CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The NFL’s Carolina Panthers have unveiled plans for a renovation of its Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte totaling $1.3 billion. Highlights of the renovation include a park-like setting and exterior video boards for watch parties at the stadium’s entrance. Once inside, fans would experience a new sound system, scoreboard and video boards. Plans call for social areas with skyline views, improved concessions with regional offerings and an expanded team store. Additional improvements include new seats installed throughout the bowl; improved accessibility throughout the facility; stadium safety and security enhancements; a reimagined South Lawn Pavilion area; upgraded restrooms; enhancements to the stadium exterior; and modernization of the building systems. The renovation would be an ongoing partnership between the City of Charlotte and Tepper Sports & Entertainment (TSE), which owns and operates the Carolina Panthers, Bank of America Stadium and Major League Soccer’s Charlotte Football Club. Details of the proposed partnership include a fixed investment of $650 million from the City of Charlotte and a total investment of $688 million by TSE, including $117 million that was invested prior to June 2024. The city’s investment does not require any new or increased taxes, according to a release …
Retail
Federal Realty Acquires 665,000 SF Virginia Gateway Shopping Center in Metro D.C. for $215M
by John Nelson
GAINESVILLE, VA. — Federal Realty Investment Trust has acquired Virginia Gateway, a 665,000-square-foot retail center situated on 110 acres in Gainesville, about 35 miles west of Washington, D.C.. The purchase price was $215 million, and the seller was not disclosed. Tenants at the property, which is organized into five sections and was 95 percent occupied at the time of sale, include Giant Food, HomeGoods, Ulta Beauty, Total Wine & More and Hobby Lobby. The campus includes a Super Target that was not included in the transaction.
NORMAN, OKLA. — The Boulder Group, a brokerage firm specializing in single-tenant, net-leased retail deals, has arranged the $3.7 million sale of a building at 3501 NW 36th Avenue in Norman, Okla. CVS occupies the building, which according to LoopNet Inc. was built in 2010 and totals 12,888 square feet. Randy Blankstein and Jimmy Goodman of The Boulder Group represented the buyer, a California-based 1031 exchange investor, in the transaction. The seller was undisclosed.
DEARBORN HEIGHTS, MICH. — Gerdom Realty & Investment has brokered the sale of a 12,000-square-foot commercial building in the western Detroit suburb of Dearborn Heights. The sales price was undisclosed. The property is located on Van Born Road just east of Telegraph Road. Jack Melton and Michael Murphy of Gerdom represented the undisclosed seller. Ali Elkhalil of Own It Realty represented the buyer, which plans to convert the building into use for a towing company.
DENVER — Pinnacle Real Estate Advisors has arranged the sale of a 5,885-square-foot retail building located at 4923 W. 38th Ave. in Denver. The asset traded for $1.5 million. Levi Saxen and Keith Lenz of the Sandberg Monette Team of Pinnacle Real Estate Advisors facilitated the transaction for the undisclosed buyer and seller.
MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. — Trader Joe’s has signed a lease to open a new store at Sweetgrass Corner, a 90,000-square-foot shopping center located in Mount Pleasant, roughly five miles outside downtown Charleston. The grocer will occupy 14,000 square feet at the property, which is owned by Baltimore-based Continental Realty Corp. (CRC). Trader Joe’s, which operates more than 570 stores throughout the country, will be situated within a portion of the space left vacant by the closure of BI-LO in 2019. The new lease brings the center’s occupancy to 82 percent. CRC acquired Sweetgrass Corner in spring 2022. An opening date for the store was not disclosed.
HOUSTON — Restaurateur Mack McDonald will open a 15,858-square-foot restaurant in Uptown Houston. The restaurant will be located within 5POP, a 28-story, 566,773-square-foot office building, and will be operated under the Mack Allen’s upscale seafood brand. David Littwitz with Littwitz Investments represented the tenant in the lease negotiations. Crystal Allen with Transwestern represented the South Florida-based landlord, CP Group. The opening is slated for 2025.
KILLEEN, TEXAS — California-based brokerage firm Hanley Investment Group has negotiated the sale of a 4,900-square-foot retail building in the Central Texas city of Killeen. The building was constructed in 2023 was net leased to Brakes Plus at the time of sale. Garrett Wood of Hanley represented the buyer, a Florida-based 1031 exchange investor, in the transaction. Matt Montagne, Maxwell Watson and Tyler Ellinger of Sands Investment Group represented the seller, a Los Angeles-based private investor.
MOUNT OLIVE, N.J. — Locally based brokerage firm R.J. Brunelli & Co. has negotiated a 16,400-square-foot retail lease at The Gardens, a 373,612-square-foot shopping center in the Northern New Jersey community of Mount Olive. The tenant, Fitness Factory, will backfill a space formerly occupied by Bed Bath & Beyond. A recently opened Boot Barn occupies the other portion of the space. The opening is scheduled for June. Danielle Brunelli of R.J. Brunelli & Co. represented the undisclosed landlord in the lease negotiations.
Keystone Mortgage Arranges $16.2M Bridge Loan for Retail Repositioning Project in Palm Desert, California
by Amy Works
PALM DESERT, CALIF. — Keystone Mortgage Corp. has arranged a $16.2 million bridge loan to fund the repositioning of retail center in the Coachella Valley city of Palm Desert. Situated on 8.2 acres, the 80,072-square-foot retail property is 97 percent occupied by 14 tenants, including Grocery Outlet and Ross Dress for Less. Tim Winton of Keystone secured the financing on behalf of the borrower, a private real estate investor. One of Keystone’s correspondent life company lenders provided the 36-month, high-leverage, non-recourse loan. The loan will allow the borrower to complete the remainder of property upgrades while providing maximum leverage, interest-only payments, fixed rate and prepayment flexibility, according to Winton.