HOUSTON — Thor Equities has begun construction on the Kirby Collection, a mixed-use development at 3200 Kirby Drive in Houston. The 1 million-square-foot project features a 25-story, 385,000-square-foot residential tower. The residential building includes 199 apartments including seven two-story townhomes, along with seven two-story loft spaces with private yards. The residences will overlook a deck with over an acre of amenities including a pool with cabanas, fire pits and a bar area. The penthouse level will feature a Skyview Suite available to all residents, offering a chef’s kitchen and views of the Houston skyline. Kirby Collection’s will also include a 13-story, 210,000-square-foot Class A office building is near Houston’s central business district, the Galleria/Uptown district, Greenway Plaza and the Texas Medical Center. Two levels of retail space totaling 65,000 square feet are also part of the development, which is scheduled to open in the fourth quarter of 2017. Richard Keating Architecture is the design architect for the Kirby Collection, and Dianna Wong Architecture + Design is the interior designer. Houston-based Kirksey is the architect of record.
FORT WORTH, TEXAS — StreetLevel Investments and ShowBiz Cinemas will open a 65,000-square-foot entertainment complex in the spring of 2017. Located near the intersection of Chisholm Trail Parkway and McPherson, the entertainment center will include 10 cinema auditoriums, 14 bowling lanes and a game room. The auditoriums will feature 70-foot wall-to-wall and floor-to-ceiling screens, surround sound and leather reclining chairs. Showbiz Cinema will also offer special events and provide party facilities for sporting events, college programs, local school programs and community gatherings.
SUMMERVILLE, S.C. — GBT Realty Corp. will develop a new BJ’s Wholesale Club in Summerville, S.C. The $12 million development is situated on a 10.5-acre site at the southeastern corner of Interstate 26 and North Main Street. The 87,800-square-foot membership warehouse club will feature a BJ’s gas station and is expected to open in late 2016. Construction is set to commence immediately following the acquisition of the site in December. Summerville is located 20 miles northwest of Charleston. BJ’s Wholesale Club Inc. currently has more than 200 locations in 15 states with, the closest store located in Charlotte, N.C.
DES PLAINES, ILL. — Tremont Realty Capital has arranged $4.8 million in equity financing for a Mariano’s grocery store that will be built in Des Plaines, a northwest suburb of Chicago. The 73,317-square-foot building will be constructed at the corner of Golf Road and Mt. Prospect Road. Abbott Land & Investment Corp. is the developer. Tom Lorenzini of Tremont arranged the equity investment. The equity investment and construction loan make up roughly 97 percent of the project cost.
LAKE JACKSON, TEXAS — Dallas-based Centennial Real Estate Co., in partnership with Atlantic Creek Real Estate Partners and The North Shore Properties Group, have acquired Brazos Mall, a 680,951-square-foot enclosed mall in Lake Jackson, 50 miles south of Houston. Built in 1976, Brazos Mall is the only enclosed retail center in the Brazosport area. The trade area is home to corporations including Dow Chemical, Chevron, Phillips 66 and BASF Corp. Brazos Mall is 92 percent occupied and features retailers such as JC Penney, Victoria’s Secret, Rue 21, Aeropostale, American Eagle Outfitters, Hot Topic, Ross Dress For Less and a new 14-screen Starplex Cinema. Brazos Mall is located at the intersection of Highway 288 and Oyster Creek Drive.
HOUSTON — Houston-based Baker Katz has completed a 7,000-square-foot lease on behalf of Uncle Julio’s. Uncle Julio’s will be located near the intersection of I-10 West and Westgreen Boulevard. The restaurant serves Mexican food, and the opening is slated for Feb. 15, 2016. Jason Baker of Baker Katz represented Uncle Julio’s in the transaction. Vincent Giammalva of Giammalva Interests represented the undisclosed landlord. Founded in 1986, Uncle Julio’s has grown to include more than 20 locations in the U.S.
HOUSTON — McCarthy Building Cos. has broken ground on a project to expand the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, one of the largest museums in the United States and the oldest art museum in Texas. The project is located in Houston’s museum district, which attracts more than 8 million visitors each year. The redevelopment of the 14-acre campus consists of a new exhibition building, art school, below ground, two-level parking garage and a rooftop garden. Phase I of the $350-million campus expansion project includes the construction of the Glassell School of Art. The new facility will replace a building constructed in 1979. Nearly doubling the size of the previous building, the new Glassell School will include 80,000 square feet and will feature space for the junior and adult schools, which serve 7,000 students each year. Features of the new facility include fully digital studios and classrooms, exhibition space, an auditorium and street-level café.
CEDAR FALLS, IOWA — Cohen Financial has closed a $17 million refinancing loan for a 136,956-square-foot retail center located in Cedar Falls for a subsidiary of Midland Atlantic. East Viking Plaza is anchored by Scheels, a sporting goods store, and is shadow anchored by Target. Dan Rosenberg of Cohen Financial arranged the 10-year CMBS loan with Goldman Sachs Commercial Mortgage Capital.
ELYRIA, OHIO — The Cooper Commercial Investment Group has brokered the sale of a 179,646-square-foot retail center in Elyria, a southwest suburb of Cleveland, for $5.5 million. Midway Crossing is anchored by Olive Garden, Chipotle, Verizon and Planet Fitness. Bob Havasi and Dan Cooper of Cooper Commercial represented the seller, a New York-based institutional seller. The buyer was an Arizona-based private investment group.
DAYTON, OHIO — Marcus & Millichap has arranged the sale of a 36,756-square-foot retail center for $7.5 million. Sugarcreek Crossing I is comprised of three separate buildings and located at 5800 Wilmington Pike in Dayton. Tenants of the inline strip center include Mattress Firm, The UPS Store, Eagle Loan and Godfather’s Pizza. Tenants in the freestanding buildings include Cracker Barrel and Tire Discounters. Craig Fuller, Erin Patton and Scott Wiles of Marcus & Millichap represented the seller, an Ohio-based developer. They also secured and represented the buyer, a Washington-based private fund.