AUSTIN, TEXAS — A $23 million transformation initiative is planned for the Hilton Austin hotel. The upgrades will include a full renovation of the hotel’s lobby, public areas and meeting space, as well as the launch of two new restaurant concepts, a Starbucks and a flexible event venue. EDG Interior Architecture + Design has been hired for the project, which will begin in May and continue through the end of the year.
SAN MARCOS, TEXAS — On April 25, fast-casual restaurant chain Newk’s Eatery will open its first location in San Marcos. The brand serves salads, pizzas, sandwiches, soups and desserts seven days a week. Located at 1285 S. I-35 Frontage Road, the restaurant will offer indoor dining for 142 guests and patio dining for 42 more in a 4,405-square-foot space. The San Marcos restaurant will employ about 70 and is the first of five locations planned to open in the Austin metro area by 2019.
TAMPA, FLA. — Coca-Cola Beverages Florida, an independent Coca-Cola bottler based in Tampa, has signed a letter of intent with The Coca-Cola Co. to acquire four production facilities in Hollywood, Jacksonville, Orlando and Tampa for an undisclosed price. The proposed acquisitions will give Coca-Cola Florida the ability to fully manage the production of Coca-Cola products that it currently distributes for Florida customers and consumers. In December 2015, Coca-Cola Florida signed letters of intent to acquire The Coca-Cola Co.’s sales and distribution operations in North and South Florida. The proposed acquisitions are subject to the parties reaching a definitive agreement, with closing for the North Florida operations expected in 2016 and closing for the South Florida operations expected in 2017. Coca-Cola Florida currently operates in Central Florida with seven sales and distribution locations in Tampa, Lakeland, Sarasota, Fort Myers, Fort Pierce, Sebring and Spring Hill. Following the completion of the North and South Florida territory expansions, Coca-Cola Florida’s operations will encompass 16 sales and distribution centers throughout Florida.
NORTH BETHESDA, MD. — The General Services Administration (GSA), on behalf of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, has renewed a 347,922-square-foot lease at Two White Flint North, a 10-story office building in North Bethesda. The GSA occupies the entire property as well as its sister property, the 18-story One White Flint North. The GSA inked the lease renewal with Two White Flint North’s ownership group, Lerner Enterprises and The Tower Cos.
TAMPA, FLA. — NorthMarq Capital has arranged $40.7 million in financing for a seniors housing property, apartment community and a shopping center in Florida. The properties include Twin Creeks Assisted Living, a 96-bed seniors housing property under construction in Riverview; Lakehouse Luxury Apartments, a 125-unit apartment property located at 3003 S. Frontage Road in Plant City; and Publix at Summerfield Crossings, a 69,917-square-foot shopping center located at 13146 U.S. Highway 301 South in Riverview. Robert Hernandez of NorthMarq Capital’s Tampa office arranged the loans. The financing included a three-year, $14.2 million, interest-only construction loan for the Twin Creeks property on behalf of the borrower, Lithia Assisted Living LLC; a 10-year, $12.5 million, Fannie Mae loan with a 30-year amortization schedule for the refinancing of Lakehouse Luxury Apartments on behalf of Lakeside Gardens of Plant City LLC; and a 10-year, $14 million loan with a 30-year amortization schedule for the refinancing of Publix at Summerfield Crossings on behalf of the borrower, Big Bend Group LLC.
MEDLEY, FLA. — Cushman & Wakefield has arranged a 105,920-square-foot lease for space at Airport North Logistics Park, a 900,000-square-foot, Class A industrial complex currently under construction in Medley, part of Miami’s Airport North industrial submarket. The industrial park is situated on 45 acres at 8502 N.W. 80th St. The tenant, Neutralogistics Distribution LLC, signed the five-year lease for space in Building One, which will feature a 120-foot concrete truck court, 34-foot clear heights, 57 overhead doors, two ramps, 60-foot staging bay, an ESFR sprinkler system, 227 parking spaces and T-5 lighting. Wayne Ramoski and Gian Rodriguez of Cushman & Wakefield represented the landlord, Airport North Industrial Inc., in the lease deal. Juan Ruiz of Blanca Commercial Real Estate represented the tenant.
ALEXANDRIA, VA. — KLNB Retail has brokered the sale of New Grand Shopping Center, a 65,330-square-foot shopping center located at 6229-6259 Little River Turnpike in Alexandria, roughly 10 miles outside of Washington, D.C. The center was fully leased at the time of sale and anchored by New Grand Mart, an international supermarket that specializes in Korean, East Asian, Latino and African groceries. Other tenants include Pho Factory, TempAsian Café, Hee Been Restaurant, Panaderia Latina, Mamas Chicken, Kabob Restaurant, Halal Meats, a dry cleaner, laundromat, men and women’s hair salons and a beauty supply store. Andy Stape and Vito Lupo of KLNB Retail represented the seller, Grand Shopping Center LLC, and procured the buyer, a private real estate fund advised by Crow Holdings Capital-Real Estate. The sales price was not disclosed.
CHICAGO — HFF has arranged a $99.5 million loan for a 573,276-square-foot office building in Chicago. Borrowers Blue Star Properties and the Wolcott Group LLC will use the loan proceeds to payoff existing financing and complete building renovations. The building, located at 125 S. Clark St., was constructed in 1907 by Daniel Burnham as the Commercial National Bank Building of Chicago. The property is currently undergoing a renovation and rebranding as The National. The 20-story, steel and concrete building will feature loft office space, an outdoor terrace, an artisanal marketplace and lounge, record shop and fitness center. HFF arranged the floating-rate financing with Brookfield Real Estate Financial Partners and Bank of the Ozarks. Christopher Carroll, Michael Kavanau and Christopher Knight of HFF represented the borrower.
EDEN PRAIRIE, MINN. — New York Life Real Estate Investors has provided a $30 million mortgage loan for a 191-unit luxury multifamily community in Eden Prairie, approximately 17 miles southwest of Minneapolis. The recently constructed Martin Blu is a Class-A property that includes a fitness center, clubroom, coffee bar and outdoor plaza with fire pit and kitchen. The loan features a 15-year term with two years of interest-only payments. Ben Fazendin of Grandbridge Real Estate Capital acted as the mortgage broker in the transaction. Bader Development was the project developer, and Steven-Scott Management is managing the property.
SCHERERVILLE, IND. — Pine Tree Commercial Realty LLC has acquired Town Square shopping center, a 138,571-square-foot center located approximately 15 miles southwest of Gary, for $23 million. Bed Bath & Beyond and TJ Maxx anchor the center, which is also home to tenants including Old Navy and Shoe Carnival. The acquisition was brokered by HFF, and Wells Fargo provided financing. The seller in the transaction was undisclosed.