GAINESVILLE, FLA. — A joint venture between Batson-Cook Development Co. (BCDC) and 908 Group has broken ground on Gator Walk, a 294-bed student housing development located near the University of Florida campus in Gainesville. The community will comprise a six-story residential tower offering one-, two-, three-, four- and five-bedroom units; and three three-story townhomes offering six-bedroom units. All units will be fully furnished and will feature bed-to-bath parity. Communal amenities will include a rooftop deck with a pool, fitness center, private study spaces, computer room and a social lounge with a kitchen, TVs and gaming areas. Cadence Bank provided construction financing. The project’s development team includes general contractor ARCO/Murray and architect Design Styles Architecture. The community is scheduled for completion in fall 2022.
Florida
Miller Construction Breaks Ground on 114,000 SF Showroom for City Furniture in Metro Orlando
by Alex Tostado
ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, FLA. — Miller Construction has broken ground on a 114,000-square-foot, two-story showroom for Florida-based City Furniture in Altamonte Springs. The property is situated at 555 Douglas Ave., overlooking Interstate 4 and 10 miles north of downtown Orlando. Miller is constructing the asset to achieve LEED certification. The property will include interior and exterior LED lighting, a water-conserving HVAC system and seven electric car-charging stations. Deerfield Beach, Fla.-based Gallo Herbert Architects is the designer. Orlando-based Dewberry is the civil engineer. A timeline for construction was not disclosed. City Furniture operates 20 showrooms in Florida as well as 14 Ashley HomeStore showrooms in southern Florida.
FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. — Cardone Capital LLC has acquired Port Royale Apartments, a 553-unit multifamily community in Fort Lauderdale. The sales price was not disclosed, although Cardone Capital raised $50 million through crowdfunding and CBRE arranged a 10-year acquisition loan with a fixed 2.3 percent interest rate. The property, which was built in 1991 and renovated in 2016, offers one- and two-bedroom floor plans. Communal amenities include a car wash area, two pools, fitness center and a courtyard. Robert Given of Cushman & Wakefield represented the seller, Chicago-based Waterton, in the transaction.
FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. — Ram Realty Advisors has delivered CURV, a 243-unit multifamily community in Fort Lauderdale. The property offers one-, two- and three-bedroom floor plans ranging from 748 to 1,603 square feet with rents starting at $2,010 per month. Communal amenities include a pool, private cabanas, outdoor kitchen with grills and a TV, fitness center, yoga studio, pet grooming salon and electric car chargers. CURV is situated at 410 SE 16th Court, two miles south of downtown Fort Lauderdale. Bozzuto manages and heads leasing for the eight-story asset. Virtual leasing is underway at CURV, which is named for its curved facade reminiscent of Miami decor in the 1950s and 1960s. The City of Fort Lauderdale issued the developer a temporary certificate of occupancy Aug. 26.
Berkadia Arranges $23M Refinancing Loan for Student Housing Community Near Florida State University
by Alex Tostado
TALLAHASSEE, FLA. — Berkadia has arranged a $23 million refinancing loan for College Town II, a 198-bed student housing community in downtown Tallahassee. Ameris Bank provided the 10-year term loan, which features a fixed 3.66 percent interest rate. The loan will be used to refinance the original construction loan, which Berkadia also arranged in 2015. The borrower is Seminole Boosters, the fundraising arm for Florida State University Athletics. College Town II comprises five seven-story buildings, 23,177 square feet of retail space and a seven-story parking garage. Retail tenants in the project include Township, 51 on Madison, Tin Lizzy’s Taqueria & Cantina, Barefoot Campus Outfitters, Little Masa and Sunstop Urban Market. The community is located at 805 W. Madison St., a half-mile from Florida State University (FSU) and two miles from Florida A&M University (FAMU). Brad Williamson of Berkadia arranged the loan on behalf of the borrower.
