AUBURN, ALA. — Birmingham, Ala.-based HPM has completed construction of the Tony and Libba Rane Culinary Science Center at Auburn University. The dual-purpose, 142,000-square-foot property houses learning environments for culinary students, as well as a boutique hotel, the 1856 teaching restaurant, brewery and a food hall. HPM served as program manager on the project and provided project management support for Auburn University Facilities Management during the pre-construction and construction phases. Auburn alumnus and board of trustees member Jimmy Rane helped kickstart the project with a $12 million gift dedicated to the building’s construction. The board later approved naming the facility in honor of his parents, Tony and Libba Rane. The property is situated at the corner of East Thach Avenue and South College Street in downtown Auburn. HPM also oversaw the construction of a $10 million, six-story parking garage nearby before breaking ground on the culinary facility in 2019. The design-build team for the property include architect Cooper Carry, facility operator Ithaka Hospitality Partners, the Auburn University Facilities Management department and general contractor Bailey-Harris Construction.
Alabama
BIRMINGHAM, ALA. — A joint venture between Coro Realty and H2RE Capital has purchased Airport Highway Park, a 319,413-square-foot industrial campus in Birmingham. The sales price and seller were not disclosed. The seven-building park is situated along Messer Airport Highway near Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport. The seven warehouses were fully leased at the time of sale. Tripp Alexander of Colliers brokered the transaction. Coro and H2RE Capital plan to make capital improvements to Airport Highway Park during their ownership period.
MIAMI — JLL has arranged a $193 million permanent loan for the refinancing of a nine-property industrial portfolio totaling 1.7 million square feet. The properties are located on infill sites in South Florida, Texas, North Carolina, Alabama and Maryland. Chris Drew, Melissa Rose and Christopher Gathman of JLL arranged the five-year, fixed-rate, non-recourse loan through TIAA Bank on behalf of the borrower, Adler Real Estate Partners. The assets were constructed between 1981 and 2001 and were leased to 145 separate tenants at the time of financing. The properties included: • Riverchase Center in Hoover, Ala. • 1001 Broken Sound Parkway in Boca Raton, Fla. • Prospect Park I & II in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. • Delray North Business Center in Delray Beach, Fla. • Rivers Business Park I & II in Columbia, Md. • South Point Business Park in Charlotte, N.C. • Parkwest I & II in Raleigh, N.C. • Addison Tech Center in Addison, Texas • Kramer 1-5 at Braker Center in Austin, Texas
Marcus & Millichap Brokers Sale of 3,369-Unit Self-Storage Portfolio in the Southeast
by John Nelson
COLUMBUS, OHIO — Marcus & Millichap has arranged the sale of a self-storage portfolio comprising 10 Boardwalk Storage facilities located in Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee. The properties total 3,369 units across 569,530 square feet. Gabriel Coe, Nathan Coe and Brett Hatcher of Marcus & Millichap arranged the sale on behalf of the undisclosed seller and procured the buyer, which was also not disclosed. At the time of sale, the portfolio, which includes a mix of climate-controlled and non-climate-controlled units, was 64 percent leased. The Alabama property is located in the city of Opelika, with the Georgia properties located in Dahlonega, Clermont, Loganville, Perry and Jasper. In Tennessee, the facilities are situated in Ooltewah, Chattanooga and Soddy-Daisy. Marcus & Millichap’s brokers of record in Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee are Eddie Greenhalgh, John Leonard and Jody McKibben, respectively.
Matthews Arranges $16.1M Portfolio Sale of Eight Stores Leased to Family Dollar-Dollar Tree
by John Nelson
NASHVILLE, TENN. — Nashville-based Matthews Real Estate Investment Services has arranged the $16.1 million portfolio sale of eight stores leased to the combo Family Dollar-Dollar Tree discount retail concept. The stores are located in Blountsville and Clayton, Ala.; Pauls Valley, Warner and Maud, Okla.; Edison, Ga.; Lincoln, Ark.; and Coldiron, Ky. Josh Bishop of Matthews represented the seller, an unnamed developer that built the stores. The undisclosed institutional buyer purchased the assets at a cap rate of 6.4 percent.
