HOT SPRINGS, ARK. — A public-private partnership between Servitas and National Park College has completed construction of Dogwood Hall, a 180-bed residence hall that will serve students of the public community college in Hot Springs. The community is National Park College’s first on-campus student housing building. The three-story property comprises 52 fully furnished units. Communal amenities include study lounges on each floor, package lockers, an onsite laundry room and resident parking. Servitas served as lead developer for the project and will manage the community. The development team also included BGO Architect, Design Collective, Annex and Stevens Financing. Students began moving into Dogwood Hall on Aug. 20 and in-person classes at National Park began today.
Arkansas
E-Commerce Sales for Walmart Grow 97 Percent in Second Quarter, Same Store Sales Up 9.3 Percent
by Alex Tostado
BENTONVILLE, ARK. — Walmart’s e-commerce sales jumped 97 percent in the second quarter, which ended July 31. The Bentonville-based retailer increased its e-commerce capabilities, including increasing same-day delivery and curbside pick-up options as well as hiring at least 200,000 people during the pandemic. Walmart includes a grocery section, deeming the retailer essential and allowing it to remain open through the crisis. Additionally, the U.S. government passed the CARES Act, which included stimulus checks for millions of Americans. As a result of increased spending, Walmart’s same-store sales increased 9.3 percent in the second quarter. Total revenues rose 5.6 percent to $137.74 billion from $130.38 billion a year earlier. The company incurred $1.5 billion of COVID-related costs during the second quarter, including benefit payments and inventory purchases. Sales at Sam’s Club locations were up 8.8 percent in the second the quarter. E-commerce sales increased 39 percent.
The Multifamily Group Brokers Sale of 242-Unit Apartment Complex in North Little Rock
by Alex Tostado
NORTH LITTLE ROCK, ARK. — The Multifamily Group (TMG) has brokered the sale of Arrowhead Estates, a 242-unit apartment complex in North Little Rock. The property, which was originally built in 1968, offers one- and two-bedroom floor plans. Communal amenities include a pool, playground, basketball court, picnic area and a sundeck. The community is situated at 1707 Arrowhead Road, six miles north of downtown Little Rock. Paul Yazbeck of Dallas-based TMG represented the undisclosed seller in the transaction and procured the undisclosed buyer. The sales price was also not disclosed.
Amazon to Develop Fulfillment Center, Delivery Station in Little Rock Totaling 910,000 SF
by Alex Tostado
LITTLE ROCK, ARK. — Amazon will develop afive-story, 825,000-square-foot fulfillment center at the Port of Little Rock in Little Rock. Slated for delivery in 2021, the property is expected to house 1,000 employees who will work alongside Amazon Robotics to pick, pack and ship small items to customers such as books, electronics and toys. The center will sit on 80 acres along Zueber Road, which, according to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, an Amazon entity paid $3.2 million for. Seattle-based Amazon is also planning an 85,000-square-foot delivery station near Interstate 30. Items at the fulfillment center will be shipped to the delivery station, which will serve in the last-mile delivery effort. The station, which will be Amazon’s second in Little Rock, is expected to open by the end of this year. According to the Gazette, Amazon is spending $8 million to renovate the warehouse for the delivery station.
CONWAY, ARK. — Pebb Capital has sold Glenrock Apartments, a 180-unit apartment complex in Conway, for $17.5 million. Pebb acquired the property in 2016 when it was a 540-bed student housing community. The asset is located at 2730 Dave Ward Drive, one mile from the University of Central Arkansas campus. The Boca Raton, Fla.-based company converted the property, which now offers two-, three- and four-bedroom floor plans. Communal amenities include a 24-hour fitness center, saltwater pool, sand volleyball and basketball courts, business center, game room, coffee bar and tanning beds. The buyer was not disclosed.
ROGERS, ARK. — CapRocq Core 2 Real Estate Fund has sold Village on the Creeks, a 20-building, 220,153-square-foot retail and medical office complex in Rogers, for $32.3 million. The property was 93 percent leased to 66 tenants ranging from medical services to an art studio at the time of sale. The asset spans 22 acres along Interstate 49. The buyer was not disclosed, although the Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette reports the buyer is Ozre Capital. Kenai Capital Advisors and Colliers International | Arkansas represented the seller in the transaction.
