Investors have renewed their interest in office properties in the Washington, D.C. central business district (CBD) based on increasing tenant demand. The market is putting a higher value on the built-in amenities that exist in the CBD, like dining and entertaining options, transportation accessibility and architecturally timeless buildings. We can always tell the center of gravity of a city by where the brokerage shops locate. In D.C., CBRE’s latest move to the CBD from the East End puts all of the agency brokerage shops within feet of each other. With a healthy stock of historically significant, well-built office properties with value-add potential, the CBD is primed to continue its office renaissance. Transportation Infrastructure While the existing public transportation infrastructure in the CBD is an important factor driving businesses back to the submarket, shaving 20 to 30 minutes from commute times — whether by car, bus or train — is decidedly attractive to today’s employers. Combined with the variety of established dining, entertainment and hospitality options in the CBD, transportation is vital to attracting high-profile employers. The city’s law firms in particular have taken note. Over 20 notable practices have relocated their offices to the CBD in the last year alone. …
UPPER MARLBORO, MD. — Finmarc Management Inc. has acquired Largo Town Center, a 280,000-square-foot shopping center in Upper Marlboro, for $43.9 million. The asset was fully leased at the time of the sale to tenants such as Marshalls, Regency Furniture, Shoppers Food Warehouse, Advanced Auto, Dollar Tree and Dress Barn. The center’s tenant roster features 35 retailers and restaurants, including both fast-casual and sit-down concepts. Largo Town Center is situated about 18 miles east of downtown Washington, D.C., and about three miles east of FedEx Field, home of the Washington Redskins. Bill Kent, Ryan Sciullo and Chris Decoufle of CBRE represented the seller, Site Centers, in the transaction.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — KeyBank Real Estate Capital has provided a $30.3 million construction loan for a planned 67,000-square-foot, two-story retail property that will be fully leased to Target upon completion. The property is situated at 1515 New York Ave. N.E. in Washington, D.C.’s Ivy City neighborhood. Scott Bois and Ashley Reiser of KeyBank arranged the fixed-rate, non-recourse loan with a 20-year amortization schedule. The loan included a credit tenant lease transaction to facilitate the funding. According to Washington Business Journal, the developer, Douglas Development Corp., is planning to open the Target in fall 2020.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — A joint venture led by Urban Investment Partners (UIP) has purchased The Policy, a 62-unit apartment building in Washington, D.C., for $22 million. The partner and seller were not disclosed, though multiple media outlets report that the partner is Pacolet Milliken Enterprises and the seller was an affiliate of Goldman Sachs. The 90-year-old building is situated in the Adams Morgan historic district. UIP is expected to begin renovations in the first quarter of this year. UIP purchased The Policy in 2009 as part of a separate joint venture, performed a major renovation and sold the asset in 2014. The pet-friendly community offers studio, one- and two-bedroom floor plans, and amenities include bike storage and a clothes care center.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Akridge and STARS REI have partnered to buy 1025 Vermont Avenue N.W., a 12-story, 116,000-square-foot office building in downtown Washington, D.C. The sales price was not disclosed, but multiple media outlets are reporting the building traded for $48.5 million. The property, also referred to as The Global Building, is situated about four blocks north of the White House. Bill Collins, Paul Collins, Drew Flood, Eric Berkman, Shaun Weinberg and Ben Mann of Cushman & Wakefield represented the seller, Carr Properties. This is STARS and Akridge’s second joint venture, having already partnered for a redevelopment of 1101 16th Street, which is expected to be delivered this month.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Meridian Group and affiliates of WeWork Property Advisors, an investment fund established by coworking firm WeWork, have created a joint venture to buy 1333 New Hampshire Ave. N.W., a 350,000-square-foot office building in Washington, D.C. Washington Business Journal reported the sales price was $136.5 million. Affiliates of WeWork Property Advisors are contributing 50 percent of the equity, and WeWork Cos. Inc. will lease more than 100,000 square feet of the building. Meridian plans to renovate the building, which is 84 percent leased to Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Field, a law firm that has been in the space for 25 years. The firm is set to leave by August. Renovations are slated to begin next year and be completed in summer 2020. Collins Ege at Eastdil Secured represented the seller, Boston Properties, in this transaction, and Nicholas Seidenberg at Eastdil Secured represented the Meridian Group in its acquisition financing.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Xenia Hotels & Resorts has sold Hilton Garden Inn Washington DC Downtown for $128 million to an undisclosed buyer. Hilton Garden Inn is a 300-room hotel that features a business center, fitness center, pool, baggage storage and room service. The hotel is located on 14th Street, about three blocks from the White House and five blocks from Washington Convention Center and Capital One Arena.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Eastern Union Funding has arranged a construction loan for the development of The Rushmore, a 117-unit, luxury mixed-use development in Washington, D.C.’s Capitol Hill District. Marc Tropp of Eastern Union Funding arranged the loan through a local regional bank on behalf of developers SGA Cos. and Evergreen Private Finance. The development is located at the former Frager’s Garden Center at 1220 Pennsylvania Ave. S.E., and also includes the historic Shotgun House, located at 1229 East St. S.E., which will be turned into a duplex. Amenities for The Rushmore are set to include a residents’ lounge, fitness center, rooftop deck, concierge service, catering kitchen and private dining at the penthouse level, as well as 2,500 square feet of street-level retail space. Bethesda, Md.-based SGA Cos. and Washington, D.C.-based Evergreen Private Finance signed a 100-year ground lease with Capitol Hill investor Larry Quillian to develop at the two locations. The Rushmore is expected to be complete by the fourth quarter of 2019.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Roadside Development and North America Sekisui House LLC (NASH) have announced that the redevelopment of Fannie Mae’s former headquarters in Washington, D.C. will be named City Ridge. The name originates from the site’s location on Wisconsin Avenue, a geological ridgeline that separates the two stream valleys of Rock Creek Park to the east and Foundry Branch to the west. The $640 million, 1.1 million-square-foot project will break ground Dec. 1. The site sits on 10 acres and is set to include 687 residential units and 100,000 square feet of office space in the historic building, plus 62,000 square feet of new office space, 153,000 square feet of retail space and more than 750 parking spaces. Grocery store chain Wegmans Food Markets will anchor City Ridge.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — PRP, in partnership with GMF Capital, has acquired the Presidential Building, an office building located at 1111 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W. in Washington, D.C. The name of the seller and acquisition price were not released, but media outlets report the asset sold for $338 million. Originally built in 1967, the property was renovated and expanded in 2002 from 12 stories and 253,000 square feet to 14 stories and 334,000 square feet. The property also includes a four-story underground parking structure. Law firm Morgan, Lewis & Bockius occupies the entire building on a long-term lease through 2032. SKB redesigned the building’s interior space in 2017 as part of Morgan Lewis’ lease renewal. Since 2010, $35 million has been spent on base building and tenant space improvements.