ORLANDO, FLA. — Epelboim Development Group has delivered the 259-room Tru by Hilton Orlando Convention Center. The new hotel, which opened Sept. 3, marks Tru by Hilton’s largest property to-date and first in Orlando. The hotel is located at 6461 Westwood Blvd., nine miles northeast of the Orlando Convention Center and 13 miles southwest of downtown Orlando. The eight-story hotel offers complimentary Wi-Fi, free parking, a pool, fitness center and a business center. The Aventura, Fla.-based developer opened the property with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines in place. The Hilton CleanStay Program has been implemented at the property, and some services and amenities have been adjusted in response to COVID-19. New York City-based Highgate is managing the hotel.
ORLANDO, FLA. — TSCG has arranged the sale of The Shoppes at South Semoran, a 101,611-square-foot shopping center in Orlando. The property was originally built in 1986 and renovated in 2013, when anchor Walmart Neighborhood Market opened. At the time of sale, the property was 97 percent leased to tenants including Walmart, Chase Bank, Dollar Tree and Wendy’s. The asset is situated at 4520 S. Semoran Blvd., seven miles southeast of downtown Orlando. Anthony Blanco, Lenard Williams, Mallory Silva and Gavin Walsh of TSCG represented the seller, an affiliate of Weingarten Realty, in the transaction. An affiliate of Core Investment Management acquired the property for an undisclosed price.
Investment Management Firm Expands Lease in Miami Beach, Breaking Florida’s Rental Rate Record Per Square Foot
by John Nelson
MIAMI BEACH, FLA. — J. Goldman & Co. LLP, an independent investment management firm, has signed an eight-year lease for 3,318 square feet of office space and a 700-square-foot covered terrace at The Yukon Miami. J. Goldman, which already leases 1,223 square feet on the fourth floor of the Class A office building, broke Florida’s per square foot rental rate pricing record with the new lease at $92 per square foot. The 88,148-square-foot Yukon Miami is situated at 119 Washington Ave. in Miami Beach’s South of Fifth enclave. The property features 9,081 square feet of ground-floor retail space and a rooftop development opportunity. The owner, an entity known as Yantra 119 LLC, is listing Yukon Miami for sale at $45 million. The Global Consulting Organization and longtime landlord representative The Company Real Estate are marketing the property on behalf of the ownership.
H&R REIT, Urban-X Open First Wave of Tenants at $452M River Landing Development in Miami
by John Nelson
MIAMI — Toronto-based H&R REIT and Coral Gables, Fla.-based Urban-X Group have welcomed the first tenants to open at River Landing Shops & Residences in Miami, the first phase of the $452 million River Landing mixed-use development. The first tenants opening beginning this week include Hobby Lobby, Burlington, Publix, Five Below, Chase Bank and AT&T. Ross Dress for Less and Planet Fitness will open later this fall, and in the coming months T.J. Maxx, Old Navy, Ficelles Bakery, Chick-fil-A and others will open their doors. According to Urban-X, 70 percent of River Landing’s retail space is committed. The developer plans to announce new tenants coming to River Landing in the near future. Situated on 8.1 acres along the Miami River, River Landing will span 2.2 million square feet upon completion and feature a 135,000-square-foot office tower, 528 upscale apartments, a riverwalk, green spaces, boat docks and more retail and restaurant space. Lantower Residential, a subsidiary of H&R REIT, will operate and lease the apartments. The operator will welcome move-ins beginning next month. Urban-X is currently negotiating with several restaurants looking to open a waterfront location in 2021 and is implementing curbside pick-up spaces for River Landing’s retail tenants to meet customer …
Landmark, W5 Group Break Ground on 602-Bed Student Housing Community Near University of Central Florida
by Alex Tostado
ORLANDO, FLA. — A partnership between Landmark Properties and W5 Group LLC has broken ground on The Retreat East, a 602-bed student housing community that will serve student at the University of Central Florida (UCF) in Orlando. The cottage-style community will comprise 138 units that are expected to open in August 2021. Communal amenities will include a pool, poolside jumbotron, golf simulator, clubhouse, study lounge and a fitness center. Athens, Ga.-based Landmark will manage the property upon completion. The Retreat at Orlando will be situated at 12151 E. Colonial Drive, two miles south of UCF’s campus and 13 miles east of downtown Orlando. Miami Beach, Fla.-based W5 Group entered into the partnership through its new student housing investment initiative.