Berkeley Capital Advisors Brokers $61M Sale of Shoppes at EastChase Shopping Center in Montgomery
by John Nelson
MONTGOMERY, ALA. — Berkeley Capital Advisors has brokered the $61 million sale of Shoppes at EastChase, a 388,700-square-foot shopping center located at 7274 Eastchase Parkway in Montgomery. Alex McDonald, Alex Quarrier and Rob Carter of Berkeley Capital represented the seller, an undisclosed institutional investor, in the transaction. The buyer was 5Rivers CRE, a shopping center owner and manager based in Houston. Built in phases in 2002 and 2010, Shoppes at EastChase was 93 percent leased at the time of sale to tenants such as Books-A-Million, Bonefish Grill, Moe’s Southwest Grill, DSW, H&M, Men’s Wearhouse, Sunglass Hut and a freestanding Starbucks Coffee. Trek, Sephora, Aldi, Ashley HomeStore Outlet, Dollar Tree, Lululemon Pop Up, Nothing Bundt Cakes and Aerie have all recently signed new leases, and Zales has signed a letter of intent. The anchor tenants and shops at Shoppes at EastChase have an average operating history at the center of 11 years, according to Berkeley Capital. The property is shadow-anchored by Dillard’s, Kohl’s, Target, Costco and Hobby Lobby. The center is situated on a 60-acre along I-85, about 10 miles east of downtown Montgomery. According to Berkeley Capital, it is the second most-trafficked power retail center in Alabama.
HUNTSVILLE, ALA. — Northmarq has arranged a $22.5 million refinancing loan for Village on Whitesburg, a 118,356-square-foot shopping center located at 4800 Whitesburg Drive SE in Huntsville. Randy Wolfe of Northmarq’s Atlanta office secured the permanent, fixed-rate loan, which features a seven-year term and 25-year amortization schedule, through an unnamed regional bank. The borrower was also not disclosed. The Fresh Market anchors Village on Whitesburg, and other tenants include AT&T, Bonefish Grill, Drake’s, Nadeau, Panera Bread and Learning Express.
CULLMAN, ALA. — First National Realty Partners (FNRP) has purchased Cullman Shopping Center, a 304,935-square-foot retail development located in Cullman, an east Alabama city equidistant between Huntsville and Birmingham. Kyle Stonis of SRS Real Estate Partners represented the undisclosed seller in the transaction. The sales price was also not disclosed. Cullman Shopping Center’s tenant roster includes Publix, Belk, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Ross Dress for Less, Ulta Beauty, Five Below and PetSmart, among others. Red Bank, N.J.-based FNRP entered the Alabama market in 2022 and now owns four shopping centers in the Yellowhammer State, including Brook Highland Plaza and Inverness Corners in Birmingham and Tannehill Promenade in Bessemer.
HUNTSVILLE, ALA. — McShane Construction Co. has completed the construction of Laurel at Dry Creek, a 343-unit apartment community in Huntsville. The developer is Gateway Ventures Real Estate. Sitting on 20 acres, the property comprises 16 apartment and townhome buildings housing units in one-, two- and three-bedroom layouts. Designed by Dynamik Design, Laurel at Dry Creek features 7,000 square feet of amenity space, including a fitness center, pool, fire pit, pickleball courts, hammock garden, car wash, dog park and pet-grooming station. The community was 85 percent leased at the time of delivery.
HUNTSVILLE, ALA. — RCP Cos. plans to develop Wellory Living, a new 328-unit multifamily development coming to the developer’s MidCity District in Huntsville. The $108 million property is designed to achieve “net-zero energy status” and a reduced carbon footprint by utilizing solar PV panels, smart thermostats and a reflective roof, among other features. RCP has partnered with Grounded Capital Partners on the project. Situated on 4.2 acres at the corner of Old Monrovia Road and Stax Street, Wellory Living will span six stories and feature 13,582 square feet of ground-floor retail space, coworking spaces, a rooftop lounge and an outdoor terrace. The project team includes debt lender Pinnacle Financial Partners, architect Lord Aeck Sargent and general contractor ARCO Murray. RCP plans to break ground on Wellory Living this winter and deliver the property by summer 2025.