PLANO, TEXAS — Crayola will open a new Crayola Experience family attraction at the Shops at Willow Bend, a mall located at 6121 W. Park Blvd. in Plano. The 60,000-square-foot concept, which will be situated between the food court and Macy’s, will feature a 5,000-square-foot Crayola Store. Crayola expects to hire about 200 part- and full-time employees during peak employment at the new store, which is the fourth of its kind. The opening is slated for 2018.
TUCKER, GA. — Eastern Union Funding has arranged a $39.1 million acquisition loan for Landmark at Mountain View, a 989-unit apartment community located at 110 Wood Bend Drive in Tucker, a suburb of Atlanta in DeKalb County. Marc Belsky and Jonathan Singer of Eastern Union Funding arranged the three-year loan through Arbor Commercial Mortgage on behalf of the borrower, a private investment group based in New York that purchased the property for $38 million. Built in 1986, Landmark at Mountain View was 92 percent occupied at the time of sale. Berkadia Real Estate Advisors represented the seller in the sale.
MISSISSSAUGA, ONTARIO — R&R Real Estate Investment Trust (R&R REIT) has agreed to acquire a portfolio of nine extended stay hotels in the Southeast and Midwest totaling 1,020 rooms for an aggregate purchase price of $35 million. The properties are currently owned and operated by entities controlled by R&R REIT’s Majid Mangalji and Michael Klingher. Five of the hotels operate under the HomeTowne Studios brand, and the remaining four operate under the HomeTowne Suites brand. The properties are located in Kentucky, Georgia, Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana, Alabama, Illinois and South Carolina. Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP and Greenberg Traurig LLP acted as legal counsel to the REIT, and Raymond James Ltd. acted as financial advisor to the special committee charged with approving the portfolio acquisition. Following the closing of the acquisition, the REIT’s portfolio will comprise 10 hotels located in nine states.
GREENSBORO, N.C. — Colliers International has brokered the $20.8 million sale of Hidden Lakes Apartments, a 483-unit multifamily community located in Greensboro. Living Well Homes purchased the asset from CORE Realty Holdings Management Inc. Will Mathews and Brooks Colquitt of Colliers represented CORE Realty in the transaction. Colliers has brokered five sales on behalf of CORE Realty in the past 10 months.
HAMMOND, LA. — Arbor Realty Trust Inc. has funded a $13.5 million Fannie Mae loan for the refinancing of Tangi Lakes Townhomes, a 185-unit apartment community located in Hammond, roughly 45 miles east of Baton Rouge. Austin Walker of Arbor’s New York office originated the 10-year loan with a 30-year amortization schedule. Built in 1999, the property features barbeque grills, controlled access gates, a fitness center, laundry facility, on-site security, park/play area and a swimming pool.
KISSIMMEE, FLA. — Crossman & Co. has added Toys “R” Us at The LOOP, an open-air shopping destination located at 3208 N. John Young Parkway in Kissimmee. Toys “R” Us will join The LOOP’s existing tenants including Kohl’s, Ross Dress for Less, Bed Bath & Beyond, Michaels, Petco, Old Navy, CVS/pharmacy, Famous Footwear, LensCrafters, T-Mobile, Kay Jewelers, Chili’s Bar & Grill, Chick-fil-A, Noodles & Co., Ben & Jerry’s, Chipotle Mexican Grill and Regal Stadium 16. Katherine Rush of Crossman & Co. represented the landlord in the lease transaction, and Steve Friedman of Strategic Retail Advisors represented Toys “R” Us. The new lease brings The LOOP’s occupancy rate to 96 percent. Toy “R” Us operates 879 Toys “R” Us and Babies “R” Us stores in the United States, Puerto Rico and Guam, as well as 810 international stores and 255 licensed stores in 37 countries and jurisdictions.
SCHAUMBURG, ILL. — Square Mile has provided a $97.3 million loan for the acquisition of Schaumburg Corporate Center in Schaumburg. The office complex comprises over 1 million square feet, with two 14-story office towers and a four-story connecting atrium building. The property was built in phases in 1980, 1986 and 2002. John Hancock Life Insurance Co. developed, owned and leased the property, which is located across the street from the Woodfield Shopping Mall. A joint venture managed by GlenStar Properties acquired Schaumburg Corporate Center, with plans to renovate and reposition the property. Improvements will include the construction of a parking garage, a modernized eleveator, amenity upgrades and corridor updates. John Parrett of CBRE arranged the financing.
INDIANAPOLIS — Riverview Partners LLC, a joint venture between Goodwill and Strategic Capital Partners, has unveiled plans to develop a workforce housing community in Indianapolis. Riverview will target households that earn between $40,000 and $60,000 annually. The $26 million development, funded through a public/private partnership, will be located east of the Goodwill of Central and Southern Indiana headquarters at Michigan Street and White River Parkway. Riverview will feature 200 studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom units. Amenities will include a fitness center, coffee bar and outdoor areas. The project will also include first-floor retail and office space for Goodwill workforce job training programs. Rents will start at $600 for a 450-square-foot studio apartment.
WEST BEND, WIS. — The Opus Group has completed construction of a new 60,000-square-foot corporate headquarters for Delta Defense LLC in West Bend, about 39 miles northwest of Milwaukee. Opus worked closely with Kahler Slater throughout the design process. The two-story building includes a fulfillment area for the concealed carry organization’s printing and shipping services, designated training rooms, a call center, mailroom, recording studio, café, prep kitchen and an employee fitness center with locker rooms. The building also features a unique flex space with a monument staircase that doubles as seating. The 5,000-square-foot space will serve as a site for weekly company meetings and community events. The building is located in the West Bend Corporate Center and visible from U.S. Highway 45. The facility includes parking for 176 cars and docks for shipping from the fulfillment center. Delta Defense began occupying the property in March. Opus Design Build was the design-builder for the project, while Opus AE Group was the architect and structural engineer of record. Kahler Slater was the design architect and interior designer. Opus Development Co. provided development support services.
STREAMWOOD, ILL. — Entre Commerical Realty LLC has arranged the sale of two industrial buildings totaling 40,170 square feet in Streamwood, a northwest suburb of Chicago. The sales price was not disclosed. The buildings are located on 2.8 acres at 350-380 Roma Jean Parkway. The property includes a 15,000-square-foot office/warehouse building and a 25,000-square-foot warehouse building on two separate land parcels. Torque Parts, a truck parts distribution company, has purchased the buildings and will be relocating its operations from Mount Prospect, Ill. Dan Benassi, Mike DeSerto and Cory Kay of Entre represented the seller, Toryon Technologies, a supplier of wide format printers, laminators and routers.
