: “After the unprecedented events of the past 24 hours, and with an overabundance of caution for everyone involved, we have made the difficult decision to postpone/reschedule the Hunter Conference. We know at times like this it is important to meet and discuss current issues, but given the circumstances it doesn’t seem appropriate.” The number of coronavirus cases topped 125,000 worldwide as of Friday morning. Leaders across the United States are banning large gatherings to thwart the spread of the illness. In response to the growing coronavirus pandemic, President Donald Trump declared a national emergency under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance …
Stevens Construction Completes Five-Story Renovation of Seniors Housing Community in Venice, Florida
VENICE, FLA. — Stevens Construction has completed a renovation of The Lofts, a five-story, 80,000-square-foot assisted living and memory care building within Village On The Isle, a nonprofit continuing care retirement community in Venice. Renovations were done floor by floor to minimize impact on residents. Stevens replaced interior finishes, upgraded the façade and reworked the unit floor plan options. Stevens Construction also replaced the plumbing, mechanical and electrical systems of the 35-year-old building. The Stevens Construction team included Dan Adams, Jon Zander, Mark Battaglia and Sue Ziegenfus. RLPS Architects provided the design.
TUCKER, GA. — Sugar Bowl Bakery will open a manufacturing facility in Tucker. The family-owned bakery expects to create 400 jobs and invest $37 million over the next five years. The property is situated at 3301 Montreal Industrial Way, 15 miles northeast of downtown Atlanta. The new positions available will include bakery management, production, quality assurance, maintenance, warehousing and sanitation. Further details about the facility were not disclosed. The Ly family founded Sugar Bowl Bakery in 1984 in San Francisco. The Tucker facility is the company’s first location on the East Coast.
JACKSONVILLE, FLA. — Colliers International has brokered the sale of Mandarin Central, a 63,346-square-foot shopping center in Jacksonville. The center was constructed in 1985 on seven acres at 11018 Old Saint Augustine Road, 17 miles south of downtown Jacksonville. The property was 94 percent leased at the time of sale to tenants including Dollar General, Pizza Hut and Salento Steakhouse. Milestone Properties Inc. sold the asset to Mandarin Central Plaza LLC for an undisclosed price. Joe Montgomery, Tony D’Ambrosio and Ernie Saltmarsh IV of Colliers represented the seller in the transaction.
MANASSAS, VA. — Merritt Properties has signed an undisclosed e-retailer to a full-building, 137,350-square-foot lease within I-66 Business Park, a six-building property in Manassas. Merritt expects to deliver the property in April and the tenant expects to move in this summer. Tony Russo and Diane Drobia of CBRE represented the developer and the full-building user in the lease transaction. When complete, the six buildings on the property will range in size from 30,600 to 137,350 square feet. Michael Larkin of Merritt says the company will begin construction on the sixth and final building in April and expect to deliver it in the third quarter of this year. The building will span 97,200 square feet. At full build-out, I-66 Business Park will comprise 596,900 square feet. To date, the property is 83 percent leased to 11 tenants. The buildings offer 18- to 32-foot clear heights. Each property is rear loaded and provides dock and drive-in capabilities. Situated along Interstate 66, I-66 Business Park is located 28 miles west of Washington, D.C.
HUNTSVILLE, ALA. — SRS Investment Properties Group has arranged the $3.5 million sale of The Fountain, a 38,338-square-foot retail property in Huntsville. Costco and The Home Depot shadow anchor the multi-tenant retail strip, which spans 3.9 acres. The Fountain was fully leased at the time of sale to tenants including Staples, Citi Trends and Shoe Show. The property is situated at 1201 N. Memorial Parkway, just north of downtown Huntsville. Boris Shilkrot and Pierce Mayson of SRS represented the seller, Somera — 1201 North Memorial Parkway LLC, in the transaction. T.J. Lee of Bill Pool Realty represented the buyer, TA Sharp Properties.
CHICAGO — The NHP Foundation has reopened The Mark Twain, a historic single-room occupancy (SRO) affordable housing development on Chicago’s Near North Side. The $54.3 million renovation project consisted of 148 apartments, each equipped with rehabilitated private bathrooms and new private kitchenettes. Other upgrades included new plumbing, mechanical and electrical systems; a rooftop deck; restoration of the vintage façade and lobby; and 9,600 square feet of upgraded retail space on the ground floor. Rental assistance in the form of project-based vouchers will be provided by the Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) for each of the units at Mark Twain, ensuring long-term affordability. Fifty residents who lived at the property before the project began have returned to the renovated building. The remaining apartments will be leased to persons on the CHA waitlist. The city’s contribution included issuance of $27.3 million in multifamily housing revenue bonds, a $5 million multifamily loan and $1.3 million in low-income housing tax credits that generated $12.7 million in equity. The NHP Foundation acquired the property in 2016 as part of the city’s SRO Preservation Initiative. Since its passage in 2014, the initiative has led to the preservation of 11 buildings, consisting of more than 1,400 units. Architect …
CHICAGO — Origin Investments has purchased Monroe Aberdeen Place, a 120-unit apartment building in Chicago’s West Loop. The transaction, made on behalf of Origin’s IncomePlus Fund, was valued at $65.8 million. Developed in 2018, the property features 25 three-bedroom units, 92 two-bedroom units and three one-bedroom units. Floor plans average 1,118 square feet. Kiser Group represented Origin Investments in the off-market transaction. Michigan Avenue Real Estate Group, the property’s original developer, sold the asset, which was 99 percent leased at the time of sale.
CHICAGO — The Guidepost Montessori at Magnificent Mile School is more than doubling its lease at Optima Signature, an apartment tower in Chicago’s Streeterville neighborhood. The school will lease an additional 14,000 square feet, which is the last available retail space at the property, in order to open an elementary school. The school plans to open this fall and serve first through fifth grades. In addition to Guidepost Montessori, retail tenants at Optima Signature include Egg Harbor Café, GoodVets Streeterville, Runaway Fitness and Bedazzled Nails & Spa. Optima Signature is a 57-story, 490-unit luxury rental development. Optima Inc. is the developer.