CHICAGO — AmTrust RE has added two leases and three renewals at One East Wacker, a 41-story office tower overlooking the Chicago Riverwalk. Mark Gunderson, Wendy Katz and Erica Marshall of Stream Realty Partners, AmTrust’s leasing agent for its Chicago office portfolio, arranged the leases. Aeropay, a financial technology company enabling businesses to accept compliant, cashless and digital payments, leased 15,000 square feet across the entire 39th floor. Paul Reaumond and Tyler Reaumond of CBRE represented the tenant. The Japan External Trade Organization, a nonprofit organization providing business support services to companies expanding to Japan, renewed its 8,000-square-foot lease on the 33rd floor. Boris Yelyashov and Kyle Robbins of Transwestern represented the tenant. Additionally, law firm Gair Gallo Eberhard expanded its lease to 7,000 square feet. ECD Co., a real estate innovation company, renewed its 3,700-square-foot lease. Lastly, Lawyers Trust Fund of Illinois signed a new lease for 2,500 square feet. AmTrust modernized the lobby, upgraded the exterior and entrances, created multiple spec suites and renovated the corridors and restrooms at One East Wacker, which totals 560,000 square feet. Additionally, the owner recently completed a new amenity floor overseen by wellness amenities management service Lulafit. The amenity floor also includes …
DETROIT — Michigan State University (MSU) has partnered with Apple to open the Apple Manufacturing Academy this summer in downtown Detroit’s First National Building. The academy will offer free in-person and online courses and will be the first of its kind in the United States. While based in Detroit, the academy will be open to companies nationwide. Apple engineers, along with experts from MSU, will consult with small- and medium-sized businesses on how they can implement artificial intelligence and smart manufacturing techniques. MSU also partners with Apple on the Apple Developer Academy, with support from the Gilbert Family Foundation. This academy, located in downtown Detroit, has graduated roughly 200 participants annually since 2021.
OMAHA, NEB. — A joint venture between Eastham Capital and Bender Cos. has acquired The Colonial, a 258-unit apartment community in Omaha. Eastham obtained a majority ownership in the deal through its current fund, Eastham Capital Fund VI LP. Bender, which has co-invested and partnered with Eastham on multiple projects, will oversee the day-to-day management. Parker Stewart and Alex Malzone of Northmarq brokered the sale. The Colonial is currently 95 percent occupied with average rents of just over $961 per month. the acquisition includes a renovation budget of $1.9 million, which will include interior unit renovations and exterior upgrades such as roof replacements, balcony repairs and parking lot enhancements. Built in 1967, the property features floor plans averaging 902 square feet. Amenities include an outdoor pool, community room, laundry facilities and storage lockers.
CLINTON TOWNSHIP, MICH. — Bernard Financial Group (BFG) has arranged a $3.6 million loan for the acquisition of an 80,160-square-foot industrial property in Clinton Township, a northern suburb of Detroit. Joshua Bernard of BFG arranged the loan on behalf of the borrower, BKG Dominion Capital Blvd LLC. A life insurance company provided the loan.
DALLAS — South Florida-based Sunrise Realty Trust (NASDAQ: SUNS) has provided $46.5 million in financing for The Boheme, a 352-unit apartment building in Dallas. The financing is part of a $62 million senior loan that refinances the property, which is owned by San Antonio-based Kairoi Residential. The Boheme is an eight-story building in the Bishop Arts District that was completed in 2023. Units come in studio, one- and two-bedroom floor plans, according to Apartments.com, and amenities include a rooftop pool, coworking lounge with private meeting rooms, courtyards and a game lounge.
FORT WORTH, TEXAS — Locally based owner-operator Trademark Property Co. will develop Westbend Residences, a 321-unit multifamily project that will be located in Fort Worth’s University District. The site spans 3.5 acres within Trademark’s Westbend mixed-use development that fronts the Clear Fork Trinity River. Units will come in one-, two- and three-bedroom floor plans, and a few penthouses will also be available on the top floor. Amenities will include two elevated resort-style pools, a fitness center and a dog spa, as well as 4,500 square feet of retail space. Construction is set to begin in the second quarter and to be complete in late 2026.
DALLAS — A partnership between two locally based investment firms, Discover Multifamily and Rainier Cos., has acquired 1001 Ross, a 204-unit apartment building in the historic West End area of downtown Dallas. The mid-rise property, which was built in 2004 and includes 30,506 square feet of retail space, offers one- two- and three-bedroom units. Amenities include a pool, fitness center, outdoor grilling and dining stations, coffee bar, resident lounge and a coworking space. The seller and sales price were not disclosed. The new ownership plans to implement a value-add program and rebrand the property as The Griffin.
ATLANTA — HOA Restaurant Group, parent company of restaurant chain Hooters, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, entering into a Restructuring Support Agreement (RSA) that will facilitate the continued operation of the company’s restaurants under new ownership. Hooters restaurants will continue to operate as usual throughout the bankruptcy process. A partnership between two existing Hooters franchisees, Hooters Inc. and Hoot Owl Restaurants, reached an agreement with Hooters of America (HOA) to acquire more than 100 HOA-owned Hooters restaurants, which, when added with the franchisees’ existing holdings, will account for approximately 70 percent of Hooters’ domestic locations. Upon completion of the Chapter 11 process, all Hooters locations will be franchisee-owned. Hooters Brand Management (HBM) will provide most of the franchise support for the company, including oversight of the national ad fund, the central purchasing organization and franchise development and support. North Point Mergers & Acquisitions represented the buying group, Hooters Inc. and Hoot Owl Restaurants, while Morrison & Foerster LLP is serving as their legal counsel.
FORT WORTH, TEXAS — The Endeavor Group Real Estate (EGRE), a Wyoming-based firm, is nearing completion of the renovation of a 140-unit seniors housing complex in Fort Worth. The property at 8000 Calmont Ave., which is located in the Las Vegas Trail submarket on the city’s west side, is now known as Manor Independent Living. The renovation, which began about a year ago following EGRE’s acquisition of the property, serves to increase the community’s affordability. Leasing is now underway, with rents starting at $1,900 per month, a price that includes three meals per day. Residents will also have access to round-the-clock medical care.
PORTLAND AND EDINBURG, TEXAS — Houston-based brokerage firm Baker Katz has arranged two leases in South Texas for Olive Garden. The first deal is for a 7,805-square-foot restaurant in Portland, located outside of Corpus Christi, and the second deal is for a 7,825-square-foot space in the Rio Grande Valley city of Edinburg. Lynann Pinkham of Cravey Real Estate Services represented the landlord in the Portland transaction, and Ron Reimer of First Hartford Realty represented the landlord in the Edinburg transaction. Jason Baker and Traci Holman of Baker Katz represented the parent company and operator, Orlando-based Darden Restaurants Inc. The openings are slated for the second quarter of 2025 and sometime in 2026, respectively.