BIRMINGHAM, ALA. — Northmarq has arranged a $19.6 million loan for the refinancing of Market Lofts on Third, a 192-unit multifamily complex located at 2225 3rd Ave. N in Birmingham. Jesse Lemos and William Rhett of Northmarq’s Nashville Debt and Equity team arranged the 10-year Fannie Mae loan on behalf of the borrower, an entity doing business as EPT Holdings LLC. The loan features five years of interest-only payments. Originally known as Birmingham’s Municipal Market, the property has also served as a home for an automobile equipment company, bowling alley and office space. Market Lofts on Third was renovated in 2023 as a mixed-use development and now offers 140,000 square feet of living space, as well as 8,000 square feet of space dedicated for commercial use. The complex features studio, one- and two-bedroom floorplans up to 973 square feet in size, according to Apartments.com. Amenities include a rooftop deck with downtown views, a courtyard gathering space and fire pit, fitness center, laundry center, off-street parking, residential lounge, coffee bar, billiards, pet park with shampoo station and 24-hour emergency maintenance, as well as “wash, dry and fold” laundry services. Market Lofts on Third also offers furnished apartment options available through the CORT Furnishing rental …
Alabama
Forman Capital Provides $20M Construction Loan for Redevelopment, Completion of Retail Travel Center Near Mobile, Alabama
by Abby Cox
ROBERTSDALE, ALA. — Forman Capital has provided a $20 million construction bridge loan to LV Petroleum, the largest owner and operator of TA Travel Center franchises in the United States, for the redevelopment and completion of a retail travel plaza at 27801 County Road 64 in Robertsdale. Formerly the Oasis Travel Center, the property has already been converted into a TA Travel Center with all facilities operating, except for diesel fuel sales. Situated about 27 miles east of Mobile, the 51-acre site features 26,797 square feet of retail space, including Subway and Sbarro restaurants, eight gas pumps, five diesel pumps, four diesel emission fluid pumps and parking for 100 vehicles and 220 semi-trucks. Brett Forman, Ben Jacobson, Scott Mehlman, Ty Regnier and Cam Fleury of Forman Capital internally represented the firm in the transaction. LV Petroleum operates more than 40 convenience stores and travel centers throughout the country.
GULF SHORES, ALA. — Locally based Merrill P. Thomas Co. (MPT) has brokered the $5.7 million sale of Paradise Isle Shopping Center, a 47,520-square-foot shopping center located in Gulf Shores. Publix anchors the property, which is situated on 4.6 acres near the Florida border. Other tenants include AutoZone, Resale Heaven, Nail Boutique & Spa and the Gulf Shores Methodist Church. Pratt Thomas of MPT represented the seller, Gulf Shore Methodist Church, in the transaction. Nathan Handmacher of Zarzour Cos. LLC represented the buyer on an internal basis.
Willow Capital Adds Target, Academy Sports to Shopping Center Roster in Albertville, Alabama
by John Nelson
ALBERTVILLE, ALA. — Willow Capital Partners has landed anchor tenants to join Sand Mountain Marketplace, a 250,000-square-foot shopping center under construction at 10722 U.S. Route 431 in Albertville, about 47 miles south of Huntsville. The 30-acre property will be anchored by the first ground-up Target in Alabama since 2007, according to JLL’s Hugo Isom, who is handling the leasing assignment at Sand Mountain Marketplace with colleague Clint Isom. Other tenants that have signed on at the center include Academy Sports + Outdoors, Burlington and HomeGoods. There is 20,000 square feet of inline shop space available for lease, as well as three outparcels. Willow Capital Partners plans to deliver the development in spring 2027.
