It looks like 2016 is carrying on where 2015 left off. During 2014 and 2015, Atlanta set record after record for activity, positive net absorption and new construction; and the first quarter of 2016 didn’t disappoint. Activity during the first quarter of 2016 was over 13.5 million square feet, which contributed to a four-quarter total of 59.3 million square feet — the highest four-quarter total for activity ever seen in the Atlanta industrial market. We also witnessed the 16th consecutive quarter of positive net absorption with 3.1 million square feet of space absorbed during the quarter. Added to the last three quarters, net absorption totaled 16.5 million square feet of positive net absorption. Even with a large industrial inventory of 642 million square feet, that’s a significant achievement. Demand for warehouse and distribution space is fueled by Atlanta’s continued economic growth and employment. Unemployment in the Atlanta metro area is 6.1 percent and down from 6.3 percent that we reported last October (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). Although construction slowed during the fourth quarter of 2015 with only 1.5 million square feet launched, it was only a short lull. New construction moved forward again for the first quarter of 2016 …
Georgia
ATLANTA — Apple Hospitality REIT has closed on the previously announced acquisition of a 128-room Home2 Suites by Hilton in downtown Atlanta. The purchase price was $24.6 million, or approximately $192,000 per room. Located at 87 Walton St., the hotel is situated near Centennial Olympic Park, CNN Center, World of Coca-Cola, College Football Hall of Fame, Georgia Aquarium, Philips Arena, the Georgia Dome, Georgia State University, Georgia Tech and the upcoming Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Following the purchase, Apple Hospitality REIT’s portfolio includes 180 hotels spanning 23,000 guestrooms in 32 states.
WARNER ROBINS, GA. — The Colliers Philadelphia Capital Markets team has arranged a $19.6 million acquisition loan for Sandpiper Apartments, a 530-unit apartment complex in Warner Robins. The 30-year loan features an interest rate of LIBOR plus 2.44 percent. The Colliers team also arranged a joint venture equity partner to co-invest with the borrower, an investor new to the Warner Robins apartment market.
MARIETTA, GA. — Lockheed Martin has sold four buildings and 52 acres on its south campus in Marietta to the Georgia Institute of Technology. Collocated with five buildings occupied by the Georgia Tech Research Institute, the school will use the additional buildings and land to expand its research and development enterprise. The buildings previously housed the offices and operation of the F-22 Raptor program, which shuttered in 2013. The transaction between Lockheed Martin and Georgia Tech could bring as many as 500 jobs to Cobb County.
ATLANTA — GoldOller Real Estate Investments has purchased Westhaven at Vinings Apartments, a 610-unit community located in Atlanta’s Vinings district. The gated property features four swimming pools, fitness center, outdoor kitchens, recently upgraded interiors, Wi-Fi business center café and a treetop clubhouse and resident lounge. Westaven at Vinings is the 10th multifamily acquisition in the Atlanta area since 2012 for the Philadelphia-based apartment owner-operator, which has more than 3,000 units in its Atlanta apartment portfolio. The sales price was undisclosed.
LAGRANGE, GA. — Great Wolf Resorts Inc. has unveiled plans to open a new $150 million destination resort in La Grange, approximately 70 miles southwest of Atlanta, by 2018. The company has entered into a partnership with the state of Georgia and the City of LaGrange, but no other details of the partnership have been released. Great Wolf Lodge Georgia will offer 500,000 square feet of entertainment space. The centerpiece of the resort will be a 93,000-square-foot indoor water park that will include a multi-level treehouse, tipping water bucket, high-thrill water slides, a lazy river, wave pool, several zero depth entry pools and kids water play areas. The lodge will also include 456 rooms that will each accommodate at least five people. Rooms will include refrigerators, microwaves and coffee makers. Great Wolf Lodge will also offer kid-focused suites such as the Wolf Den and KidCabin, which will feature various themes and bunk beds. Other entertainment options will include a ropes course, climbing attraction, miniature golf, bowling alley, spas, dining options and numerous shows and programs. The lodge will also feature over 16,000 square feet of meeting and conference space with audio-visual technology and catering options. “Creating more than 600 jobs and …
BRASELTON, GA. — Amazon plans to build a new 600,000-square-foot fulfillment center in Braselton, a northeast suburb of Atlanta. The new facility will add 500 new full-time jobs to the area, joining the more than 1,500 full-time Amazon employees at existing facilities in Georgia. Employees at the new facility will pick, pack and ship large items such as home décor items, sporting equipment and gardening tools. Amazon has not announced a construction timeline for the new property.
SANDY SPRINGS, GA. — Bellwether Enterprise Real Estate Capital LLC has closed the $5.2 million refinance for Sandy Springs Village, a 40,944-square-foot shopping center located in Sandy Springs, a northern suburb of Atlanta. Built in 1977 on a 4.1-acre site, the property is leased to tenants such as Goodwill, Crossfit Perimeter and Huey Luey’s Mexican Restaurant, which is currently building out its restaurant.
LAWRENCEVILLE, GA. — The RADCO Cos. has purchased The Pointe at Sugarloaf Apartments, a 324-unit multifamily community in Lawrenceville, a northeast suburb of Atlanta in Gwinnett County. RADCO acquired the property for $31.7 million with plans to invest $3.7 million in capital improvements. The Atlanta-based company is using private equity and debt from BBVA Compass to fund the acquisition and renovation of the property, which will be rebranded 2800 at Sweetwater. Built in 1997 on 35.5 acres, the property features one- and two-bedroom apartments and three- and four-bedroom townhomes. The property’s average unit size is 1,002 square feet. Community amenities include a swimming pool with a sundeck, Wi-Fi café, coffee bar, large dog park, playground and a 24-hour fitness center. Berkadia brokered the off-market transaction. RADCO Residential will manage the property.
Public-Private Partnership to Begin Construction on Avalon’s $112M Hotel, Conference Center
by John Nelson
ALPHARETTA, GA. — A public-private partnership involving North American Properties (NAP), Long Wharf Real Estate Partners, Stormont Hospitality Group and the city of Alpharetta will break ground tomorrow on The Hotel at Avalon and the connecting 65,000-square-foot Alpharetta Conference Center. The $112 million project will anchor Phase II of the 86-acre Avalon mixed-use development. The 330-bed hotel will be part of Marriott International’s Autograph Collection and will feature a local chef-driven restaurant, 24-hour fitness center, upscale pool, valet service and Club Avalon Concierge. The conference center will feature a 12,500-square-foot exhibit hall, 10,000-square-foot ballroom with six salons, six meeting rooms, boardroom, reception area, pre-function space and outdoor venues. The hotel and conference center are set to open in January 2018. The design team includes architect Cooper Carry and general contractor Brasfield & Gorrie. SunTrust Bank is providing construction financing, and HEI Hotels & Resorts will serve as the manager of the new hotel.