ATLANTA — BlackRock, an asset management firm and a technology solutions provider, has selected Atlanta for the company’s newest Innovation Hub. The company plans to expand its presence in Fulton County, partner with the Atlanta business community and local universities and create 1,000 career opportunities over the next several years. This expansion will extend BlackRock’s technology capabilities, as well as provide close proximity to Georgia Tech, where BlackRock sponsors the BlackRock Hallac Scholarship for socioeconomically disadvantaged students pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). “Atlanta’s culture of collaboration with public and private stakeholders bolsters our region’s economy, creates well-playing jobs and expands economic opportunity,” says Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms. “The opening of BlackRock’s Atlanta Innovation Hub continues this legacy, and we look forward to welcoming and working with them.” According to Dr. Eloisa Klementich, president and CEO of Invest Atlanta, the technology business expansions in Atlanta in 2018 alone are projected to create an economic impact of $500 million, as the companies create thousands of new jobs and millions of dollars of capital investment.
DAWSONVILLE, GA. — Senior Living Investment Brokerage has arranged the sale of North Georgia Assisted Living, a 32-unit community in Dawsonville, approximately 60 miles north of Atlanta. Gryphon Senior Living and Senior Solutions acquired the property from a local partnership for $5.8 million. The property was 97 percent occupied at the time of sale. The price represents an 8.1 percent capitalization rate and a price per unit of $181,250. Hunt Real Estate Capital provided a $6.2 million bridge loan for the buyer in connection with the transaction. The financing will help fund a 12-unit expansion at the property. Bradley Clousing of Senior Living Investment Brokerage handled the transaction.
BRASELTON, GA. — FedEx Ground, a subsidiary of FedEx Corp., has developed a new distribution center located at 350 Braselton Parkway in Braselton, about 50 miles northeast of Atlanta. The 500,000-square-foot facility is part of the company’s network expansion plan that includes the addition of 17 major hubs and 500 facilities either expanded or relocated since 2005. A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the facility is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 25. The building will open with more than 350 employees, and FedEx Ground plans to add positions as the demand for service grows. The new facility will be able to sort up to 15,000 packages per hour. FedEx Ground has 105,000 employees, more than 600 distribution hubs and local pickup-and-delivery stations and 63,000 motorized vehicles operated by 5,600 locally owned small businesses to transport more than 8.3 million packages daily. The daily volume of packages that FedEx Ground handles has more than doubled in the past 10 years.
ATLANTA — Simon Property Group (NYSE: SPG), the owner and developer best known for Class A malls, has broken ground on the $300 redevelopment of Phipps Plaza, an upscale shopping mall located in Atlanta’s Buckhead district. The project is a redevelopment of the former Belk department store and surface parking space at the 821,000-square-foot, three-story mall. It includes a new, 150-room hotel by Nobu Hotels, a luxury line co-founded by Robert De Niro. The hotel will offer a rooftop pool, spa and a corporate conference center, as well as a Nobu Atlanta Restaurant, a Japanese eatery that will occupy 10,000 square feet. The redevelopment will also deliver One Phipps Plaza, a 13-story, 350,000-square-foot office building that features a three-story parking garage. Other components of the project include a 90,000-square-foot Life Time Athletic Center with a rooftop pool, beach club and bistro. The redevelopment will also create an outdoor event venue and communal green space. “Phipps Plaza has long been a luxury icon in the Southeast and this expansion will further elevate its exceptional position by creating a reimagined destination to live, work, shop, and dine, unlike any other in the region,” said David Simon, chairman and CEO of Simon. According to …
WAYCROSS, GA. AND PARAGOULD, ARK. — North Avenue Capital has closed two acquisition loans totaling $16.8 million for properties in Georgia and Arkansas. USDA Rural Development Business & Industry funded the loans on behalf of the undisclosed borrowers. In Waycross, North Avenue arranged $7.3 million in financing for the acquisition of a 51,548-square-foot mixed-use center. Enhanced Resource Corp., a business management operation, anchors the property. Other tenants include Surchero’s Fresh Grill, AppleCare, Bone & Joint Institute and Southeastern Credit Union. In Paragould, North Avenue arranged a $9.3 million acquisition loan for a 579,015-square-foot, single-tenant industrial facility. Arkansas-based LA Darling occupies the property, which it has leased for more than 50 years. LA Darling, a Berkshire Hathaway subsidiary, is a retail merchandising solutions firm that builds out physical displays and fixtures for chains such as Walmart and Best Buy.