NORTH LITTLE ROCK, ARK. — SRS Real Estate Partners National Net Lease Group has arranged the $4 million sale of an 8,000-square-foot retail property in North Little Rock. The property is fully leased to Vitamin Shoppe and Mattress Firm on their respective corporate-guaranteed triple-net leases. The property is situated at 4300 McCain Blvd., seven miles north of downtown Little Rock. The asset is an outparcel to a Lowe’s Home Improvement-anchored shopping center. Brian Wolfman of SRS represented the seller, Los Angeles-based McCain Plaza LLC, in the transaction. Aaron Hines of Marcus & Millichap represented the buyer, New Mexico-based G&T Investments LLC, which was completing a 1031 exchange. Tyler Johnson of Pegasus Capital Markets represented the buyer in sourcing acquisition financing.
Retailers Walmart, The Home Depot Report Increased Sales in First Quarter Despite Pandemic
by Alex Tostado
BENTONVILLE, ARK. AND ATLANTA — Retailers Walmart and The Home Depot have reported increased sales during their respective first quarters. Bentonville-based Walmart, which operates on a fiscal year calendar running from Feb. 1 to Jan. 31, reported a spike of 74 percent in its e-commerce department, and an overall growth of 10 percent. Walmart’s total revenue reached $136.4 billion, which was 8.6 percent higher than first-quarter 2019. The uptick from e-commerce was mostly due to grocery pick-up and delivery services. Additionally, overall sales for Sam’s Club was up 12 percent and e-commerce demand for the Walmart-owned brand jumped 40 percent. The Home Depot, which is based in Atlanta, reported sales reached $28.3 billion, which was 7.1 percent higher than its first-quarter 2019. The Home Depot’s fiscal year ends Feb. 2. Despite the increased sales, the company’s revenue dipped by $300 million from first-quarter 2019 due to expanded benefits for its employees. Some of the benefits include extra time off for hourly employees, more still for associates 65 years of age and older, doubled overtimes rate, weekly bonuses for hourly employees and extended dependent care benefits and waived related co-pays.
Arkansas Governor: Gyms Allowed to Reopen Monday, Limited Dine-In at Restaurants May 11
by Alex Tostado
LITTLE ROCK, ARK. — Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson has rolled out Phase I plans for reopening the state. Hutchinson says gyms and fitness centers will be able to open Monday, May 4, while restaurants will be allowed to operate dine-in services at one-third capacity Monday, May 11. The guidelines for gyms and fitness centers include the use of facemasks for staff and patrons except when exercising, daily temperature checks for employees and patrons and social distancing of at least 12 feet while exercising. Additionally, Hutchinson placed restrictions on patrons who can enter, including but not limited to those who have returned from travel to New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, New Orleans or overseas within the past 14 days; have had a fever of 100.4°F or greater in the past two days; or had contact with a person known to be infected with COVID-19 within the previous 14 days. The guidelines for restaurants require daily health screening of staff, use of facemasks and gloves and strict social distancing. The governor requires that tables be 10 feet apart; employees interacting with patrons must wear a facemask covering the nose and mouth; kitchen staff are encouraged to wear a mask; employees must wear …
Walmart Reaches Goal to Hire 150,000 Associates, Pledges to Hire 50,000 More Amid COVID-19 Crisis
by Alex Tostado
BENTONVILLE, ARK. — Amid the COVID-19 crisis sweeping the nation, Walmart set a goal in mid-March of hiring 150,000 associates before May 1. Since then, the Bentonville-based retailer has hired an average of 5,000 people per day, surpassing its goal. Now Walmart has its sights set on hiring another 50,000 people. In a statement, the company said most of the new hires will be temporary who will support current associates and customers in locations with specific needs. Additionally, 85 percent of the 150,000 new associates are temporary or part-time workers. Walmart said it worked with more than 70 companies that furloughed workers to hire the associates. In stores, Walmart will hire cashiers, stockers and personal shoppers. In distribution centers and fulfillment centers, it will hire additional fillers and pickers. Walmart also plans to add more drivers to its fleet. Walmart is considered an essential business, so its doors remain open and its e-commerce operations are still running as well.