WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) has reported that construction employment rose in 71 percent of U.S. metro areas from July 2018 to July 2019. Construction employment rose in 255 out of 358 market areas, declined in 56 areas and was unchanged in 47. Washington, D.C.-based AGC collected the data through a survey conducted with Autodesk. The Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale metro area added the most construction jobs during the past year (12,100 jobs, up 8 percent), followed by Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, Ariz. (11,900 jobs, 9 percent). The largest percentage gain occurred in Spokane-Spokane Valley, Wash. (23 percent, 3,500 jobs), followed by Auburn-Opelika, Ala. (19 percent, 500 jobs). The largest job losses between July 2018 and July 2019 occurred in Baton Rouge, La. (negative 4,900 jobs, 9 percent loss), followed by Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, N.C.-S.C. (negative 3,100 jobs, down 5 percent). The largest percentage decrease took place in Watertown-Fort Drum, N.Y. (10 percent drop, minus 200 jobs).
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Census Bureau reports that retail sales in July were up 0.9 percent from June and 5.6 percent year-over-year. The numbers exclude restaurants, gas stations and automobile sales but include e-commerce sales. July’s results build on gains of 0.6 percent month-over-month and 2.2 percent year-over-year seen in June. Specifics from key retail sectors during July include: Online and other non-store sales were up 19.3 percent year-over-year and up 2.8 percent month-over-month seasonally adjusted, likely boosted by Amazon’s Prime Day promotion, which the company said had more sales than its 2018 Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales combined; Health and personal care stores were up 6.1 percent year-over-year but down 0.2 percent month-over-month seasonally adjusted; Grocery and beverage stores were up 4 percent year-over-year and up 0.6 percent month-over-month seasonally adjusted; and General merchandise stores were up 2.1 percent year-over-year and up 0.6 percent month-over-month seasonally adjusted.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Lowe, a national real estate investor, developer and manager, has acquired the former Randall School site at 65 I St. SW in Washington, D.C. Lowe plans to redevelop the 2.7-acre site into a 500,000-square-foot mixed-use project featuring a contemporary art museum. Lowe had first come on as partner for the project in 2017 but is now assuming control of the development from TRSW, a partnership between Telesis Corp., a national affordable housing developer, and the Rubell family, long-standing collectors and patrons of the arts. Lowe intends for the project to create an arts and cultural anchor in the Southwest neighborhood. The designated Arts District will provide a second home for the Miami-based Rubell Family Collection, an internationally acclaimed contemporary art collection that draws visitors from around the world, according to Mark Rivers, executive vice president at Lowe. At the core of the project is the restoration and repositioning of the school’s three buildings, of which two will be transformed into an approximately 31,000-square-foot art museum housing the Rubell Family Collection. Entry to the museum will be free of charge to all residents of the District. The West Randall building will be reconfigured as an 18,000-square-foot creative office …
WASHINGTON, D.C. — A partnership between Network Realty Partners and USAA Real Estate has purchased Union Square, an office complex in Washington, D.C.’s NoMa (North of Massachusetts Avenue) neighborhood. The property comprises a central courtyard and two nine-story office buildings totaling 625,506 square feet. Union Square was originally built in 1969 and renovated in 2012. The complex was 90 percent leased at the time of sale to government and nonprofit tenants. Dek Potts, Jim Meisel, Matt Nicholson and Sean Kraft of JLL represented the buyers in the transaction. The seller and sales price were not disclosed.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Lee & Associates has named Josh Simon president of the firm’s new Washington, D.C/Northern Virginia regional office. Simon previously served as a partner with NAI KLNB. Pierce Kruetzer — also formerly of NAI KLNB — joins Simon as a principal with the new Lee & Associates office. Simon expects to grow the office with eight to 10 brokers to assist clients in need of office landlord representation, office tenant representation, retail leasing, industrial leasing, debt services and investment sales services. “Establishing a presence in Washington, D.C. and Northern Virginia is an extremely critical component of the Mid-Atlantic expansion strategy outlined by Lee & Associates several years ago, given the continued strength and momentum of the commercial real estate sector surrounding the Nation’s Capital,” notes Allan Riorda, Lee & Associates Board Member and President of the Maryland office. “This program most recently initiated in central Pennsylvania with the opening of the Harrisburg office. Over the next several years, we intend to establish locations in Baltimore, Frederick, Hagerstown and points throughout northern Virginia including Dulles and Tysons Corner.” Simon says, “With its business model, Lee & Associates is able to offer more competitive commission splits, backed by similar tools …