Cronheim Hotel Capital Arranges $13.3M Acquisition Loan for Hampton Inn Hotel in Prattville, Alabama
by John Nelson
PRATTVILLE, ALA. — Cronheim Hotel Capital has arranged a $13.3 million acquisition loan for Hampton Inn & Suites, a hotel located at 2590 Cobbs Ford Road in Prattville, a northern suburb of Montgomery, Ala. The new owner plans to fully renovate the hotel. Cronheim arranged the financing on behalf of the undisclosed borrower through a regional bank. The five-year loan features 18 months of interest-only payments and no prepayment penalty for the full term. The Hampton Inn & Suites Prattville has 101 rooms and suites, as well as an outdoor pool, fitness center, meeting rooms and complimentary breakfast, according to the property website.
MERIDIANVILLE, ALA. — Publix has opened a new store within Flint Crossing Market Place, a 64,925-square foot neighborhood retail center in Meridianville, roughly 10 miles north of Huntsville. Located at 12290 Highway 231/431 N, the store spans 48,387 square feet and features a full-service deli, bakery, seafood counter, produce section and a pharmacy with a drive-thru. Publix Super Markets, doing business as Real SUB LLC, is the landlord of Flint Crossing Market Place.
ENTERPRISE, ALA. — Legacy Realty Group has negotiated the sale of Westgate Shopping Center, a 132,737-square-foot shopping center located in Enterprise, roughly 30 miles east of Dothan. Piggly Wiggly anchors the center, which features a mix of additional tenants including Petsense, H&R Block, Rituals Salon & Day Spa, Rent-A-Center, Metro by T- Mobile, Beef ‘O’ Brady’s and Yancey Parker’s. Built in 1966, the property is situated on 6.4 acres, according to LoopNet. Jacob Baruch, Daniel Baruch and Ari Warshaw of Legacy Realty Group Advisors represented the buyer in the transaction. Pat Leggett of Century 21 Regency Realty represented the seller.
HUNTSVILLE, ALA. — The Storage Center has opened a new 850-unit self-storage facility located at 3910 Cypressbrook Drive NW in Huntsville. The three-story, 106,600-square-foot property is situated within Cummings Research Park, which is near Redstone Arsenal and University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH). Storage unit sizes at the climate-controlled facility range from 5- by 5-foot lockers to 10- by 30-foot units. The property features covered loading bays, 24-hour digital video surveillance, online rental and reservation options, onsite management and an onsite rental center selling boxes, locks and packing supplies.
Newmark Arranges $53.5M Refinancing for Blue Origin-Occupied Industrial Facility in Huntsville
by John Nelson
HUNTSVILLE, ALA. — Newmark has arranged a $53.5 million loan for the refinancing of an approximately 650,000-square-foot industrial property along I-565 and adjacent to Huntsville International Airport. The borrower is White Plains, N.Y.-based Reich Brothers. Blue Origin, an astronautics company founded by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, fully occupies the facility. The property serves as one of the BE-4 engine testing and manufacturing facilities for Blue Origin. Christopher Kramer, Chris Lozinak and Jordan Roeschlaub of Newmark arranged the financing through Loancore.
Range Light Investment Acquires Mall at Westlake in Suburban Birmingham, Plans Industrial Redevelopment
by Abby Cox
BESSEMER, ALA. — Range Light Investment Partners has acquired the former Mall at Westlake, a 323,000-square-foot shopping and dining destination located southwest of Birmingham in Bessemer, Ala. The Ohio-based investment firm plans to redevelop the property into an industrial flex complex that will be known as Marvel City Business Park. The former mall, which originally opened in 1969, permanently closed 40 years later in 2009 after retail activity migrated elsewhere, according to Range Light, leaving the property available for alternative purposes. “Shopping malls built from the 1960s through the 1990s were the distribution centers of that era,” says Pat Foran, founder of Range Light Investment Partners. “All of the features that made them great malls years ago are the same features light industrial and flex tenants are looking for today.” “There are many more tenants looking for 30,000 to 50,000 square feet than 300,000 to 500,000 square feet in the Birmingham area, and there are virtually no options for them,” adds Foran. “Marvel City Business Park will cater to those smaller bay-sized tenants that don’t need 36-foot-high ceilings and want more affordable rent than what the newer big box developments demand.” Situated on a 40-acre site at the intersection of interstates …