CARLSBAD, CALIF. — RAF Pacifica Group has announced plans to develop an 83,000-square-foot distribution facility in Carlsbad. The San Diego Hat Co. acquired the 7.5-acre site for $5.8 million. The headwear and accessories brand has an agreement in place for RAF to develop the building with TFW Construction as the general contractor. It is scheduled for completion in the second quarter of 2018. Aric Starck of Cushman & Wakefield represented RAF Pacifica Group in all real estate negotiations affiliated with this site. Brokers Rich Porreco and Glenn Friedrich of Cresa represented San Diego Hat Co.
NORTHVALE, N.J. — Cushman & Wakefield’s Metropolitan Area Capital Markets Group arranged the $12.1 million sale of 207,193 square feet of industrial space on 16.3 acres at 251 Union St. Pantheon Properties, which owns and develops a portfolio of properties in New York and New Jersey, sold the fully occupied property to a private investment group led by Duvi and Tuli Blumenberg. The building had been fully renovated by Pantheon. Cushman & Wakefield’s team included Andrew Schwartz, Andrew Merin, David Bernhaut, Gary Gabriel, Ryan Larkin, all from the East Rutherford, N.J.-based Metropolitan Area Capital Markets Group, as well as Andrew Siemsen from the Iselin office.
MARQUETTE, MICH. — A public-private partnership between EdR (NYSE: EDR) and Northern Michigan University has opened The Woods, a 417-bed living-learning community located on the university’s campus in Marquette. The property is the first phase of a $75.4 million, 1,229-bed development scheduled for full delivery in 2018. The community features robust internet and wi-fi capabilities, classrooms, study rooms, television lounges and laundry facilities. A large patio area, fireplace and an open lobby are designed to accommodate art shows, student events, university functions and various types of entertainment for residents year round. “When we began this relationship with Northern Michigan University in 2016, we were struck by how dedicated the entire campus was to modernizing and revitalizing the on-campus housing for current and future students,” says Randy Churchey, CEO of EdR. “From student recruitment and retention, to graduation and academic success rates, we’ve seen first-hand what an impact high-quality on-campus housing can make for a university, as well as its students.” EdR is leasing the land from the university and owns the community through its on-campus equity plan titled the ONE Plan program. This public-private partnership is the largest construction project in the university’s history. EdR is one of America’s largest …
SEATTLE AND AUSTIN, TEXAS — Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) has officially closed its $13.7 billion acquisition of Whole Foods Market. The first order of business for the e-commerce giant is making the Austin-based grocer’s high-quality and organic food more affordable for its shoppers. Beginning yesterday, Whole Foods Market now offers lower prices on selected grocery staples across its stores, with more to come. These include fair-trade bananas, organic avocados, organic large brown eggs, organic salmon and tilapia, organic baby kale and baby lettuce, animal-welfare-rated 85 percent lean ground beef, creamy and crunchy almond butter, organic Gala and Fuji apples, organic rotisserie chicken and organic butter. “We’re determined to make healthy and organic food affordable for everyone,” said Jeff Wilke, CEO of AmazonWorldwide Consumer, in a statement. “We will lower prices without compromising Whole Foods Market’s long-held commitment to the highest standards.” Due to Amazon’s reputation and ability to deliver on its promises, other grocers are watching closely as Whole Foods transitions to the new model, according to Rick Scardino, principal of Lee & Associates’ Chicago office. “Most grocers will be concerned for obvious reasons as to Amazon’s plan to lower pricing because that will shrink already tight margins in the grocery …
NORTH ANDOVER, MASS. — KeyBank Real Estate Capital has secured a $36.2 million Freddie Mac, fixed-rate loan for Berry Farms, located in North Andover. The Class A, 196-unit multifamily property was completed in early 2016 and is expected to be fully stabilized by September 2017. Dirk Falardeau of Key’s Commercial Mortgage Group arranged the financing with an 11-year term, five-year interest only period and 30-year amortization schedule. The loan was used to refinance existing debt.
NEW YORK CITY — New York City-based Kamber Management Company is under contract to acquire the Riverside Garage portfolio of parking facilities on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. The portfolio consists of three parking garage condominiums, located at 80, 100-120, and 220-240 Riverside Boulevard. The portfolio, which comprises space at the base of five luxury residential towers, is a strong cash-flowing asset fully leased to Icon Parking Systems. Meridian Capital Group arranged the deal. David Shechtman was the exclusive broker for the sellers, and Kamber Management Company was represented by Steven Levy.
BOSTON — G-Tek Labs has leased 30,000 square feet at 28 Damrell Street in South Boston. The company provides hardware workspace, creating an environment that supports development, manufacturing and scaling of electronic devices. The shared workspace will provide access to design software and state-of-the-art equipment, such as 3D printers and pick and place machines. G-Tek Labs, backed by Taiwan-based Gigatek, has begun construction on its two-story space with plans to launch Phase 1 in September. Colliers International’s Ryan Healy and Mike Shakespeare represented G-Tek in their search for space. Attorneys Ku Yoo of Chang & Yoo LLP and James Heffernan of Rich May, PC represented G-Tek Labs in negotiating the lease and other corporate matters. Scott Gredler with Cushman & Wakefield represented the landlord, Damrell Properties, in the transaction.
BOSTON — Canada-based Kids & Co. is continuing its U.S. expansion into the New England market with a 20,000-square-foot childcare center at 451 D Street in Boston. The building is owned in a joint venture led by Meritage Properties and CV Properties. CBRE/New England is the leasing agent for 451 D Street. The center will offer education and care to more than 200 children, providing full-time, part-time and emergency backup care for children from the ages of six weeks to six years. Kids & Company offers guaranteed placement to 451 D employees, no late fees, password protected web cams and proprietary educational programs, including music, Spanish, on-site special needs coaching, and sign language. The center also provides children with snacks and meals fresh-from-scratch, and free of chemicals, additives and preservatives. Kids & Company was launched in 2002 in Toronto, Canada, by Victoria Sopik, a mother of eight, and Jennifer Nashmi, a mother of three.
FRISCO, TEXAS — Omni Hotels & Resorts and the Dallas Cowboys have officially cut the ribbon for the Omni Frisco Hotel, a 16-story hotel in Frisco. Situated within The Star development, the 300-room hotel in Frisco officially opened in July and features dining outlets including Neighborhood Services, Edge Bar and Lobby Bar. Gensler is the architect of record, and Wilson Associates consulted on the project. The hotel features 24,000 square feet of meeting space, including a 13,000-square-foot ballroom. The floor-to-ceiling windows offer expansive views of The Star, the Dallas Cowboys’ practice fields and the Championship Plaza.
BRENHAM, TEXAS — Servitas LLC, a privately owned student housing developer based in Dallas, has broken ground on a new 464-bed, four-story residence hall at Blinn College, a two-year school in Brenham with more than 19,000 students. Situated at the corner of Seager Street and Old Mill Road, the property will feature approximately 9,000 square feet of common space, including study spaces, an outdoor courtyard and an engineering classroom. Houston-based Kirksey Architecture is designing the project, and El Paso-based Moss & Associates is the general contractor. Servitas expects for students to be able to move in by fall 2018. Raymond James Financial is completing financing for the project on behalf of Servitas.