There are no guarantees in commercial real estate. For commercial real estate owners, developers and investors, however, betting on the continued strength of the Las Vegas marketplace has been as close to a sure thing as it gets in recent years. The Vegas commercial market is as strong as it’s ever been as we head into 2020. Delivery on new projects is up 800,000 square feet over 2018. About 1.2 million square feet of retail space will have been added to the market by year’s end, while retail rental rates are up 4.6 percent in 2019. What’s really exciting isn’t just the top-line numbers, but the evolving nature of a market that is becoming more diverse. Las Vegas is preserving its gaming and entertainment dynamism while introducing more robust retail and mixed-use elements that expand well beyond the iconic Strip. Consequently, Vegas market performance isn’t just strong, it’s sustainable. A market overview reveals some of those reasons for optimism, as well as a deeper understanding of what’s driving that commercial real estate evolution. It never hurts to be the entertainment capital of the world, and there’s no doubt that gaming, hospitality and entertainment remain the foundation of the city’s appeal. …
Retail
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Candy and sweets retailer IT’SUGAR has opened a 22,000-square-foot store at American Dream, a newly opened entertainment and retail destination in East Rutherford, a western suburb of New York City. The official opening was Saturday, Dec. 14. The first floor of the three-story store offers giant candy, sugar sculptures and more than 5,000 square feet of candy bins with a variety of sweets. The second floor houses branded candies, including Sour Patch Kids, Swedish Fish and Reese’s. In spring 2020, a café called Oreo TWISTiD will open on the third floor, which overlooks the theme parks of American Dream’s entertainment atrium.
EAST PASADENA, CALIF. — Bolour Associates has completed the disposition of an entitled land site in East Pasadena for $8.5 million. Los Angeles-based APPA Real Estate acquired the land parcel for the development of a transit-oriented, mixed-use project. The parcel is the first development under Los Angeles County’s updated zoning supporting high-density development near metro retail sites. From 2015 to 2018, Bolour worked with county officials to re-entitle the site, located at 3768 E. Colorado Blvd., under the new zoning code. Upon completion, the project will feature 5,800 square feet ground-floor commercial space, 100 multifamily units, a private gym, co-working space, rooftop barbecue, decks, courtyards, a dog run and on-site parcel lockers. Additionally, the property will offer two levels of subterranean parking. Construction is scheduled to begin in early 2020, with an opening slated for early to mid-2022. The land transaction was a direct sale between Bolour and APPA, with all details handled in-house by both parties.
Parkview Financial Funds $7M Acquisition, Development Loan for 28-Story Mixed-Use Project in San Diego
by Amy Works
SAN DIEGO — Parkview Financial has provided a $7 million loan to San Francisco-based India & Beech for the acquisition of a land parcel and the first phase of construction funding for a high-rise residential and retail tower in downtown San Diego. Located at 1460 India St. within the Little Italy neighborhood, the 10,019-square-foot site is currently being used as a parking lot. The borrower recently acquired the property for $7.1 million, using Parkview’s loan in conjunction with cash on hand. The buyer plans to develop a fully entitled, 28-story, mixed-use urban infill project. The proposed development will feature 150 apartments, 11,724 square feet of retail space and two levels of above-grade parking totaling 150 spots. Construction is slated to begin in 2020, with completion scheduled for 2022.
CHINO, CALIF. — United Trust Realty Corp. (UTRC) has purchased 7.53 acres of commercially zoned land within College Park Master Planned Community in Chino. Lennar Homes sold the land parcel for $2.9 million. The site is the last remaining piece to be developed within the 710-acre community that includes 2,500 residential units featuring a mix of single-family and multifamily residences, a clubhouse, fitness center, picnic areas and trails. Chino Hills, Calif.-based UTRC plans to develop Village Center, a mixed-use project, at the site. The development will include 15,000 square feet of retail and food uses, a day care and a church. In addition to the residents of College Park and neighboring communities, the property is positioned to serve the adjacent Chaffey College satellite campus and the 140-acre Ruben S. Ayala Park. UTRC plans to request development permits from the City of Chino and Chaffey College in the upcoming months. Chris Lindholm of Progressive Real Estate Partners represented the buyer and seller in the deal.
BELTON, MO. — Quantum Real Estate Advisors Inc. has brokered the $5.4 million sale of a 55,000-square-foot property occupied by Hobby Lobby in Belton, about 20 miles south of Kansas City. The single-tenant building is located at 520 E. Markey Parkway. Hobby Lobby has approximately 12 years remaining on its lease. Dan Waszak and Zack Hilgendorf of Quantum represented the seller, a Kansas City-based developer. A California-based investment fund purchased the asset.
PEKIN, ILL. — Mattress Liquidators has relocated to a former Bergner’s department store at East Court Village in Pekin within central Illinois. The mattress store, previously located at 3518 Court St. within the shopping center, has moved to the former Bergner’s space at 3536 Court St. Mattress Liquidators now occupies the entire 82,100-square-foot space and opened its doors on Thursday, Dec. 12. Mattress Liquidators offers name-brand mattresses at significant discounts by purchasing overstocks and year-end models. The East Court Village store will also sell furniture and major appliances. The store is open Thursday through Sunday each week. Cullinan Properties Ltd. owns and manages East Court Village.
MIAMI — UrbanX Group has inked new lease agreements with fast casual restaurant Chick-fil-A and clothing retailer Old Navy to occupy a total of 19,000 square feet along the Miami River. The tenants will join River Landing Shops & Residences, the 8.1-acre mixed-use development currently under construction. Chick-fil-A and Old Navy are both scheduled to open in spring 2020 and join already signed tenants Publix, Burlington, T.J. Maxx, Ross Dress for Less, GNC, Chase Bank, AT&T and Hobby Lobby. The $425 million River Landing in the Mid River district, west of downtown Miami, is scheduled to open in early 2020. UrbanX Group’s Andrew Hellinger and Coralee Penabad are River Landing’s lead developers. The project will consist of approximately 345,000 square feet of retail space, 135,000 square feet of office, 528 apartments, more than 2,000 parking spaces, a 25,500-square-foot restaurant row and a landscaped riverwalk.
NEW HOLSTEIN, WIS. — The Boulder Group has arranged the $2.3 million sale of a single-tenant property net leased to grocer Piggly Wiggly in New Holstein, about 40 miles south of Green Bay. The 29,651-square-foot building is located at 2243 Calumet Drive. There are more than eight years remaining on Piggly Wiggly’s lease. Randy Blankstein and John Feeney of Boulder represented the seller, a Wisconsin-based partnership. A Midwest-based individual purchased the asset while completing a 1031 tax-deferred exchange.
VILLA PARK, ILL. — Adelphia Properties has brokered the sale of a 5,400-square-foot restaurant building in Villa Park, about 20 miles west of Chicago. The sales price was undisclosed. The vacant property, formerly occupied by Park West Pancake House, is located at 10 E. Roosevelt Road. George Spirrison and Simeon Spirrison of Adelphia represented the seller, a Chicago-based private investor. The buyer was also a Chicago-based private investor.