MILWAUKEE — The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra (MSO) is hoping to purchase and restore the former Warner Grand Theatre in downtown Milwaukee in time for its fall 2019 season. An anonymous donor is leading the initiative to purchase the vacant theater, which would be converted into a concert hall. The renovation would include bathroom modernizations and updated seating to fit a capacity of 1,750. The theater’s acquisition and renovations are expected to cost between $70 million and $80 million. The MSO is hoping to acquire the site in fall 2017. The project is part of a $120 million MSO fundraising campaign that would also raise bridge financing and increase the organization’s general endowment. The MSO brought in $17 million in revenue during its 2015-2016 season. The symphony’s 80 full-time musicians perform more than 135 concerts each season. The orchestra currently performs at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts on North Water Street. The 12-story Warner Grand Theatre is situated on West Wisconsin Avenue. The MSO is the only major orchestra in the nation without control over its own performance venue, according to the MSO’s president and executive director. The Art Deco-style theater was built in 1931 and was last occupied …
Property Type
In the office segment there has been plenty of news regarding Class A assets. Companies have been flocking towards upgraded space. Landlords have made significant capital expenditures to their buildings to attract and retain these tenants. We have seen parking decks being built, investments to achieve LEED certification and the addition of upgraded amenities, such as cafés, fitness facilities, day care centers, and shuttles to mass transit. In the midst of these discussions, the Class B building seems to be getting lost. Class B office buildings do not have all of the bells and whistles of their Class A counterparts. However, this has not stopped them from experiencing a resurgence over the last few years. Current vacancy of Class B office space in the Northern New Jersey market is 13.4 percent. The vacancy rate has seen a steady decline from 15 percent at the end of 2014. The asking rents in the market average around $21.50 based on a gross number. The absorption of space over the last two years has been the best we have seen in more than 10 years. According to CoStar, 1.1 million square feet of Class B office space was leased in Northern New Jersey …
BREA, CALIF. — JCR Capital has acquired Brea Corporate Plaza and Brea Park Centre, a four-building office portfolio in Brea, for $55.6 million. The properties contain a total of 290,657 square feet. The portfolio is located at 500 S. Kraemer Blvd., 2601 Saturn St., 2650 Imperial Highway and 3230 E. Imperial Highway. HFF arranged $39 million in acquisition financing. The loan features a three-year term and floating rate through Prime Finance. The financing has two 12-month extensions. HFF also marketed the property on behalf of the sellers, The PRES Companies and Mariner Real Estate Management.
TACOMA, WASH. — Industrial Property Trust (IPT) has purchased a 58-acre former sawmill in Tacoma for an undisclosed sum. The space is located at 733 E. 11th St. IPT plans to build a 1.1 million-square-foot industrial facility on the property. The IPT Tacoma Logistics Center will include two buildings. The project is scheduled for completion in the first quarter of 2018. Tony Kusak of Cushman & Wakefield Commerce executed the transaction. The seller was Interfor.
PHOENIX — National Healthcare Realty and Development has announced plans to build McDowell Medical Commons, a 25,000-square-foot medical office building in Phoenix. The project will be located at 10650 W. McDowell Road. The Class A project will be situated at the northeast corner of 107th Avenue and McDowell Road. McDowell Medical Commons is slated for groundbreaking in 2017. Rachel Thompson and Michael Dupuy of Colliers International will serve as the project’s exclusive leasing agents.
AUSTIN, TEXAS — Westmount Realty Capital has completed the disposition of a 13-building office portfolio located on Kramer Lane and Metric Avenue within the Braker Center in Austin. The property sold for an undisclosed sum. Originally constructed as light industrial buildings, the 546,984-square-foot complex has evolved into more than 90 percent office finish-out space. Allergan Inc., Cenpatico, Integra Life Sciences and Renewal by Anderson are current tenants at the property. Eastdil Secured represented Westmount Realty Capital in the transaction. The name of the buyer was not released.
ARLINGTON, TEXAS — Greysteel has brokered the sale of Treehouse Apartments, a multifamily property located in Arlington. RMC Consultants sold the property to a private investor for an undisclosed price. Built in 1972, the property comprises five buildings totaling 16 units. Boyan Radic, Doug Banerjee, Andrew Mueller, Ryan Hill and Andrew Hanson of Greysteel represented the buyer and seller in the deal.
FORT WORTH, TEXAS — Marcus & Millichap has arranged the sale of two neighboring multifamily properties in Fort Worth. A Dallas-based limited liability company acquired the 104-unit Villas Del Sol and the 118-unit Wedgewood Apartments from a private investment group for an undisclosed price. Al Silva, Mark McCoy and Ford Braly of Marcus & Millichap represented the seller and procured the buyer in the transaction.
Metropolitan Capital Arranges $2.8M Acquisition Loan for Retail Center in College Station
by Amy Works
COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS — Metropolitan Capital Advisors has arranged $2.8 million in financing to 505 University Center LLC for the acquisition of 505 Center, a retail center located along University Drive in College Station. At the time of sale, the 33,766-square-foot property was fully occupied by a variety of national and regional tenants, including Fox & Hound, Edward D. Jones & Co., Aggieland Eye Care and Cavalier Cigar. Sunny Sajnani and Duke Dennis of Metropolitan Capital arranged the financing through Texas-based The Bank & Trust.
DALLAS AND PLANO, TEXAS — DuWest Realty has arranged two retail leases totaling 27,716 square feet in Dallas and Plano. In the first lease, The Knead Medmassage leased 11,141 square feet at Broadstone Galleria at 13465 Inwood Road in Dallas. Scott Rodgers and Taylor Cluff of DuWest represented the landlord, CH Realty, in the deal. In the second deal, Kawaii America Piano Co. leased 16,302 square feet at Village at Collin Creek Shopping Center in Plano. Rodgers and Joe Radice of DuWest represented the landlord, Madison Partners, in the transaction.