As brokers, we are often asked our opinion on the local market. The topic seems to have garnered even more interest than normal as of late. There is a multitude of variables investors will point to as they attempt to define what is happening in the market. The new legislation coming down the pipeline has probably caused the biggest challenges to the local multifamily market. Nationally, there are a lot of people worried about a recession because of the inverted yield curve. However, a recession hasn’t occurred every time the curve has inverted. There is no crystal ball to look at and make our investment decisions, but I think the outlook for Portland is still rosy. What appears to be happening is we are going from a rising market to a more normalizing market. In a rising market, prices increase, buyer demand increases, velocity increases, yield spread narrows and inventory moves fast as investors speculate on the market. In a normalizing market, prices become more realistic for in-place yield, there are fewer buyers in the market, velocity drops and the buyer/seller gap widens, which causes assets to sit or not sell. This seems to be the case here in Portland …
WILLISTON, N.D. — Cardon Global has opened the Williston Basin International Airport (XWA) in Williston, located approximately 215 miles northwest of Bismarck. Development costs were estimated to be $273 million. The 100,000-square-foot airport includes four gates and three passenger boarding bridges as well as a 50-seat bar and restaurant. XWA is the first ground-up commercial airport built in the Midwest since the 1940s, according to the developer. “Prior to the completion of XWA airport, the region was lacking the capacity, ease and essential airport amenities necessary to inspire travelers flying in and out of Williston,” says Don Cardon, CEO of Cardon Global. “In designing a vision for the airport to serve the region for decades to come, we’ve collectively tried to anticipate the needs of today’s travelers. That means providing an amazing mix of amenities, access, comfort and enjoyment to make the process of air travel much more enjoyable and productive moving forward.” The airport is functionally replacing Williston’s now decommissioned Sloulin Field International Airport, which was built in 1947. Forbes reports that Sloulin Field accommodated about 148,000 passengers, down from about 240,000 in 2014. Those numbers are up from 22,000 in 2009. So far, 2019 has seen a 22 percent increase …
BOSTON — Gables Residential and Drew Co. are nearing completion of Gables Seaport, a 307-unit apartment building in the Boston’s Seaport District. The 23-story building will offer studio, one- and two-bedroom units, as well as an outdoor terrace, lounge and pool. CBT Architects designed the building, and Halvorson Design served as the architect for the roof deck and amenity spaces. The property is slated to open in March 2020.
WILKES-BARRE, PA. — NAI Mertz has brokered the $4.2 million sale of a 225,000-square-foot industrial property in Wilkes-Barre, located approximately 120 miles west of New York City. The buyer, pipe distribution company PSI, plans to renovate the property to the tune of $9 million and add a new pipe mill. David Weaver and Stephen Cole of NAI Mertz represented the seller, Medley Investments, in the transaction. Elijah Miller of Hinerfeld Commercial Real Estate represented PSI.
LUMBERTON, N.J. — Boston-based investment firm STAG Industrial has acquired a 120,000-square-foot distribution center in Lumberton, an eastern suburb of Philadelphia. At the time of sale, the property was 100 percent leased to FMP Inc., a producer and distributor of commercial kitchen appliances. WHPounds Commercial Real Estate LLC and OPAS Inc. represented the seller, J Grato Enterprises, in the transaction. The sales price was not disclosed.
TAUNTON, MASS. — Dacon Corp. has completed the design and construction of a 10,500-square-foot headquarters expansion for beer distributor Quality Beverage in Taunton, located approximately 30 miles south of Boston. The $1.8 million project comprised a ground-up construction of a climate-controlled warehouse adjacent to the company’s existing headquarters in the Myles Standish Industrial Park.
NEW YORK CITY — Seafood restaurant Mighty Catch has signed a 1,360-square-foot retail lease in Manhattan. Located in the Columbia University submarket, the lease encompasses 960 square feet on the ground floor of 940 Columbus Avenue., as well as an additional 400-square-foot basement space. The restaurant is slated to open in early 2020. Anton Marchuk of Harvest International Commercial Real Estate represented Mighty Catch in the lease negotiations. Michael Shkreli of Winick Realty Group represented landlord, Walter & Samuels.
KENT, WASH. — RedHill Realty Investors has completed the sale of RedHill Pines, a garden-style multifamily community located in Kent. An undisclosed buyer acquired the property for $34.5 million. Located on more than 7 acres off Canyon Drive, RedHill Pines is a 10-building multifamily complex made up of the 98-unit RedHill Pines, which was built in 1980, and the 70-unit RedHill Pines North, which was built in 1988. The adjacent communities share a centralized clubhouse and leasing office. The communities offer a total of 168 units with an average unit size of 796 square feet, with private patios or balconies at each unit. Institutional Property Advisors, a division of Marcus & Millichap, represented the seller and procured the buyer. Additionally, IPA Capital Markets arranged $23.4 million in acquisition financing for the buyer. The 10-year loan features a fixed rate at 3.8 percent with five years of interest-only payments. Philip Assouad, Giovanni Napoli, Ryan Dinius and Sidney Warsinske of IPA handled the transaction, while Ray Allen and Seth Heikkila of IPA Capital Markets arranged the financing for the buyer.
SAN DIEGO — San Diego-based Sunroad Enterprises has completed the disposition of Sunroad Plaza, an office campus located in the Rancho Bernardo submarket of San Diego. Texas-based Virtus Real Estate Capital purchased the property for $19.9 million. Located at 11770 Bernardo Plaza Court, the 71,934-square-foot asset consists of one three-story building and one four-story building. The campus features on-site showers and lockers, executive conferencing facilities and 423 parking spaces. At the time of sale, Sunroad Plaza was 82 percent leased to a mix of government, medical and professional office users. Matt Pourcho, Anthony DeLorenzo, Gary Stache, Doug Mack and Bryan Johnson of CBRE represented the seller, while Lars Eisenhauer of CBRE represented the buyer in the deal.
OAHU, HAWAII — Hunt Capital Partners has provided $10.4 million in federal and state low-income housing tax credit financing, as well as federal solar tax credit equity financing, for the construction of Hale Makana O Maili in Oahu’s Waianae district. Upon completion, Hale Makana O Maili will feature 52 affordable housing units spread across six garden-style residential buildings. Construction began in late September, with completion slated for November 2020. The development team comprises the Hawaiian Community Development Board, Pacific Development Group and 3 Leaf Holdings. Moss & Associates is serving as general contractor and Mark Development will serve as property management for the project.