VALDOSTA, GA. — SunTrust Banks has originated a $8.2 million bridge loan for the acquisition of Fields of North Valdosta, a multifamily property located at 480 Murray Road in Valdosta. The pet-friendly property features 113 two-bedroom units, ranging in size from 970 square feet to 1,200 square feet. Units include air conditioning, dishwasher, disposal, plush carpeting, walk-in closets and washer/dryer connections. Community amenities include a clubhouse, playground, swimming pool and volleyball court. Evan Hom of SunTrust CRE’s New York office originated the 36-month, floating-rate loan that features interest-only payments for the undisclosed borrower.
ATLANTA — Walker & Dunlop’s Investment Sales division has arranged the sale of Stadium Walk and Overlook at Huntcrest, two multifamily properties located in Atlanta. Atlanta-based Brand Properties sold the properties to Charleston-based Blaze Partners for a total of nearly $133 million. Kris Mikkelsen and Chris Goldsmith of Walker & Dunlop represented the seller in the deal. Additionally, following the sale, Stephen West, Matthew Wallach and Justin Nelson of Walker & Dunlop’s multifamily finance and capital markets team arranged financing for the buyer’s acquisition. Situated in Atlanta’s Cumberland submarket in Cobb County, Stadium Walk features 309 Class A units and surface parking. The community is within walking distance to The Battery Atlanta and SunTrust Park, home of the Atlanta Braves. The 229-unit Overlook at Huntcrest is located in the Sugarloaf submarket of Gwinnett County.
ATLANTA — Salesforce (NYSE: CRM), a customer relationship software and services provider, is set to expand its regional headquarters in Atlanta. The company will grow its current footprint in The Atlanta Plaza, located in the city’s Buckhead district, which will now be known as Salesforce Tower Atlanta. The lobby, and each new floor set for occupancy by the company, will be renovated as part of the expansion. Salesforce currently occupies four floors of The Atlanta Plaza totaling 85,722 square feet. Following the expansion, the company will occupy seven floors and 158,163 square feet. The top floor of the building will also be transformed into an, “Ohana Floor,” which will offer an open hospitality space for Salesforce employees, customers and partners. The space will also be available for use by nonprofits and local education groups on weeknights and weekends at no cost. The expansion will allow the company to nearly double its Atlanta-based workforce of approximately 600 employees. Employees will begin moving into the newly renovated floors in 2019. “Atlanta is a fantastic market for world-class talent and we’re thrilled to grow our presence in the region,” says Warren Wick, executive vice president of commercial sales at Salesforce. “Many of our top customers call …
SANDY SPRINGS, GA. — Hudson Capital Properties has acquired Northridge Vista, a newly constructed multifamily community located at 550 Northridge Parkway in Sandy Springs. An undisclosed seller sold the property for $49 million. The property features 220 units in a mix of one- and two-bedroom layouts. Community amenities include a fitness center with cardio deck, swimming pool, controlled access, business center, dog park, resident lounge with coffee bar and outdoor kitchen with seating and a fire pit.
DUNWOODY, GA. — Magnolia Capital has purchased Flats at Perimeter Place, an apartment community located at 60 Perimeter Place in Dunwoody. Northwestern Mutual sold the property for an undisclosed price. Robert Stickel, Mike Kemether and Alex Brown of Cushman & Wakefield represented the seller in the deal. Situated in Atlanta’s Central Perimeter submarket, the 323-unit community features a rooftop lounge with a tennis court, grilling station and bocce ball court; resort-style swimming pool; fitness center with a yoga studio, cardio theater and fitness classes; and four electric car charging stations.