New Jersey and New York City employers have been expanding their ranks this year, allowing New Jersey residents to recognize new opportunities as economic growth in both areas continues to pick up steam. In Northern New Jersey, employment growth continues to follow a positive course as companies in New York City are attracted to the region’s lower operating costs and highly educated workforce. This year, companies are on track to add 29,000 employees, representing a year-over-year expansion of 1.4 percent. This will be the largest gain in jobs created since 2000. Job creation has been highest in the leisure and hospitality industry, as well as education and health services sectors, where 12,200 new jobs were created in the first half of the year. Newly employed professionals in search of affordable housing are opting for rentals in Northern New Jersey, where average rents can be half the cost of the greater New York City area. As a result of this growing demand for Northern New Jersey rentals, developers have expanded the pipeline of multifamily projects to more than 12,000 apartments with completions scheduled through 2017. Developers are on track to deliver over 7,900 apartments this year, representing the widest pipeline and …
For Newark, New Jersey, the well-documented trend toward urbanism and the emergence of creative solutions that position older properties to serve modern needs are creating strong momentum. At a time when leasing activity is ticking upward across the city’s diverse tenant base, it also is becoming clear that Newark’s superior data capacity positions the city to become a hub for tech start-ups and, ultimately, a national hub for the tech sector. For Millennials, Old is “In” According to new Pew Research Center analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data, it is estimated that about 53.5 million millennials (adults aged 18 to 34) are part of the U.S. workforce today. Companies run by or interested in attracting millennials — whether focused on technology or any other sector — are gravitating to 24/7 downtown or urban locations. And they are seeking smart, collaborative work spaces. The result? Old is “in” — at least when it comes to tenant preferences for office space. At The Berger Organization, we are stripping antiquated fit-outs and tapping into the popularity of exposed ductwork, open floor plans and loft-inspired architectural elements. The resulting environments speak to modern desires and individual company cultures, while paying homage to their urban …
SAN DIEGO — Cypress Office Properties has purchased the 114,355-square-foot Willow Creek Corporate Center in the San Diego submarket of Scripps Ranch for $19.7 million. The center is located at 10089 Willow Creek Road. Willow Creek is situated within the master-planned Scripps Ranch Business Park. It sits just east of Interstate 15, near State Routes 52, 56 and 163. The property is minutes from more than 1 million square feet of retail amenities and abundant housing options. JLL’s Bob Prendergast and Lynn LaChapelle represented the seller, LBA Realty, in this transaction.
LOS ANGELES — Stockdale Capital Partners has acquired a 140,054-square-foot medical office building in Los Angeles for an undisclosed sum. The building is located at 2100 W. 3rd St. The space was built in two phases between 1991 and 2007. It includes medical office, laboratory and general office space. Notable tenants at the property include UCLA, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, ViraCor-IBT Laboratories and the House Ear Clinic. Bob Safai, Matt Case and Brad Schlaak of Madison Partners represented the seller, a joint venture between Watt Investment Partners and Rockpoint Group, in this transaction.
PHOENIX — Colliers International has arranged the $9.7 million sale of Mountain Park Plaza, an 87,672-square-foot shopping center located in Phoenix. Mindy Korth and Kirk Kuller of Colliers represented the seller, Issaquah, Wash.-based Western America Commercial, in the transaction. The buyer was Fairfield, N.J.-based Lamar Cos. Tenants at the 95-percent-occupied center include anchor Fry’s Food and Drug, Nationwide Vision and Sally Beauty Supply. Three pads occupied by a Fry’s Food Stores fueling station, Taco Bell and Kidz Connextion Dental Center were not included in the sale.
LAS VEGAS — Frito Lay is expanding its distribution center in Las Vegas. The center is located at 1209 Trade Drive in North Las Vegas. The company will expand the facility by about 30,000 square feet. The project will take place directly adjacent to an active warehouse. Construction is scheduled for completion this May. William E Franz designed the project. Burke Construction Group will manage the construction, which Burke Construction Group will perform. Con-Real owns the facility.
HIGHLANDS RANCH, COLO. — Erickson Senior Living has completed the Phase II expansion of Wind Crest, a continuing care retirement community (CCRC) in the Denver suburb of Highlands Ranch. Texas-based design firm studioSIX5 started the project with Erickson in 2012, adding a second neighborhood and spreading out amenities rather than concentrating them in a central community area. Erickson is a Baltimore-based owner/operator of CCRCs. The company manages eight communities totaling 5,787 units, according to June numbers from the American Seniors Housing Association.
NEW YORK CITY — Jamestown LP, a national real estate investment and management company, has acquired a 49 percent joint venture stake in ownership of two office properties in Manhattan for an undisclosed sum. Under the new partnership agreement, George Comfort & Sons and Loeb Partners Realty will together retain a majority interest in the assets. The properties include 63 Madison Avenue, a 15-story, 870,000-square-foot office building that is fully occupied by notable tenants such as New York Life and CBS; and 200 Madison Avenue, a 26-story, 750,000-square-foot office building that is 99 percent leased to 20 tenants, including Philips-Van Heusen, Roche BoBois and Greater New York Mutual Insurance. Doug Harmon, Adam Spies, Adam Doneger and Josh King of Eastdil Secured provided financial advice for the transaction.
MIDDLETOWN, CONN. — Institutional Property Advisors (IPA), a division of Marcus & Millichap, has arranged the sale of a two-property multifamily portfolio located in the Westlake District of Middletown. The 650-unit portfolio sold for $92.5 million, or $142,000 per unit. The portfolio includes Madison Chestnut Hill, which was built in 1986 and features 314 apartments, and the 336-unit Madison Northwoods, which was also built in 1986. Both properties offer a variety of community amenities, including clubhouses, billiards rooms, libraries, tennis courts, swimming pools and fitness centers. Victor Nolletti, Steve Witten, Still Hunter and Eric Pentore of IPA represented the seller, Chestnut Hill and Northwoods Apartments Associates LLC, and procured the buyer, Gateway Realty Holdings LTD.
PARAMUS, N.J. — NorthMarq Capital has arranged $49.4 million of floating-rate financing for a 244,000-square-foot, four-property retail portfolio on Route 17 in Paramus. The borrower, Advanced Realty, will use the loan proceeds for acquisition of the assets and a funding facility for re-tenanting and redevelopment costs. Three of the buildings are located at 289-317 Route 17 South. The properties are occupied by PGA Tour Superstore and P.C. Richard & Son. Located at 60 Route 17 North, the fourth property is a 75,000-square-foot power center occupied by DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse and PetSmart. Gregory Nalbandian of NorthMarq secured the loan through Natixis Real Estate Capital for the borrower.