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Commercial real estate loan originations rose 12 percent in the first quarter of 2019 compared with the same period a year ago, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Quarterly Survey of Commercial/Multifamily Mortgage Bankers Originations. The industrial sector climbed 73 percent in loan originations, followed by healthcare (41 percent) and hotels (14 percent). Retail and multifamily both saw increases (9 percent each), while the dollar volume of office property loans was unchanged. “The momentum seen in 2018’s record year of borrowing and lending continued in the first quarter of this year,” said Jamie Woodwell, MBA’s vice president of commercial real estate research. “First-quarter volumes were higher for nearly every property type, and double-digit growth in loan volume for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac led the increase among capital sources. Low interest rates and strong property values continue to make commercial real estate an attractive market for borrowers.” While loan volumes ticked up, acquisitions across the four major property types fell 9 percent, says MBA. Apartment sales were roughly flat from last year, while office, retail and industrial property sales fell from 14 to 16 percent. The capitalization rates were flat from 2018 for industrial, retail and …
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Akridge and Alcion Partners have sold 1701 Rhode Island Ave., a seven-story, 103,908-square-foot office building in downtown Washington, D.C., for $119 million. The partnership acquired the then-YMCA in March 2016 before repositioning the asset into an office building fully leased to WeWork. WeWork has occupied the space since February. Design firm Hickok Cole Architects and general contractor Whiting-Turner Contracting Co. led the redevelopment of 1701 Rhode Island to include a two-story lobby, pocket park, rooftop decks on the penthouse and seventh floor and a landscaped rooftop terrace. An affiliate of EXAN Capital acquired 1701 Rhode Island. Collins Ege, Sean McDermott, Nicholas Pappas and Nick Carpenter of Eastdil Secured represented the sellers in the transaction. EXAN Capital will remain as the asset manager.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Marcus & Millichap has arranged the $20.3 million sale of a multifamily portfolio in northwest Washington, D.C. The portfolio consists of two properties totaling 172 residential units. The communities include Walter Reed Apartments, which is located at 6939 Georgia Ave. NW at the entrance of The Parks at Walter Reed, a 66-acre redevelopment of the Walter Reed Army Medical Center that upon completion will include over 3.1 million square feet of mixed-use development. The other property is Longfellow Apartments, located at 5521 Colorado Ave. NW near Rock Creek Park in D.C.’s 16th Street Heights neighborhood. Marty Zupancic and Christian Barreiro of Marcus & Millichap brokered the transaction between the seller, an affiliate of Poretsky Building Group that is focused on providing affordable housing, and the buyer, an entity managed by Urban Investment Partners.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Pebblebrook Hotel Trust has entered into an agreement to sell Kimpton Rouge Hotel, a 137-room hotel in downtown Washington, D.C., for $42 million. The hotel offers a 24-hour fitness center, in-room spa services, a yoga mat in every room, bicycles for rent and an on-site bar. The seller expects the sale to close in the third quarter of this year. The buyer was not disclosed.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — EJF Capital, Donatelli Development and Blue Skye Development are developing a $95 million, 262-unit mixed-income housing project within an opportunity zone in southeast Washington, D.C. The project is under construction within Hill East, a 67-acre master-planned development. The multifamily component, which has not yet been named, will include an undisclosed number of affordable housing units and 13,000 square feet of retail space. The project is expected to be complete in August 2020. Eagle Bank is providing $59.5 million of construction financing.