The New Mexico retail market is continuing to change in a positive manner, which bodes well for property owners and businesses. There are new national, regional and local tenants looking at this market, moving in and around the shopping centers of New Mexico. New shopping centers are being built, while existing shopping centers are being redeveloped and traded. Some of the most significant transactions include Columbus Pacific acquiring Sierra Vista Shopping Center in Albuquerque and moving Stein Mart and Hobby Lobby into a former K-Mart space. Pete Daskalos Properties has also purchased Four Hills Village Shopping Center on Central and Tramway in the Southeast Heights submarket. The center now has a new movie cinema, among other changes to its anchors and tenant roster. A K-Mart building at Rio Rancho at Hilltop Plaza Shopping Center was also sold after the store vacated. The new landlord is looking to re-anchor that space as well. These big box vacancies have created redevelopment opportunities for existing shopping centers located in established trade centers while rents are increasing as the larger spaces are subdivided and leased to other tenants. This has created momentum in the market and upward pressure on asking lease rates. Other retailers …
HOUSTON — Morgan plans to start construction during the first quarter of 2016 on its latest Pearl luxury apartment project in Houston’s Midtown district. The eight-story complex will include apartments above a Whole Foods Market. The upcoming development is located in the 3100 block of Smith across the street from Morgan’s Pearl Midtown midrise that opened last summer. Ziegler Cooper is the project’s architect. The new apartment complex will feature 260 studios, one- and two-bedroom units. Amenities will include Bluetooth sound systems, a sky lounge, fitness center and pool. The Whole Foods Market store will be 40,000 square feet, with a second floor mezzanine for seating. Pearl will include components of Morgan’s LiveWell program, which focuses on providing a healthy and comfortable apartment lifestyle for residents of its Pearl branded projects.
HOUSTON — Lloyd Jones Capital has opened a new office in Houston to serve the Houston and San Antonio markets. Headquartered in Miami, the company specializes in multifamily investment in Florida, Texas and South Carolina. This is the company’s second Texas office. The Dallas/Fort Worth office opened earlier this year. Located at 2929 Allen Parkway, Suite 200 in Houston, the new office will house two vice presidents of investments, Fin Erwin and Fernando Zamarripa, whose responsibilities will be to identify, acquire, underwrite and manage the company’s multifamily investments.
GEORGETOWN, TEXAS — Marcus & Millichap has arranged the sale of a 14,490-square-foot, net-leased Walgreens property located in Georgetown. Jason Vitorino of Marcus & Millichap’s Dallas office marketed the property on behalf of the seller, a private investor. An outside agent represented the buyer who acquired the asset through a 1031 exchange. Walgreens is located at 3204 Williams Drive, one mile west of I-35. Built in 2002, the asset is situated on 2.15 acres north of Austin. At the time of listing, more than 12 years remained on the initial 15-year lease term.
HOUSTON — NAI Partners has arranged a 15,089-square-foot office lease in Houston. NAI represented Noex Management LLC in the lease of space at 2500 Fondren Road. The property, known as Piney Point Offices, is located between the Galleria and Westchase submarkets just south of the Memorial Villages. Sam Hansen of NAI Partners represented the landlord, Noex, in the lease negotiations. Rich Pancioli and John Dolan of CBRE represented the tenant, American Cancer Society Inc.
HOUSTON — Houston-based Baker Katz, in collaboration with Lovett Commercial, has completed the sale of a 13,013-square-foot retail property in Houston. The building, currently occupied by a CVS Pharmacy, rests on over one acre located at 15411 Wallisville Road on the Northwest corner of Wallisville and Beltway 8. Nearby tenants include Walmart, Lowe’s and Buffalo Wild Wings. Baker Katz and Lovett Commercial originally purchased the property in 2007.
KANSAS CITY, MO. — Laurus Corp. has completed a $10 million renovation on the Hilton Kansas City Airport Hotel. The property is located at 8801 NW 112th St. All 347 guest rooms and guest bathrooms saw renovations including new carpeting, stonework and modern artwork. All three ballrooms include 21,000 square feet of total meeting space and the largest meeting room accommodates up to 700 people in a theater-style setting. The newly renovated indoor/outdoor pool and lounge is designed to create an oasis for guests to relax and unwind. In addition, the restaurant and bar was revamped and now operates as Asado Grill. Surrounded by more than 6 million square feet of office space, including several Fortune 500 companies, the hotel offers proximity to shopping, dining and other entertainment venues.
WOODBURY, MINN. — Oak Grove Capital has arranged a $35.9 million FHA loan for Uptown at City Walk, a 245-unit multifamily apartment complex in Woodbury. Tim Leonhard, managing director of Oak Grove Capital, secured the interest rate modification loan for the undisclosed borrower.
ANN ARBOR, MICH. — Friedman Integrated Real Estate Solutions has arranged the sale of a 47,074-square-foot office building in Ann Arbor. The property is located at State Technology Center I. The seller, 4750 Venture Drive Associates LLC, sold the building to Capovista LLC. State Technology Center I is a single-story office/flex building. The asset was built in 1987 on a 4.12-acre site within the State Technology Center business park, home to three technology and engineering-based companies. Barry Swatsenbarg and Rich Deptula of Friedman represented both the undisclosed seller and the buyer.
CANAL WINCHESTER, OHIO — Marcus & Millichap has arranged the $1.2 million sale of Ebright Self Storage, a 37,200-square-foot self-storage property located in Canal Winchester. The property is located at 5207 Ebright Road. Brett Hatcher of Marcus & Millichap’s Columbus office represented the seller and the buyer, both limited liability companies.