ACWORTH, GA. — Papa John’s International Inc. is locating its new regional hub in southwest Cherokee County. The 110,000-square-foot distribution and warehouse space will supply more than 400 Papa John’s stores across seven states. The Louisville-based pizza chain currently has 10 full-service regional production and distribution centers in the United States, which Papa John’s refers to as Quality Control Centers (QCCs). The QCCs manufacture and supply pizza dough, food and paper products, along with smallwares and cleaning supplies, to the stores in their region. The QCCs are operated by PJ Food Service Inc., a subsidiary of Papa John’s. The new QCC will occupy space at Majestic Realty Co.’s building located off of Highway 92 and Northpoint Parkway in Acworth. The new QCC will result in 106 jobs with an average wage of more than $60,000 per year and more than $15 million in capital investment. Papa John’s worked closely with Site Selection Group LLC, the Georgia Department of Economic Development, the Metro Atlanta Chamber, Georgia Power and the Cherokee Office of Economic Development in choosing southwest Cherokee for its new regional hub.
ATLANTA — China’s “sloppy” attempt to manage the devaluation of its currency, the renminbi, and the declining demand for Chinese products from the United States and Europe are the main culprits behind the stock market’s woes, says economist Dr. Rajeev Dhawan of Georgia State University (GSU). “Who got to the stock market bull?” asked Dhawan during the quarterly forecast conference held at GSU on Wed., Feb 24. “Just like in old Chuck Norris movies, the chief villain is the Chinese economy.” For the second time in six months, China’s attempt to manage the devaluation of its currency sent shockwaves through global equity markets. Year-to-date through Feb. 24, the Dow Jones industrial average was down 940 points, or 5.4 percent. What would lead China to devalue its currency? Dhawan says that China could be attempting to impress the United Nation’s International Monetary Fund (IMF) with the currency manipulation. Countries try to devalue their currencies in order to combat trade imbalances, point out industry experts. A weaker currency could help a country like China to boost trade exports, shrink trade deficits and reduce sovereign debt burdens, since a “weaker currency makes debt payments effectively less expensive over time,” according to Investopedia. Whatever …
WOODSTOCK, GA. — BMC Capital has arranged a $1 million cash-out refinance of a McDonald’s and Verizon Wireless store in Woodstock, a northern suburb of Atlanta. Brian Gramlich of BMC Capital’s Dallas office arranged the five-year loan through an unnamed bank of behalf of the borrower. The loan was structured with a fixed 3.63 percent interest rate and a 25-year amortization schedule.
TUSCALOOSA, ALA. AND THOMASVILLE, GA. — Bellwether Enterprise Real Estate Capital LLC has recently closed two loans totaling $8.4 million for Section 8 apartment communities in Tuscaloosa and Thomasville. The affordable housing properties include the 124-unit Creekwood Village Apartments in Tuscaloosa and the 88-unit Wood Valley Apartments in Thomasville. Creekwood Village, which uses two units for the Boys and Girls Club and a daycare center, was built in 1972 and renovated in 2002 with Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC). Wood Valley was built in 1974 and renovated in 2003 with LIHTC. Bellwether Enterprise arranged both loans, which featured seven-year terms, through Freddie Mac on behalf of the borrower, LEDIC Realty Co. LLC.
ATLANTA — With affordability becoming a major issue for the multifamily industry nationwide, the Atlanta apartment market compares favorably with several other major metros. It’s one reason the metro area continues to be a magnet for apartment investors, concluded the 2016 Atlanta Apartment Market Outlook. “Atlanta is a market that investors want to move in and out of, which they like. Atlanta will remain an incredibly active investment market going forward,” said Malcolm McComb, vice chairman of CBRE, during his presentation to the 554 attendees. The breakfast outlook meeting was held on Friday, Feb. 12 at the Cobb Galleria Centre. In Atlanta, renters are only paying 22 percent of their median household income ($56,000) on rent ($1,043 monthly, or $12,516 annually). In San Francisco, renters are paying $3,242 monthly on average, or 49 percent of their median household income ($80,000), according to data from Axiometrics. In New York, renters are paying 54 percent of their median household income and in Boston renters are paying 36 percent. Atlanta is one of the most active transaction markets in the country. The metro area ranked fourth behind only Manhattan, Dallas and Los Angeles in terms of 2015 sales volume, according to Real Capital …
BRASELTON, GA. — Ackerman & Co. plans to develop a 1 million-square-foot bulk distribution center in Braselton, roughly 50 miles northeast of Atlanta. Ackerman recently purchased the 107-acre site off of Broadway Avenue and BDC Parkway from Synovus Bank for $4.5 million. The site is situated less than two miles from I-85 and the Georgia Highway 211 interchange. The building, known as Braselton Logistics Center, will feature 40-foot clear heights, ductilcrete floors and parking for trailers and automobiles. Ackerman plans to deliver the property in the first quarter of 2017. Julian Brown of Transwestern and Brett Buckner of Ackerman & Co. will lease the asset. The design team includes architect Randall Paulson, civil engineer Elberly Associates and general contractor Conlan Co.
ATLANTA — Amli Residential, a Chicago-based apartment developer, has selected JE Dunn Construction to build AMLI Arts Center, a 26-story, 350-unit apartment tower in Midtown Atlanta. The property will feature studio, one- and two-bedroom apartment units, as well as a precast parking deck providing 543 spaces and an upper level pool amenity deck. Cooper Carry is serving as JE Dunn’s architect of record for AMLI Arts Center. JE Dunn is also building AMLI 3464 in Atlanta’s Buckhead district. The general contractor expects to finish construction on AMLI 3464 in late 2016 and AMLI Arts Center in November 2017.
STOCKBRIDGE, GA. — RCP Cos., a Huntsville, Ala.-based real estate investor and developer, plans to develop a $300 million mixed-use project, known as Jodeco|Atlanta South, in Henry County. Preliminary plans for the mixed-use development in the southern Atlanta suburb of Stockbridge include retail and restaurants, an entertainment hub, amphitheater, outdoor fitness and recreation areas and apartment residences within an urban setting. “Our intention is to craft a new, vibrant community that brings the energy of a high-density, urban design — as well as the options that a larger city might provide — to South Atlanta,” says Max Grelier, chief development officer of RCP Cos. Jodeco will sit adjacent to I-75 at exit 222, one of the first exits south of the I-675 interchange. Situated in the southwest quadrant of the I-75 and Jodeco Road intersection and bordered by Chambers and Mt. Olive roads, the development will include more than 500,000 square feet of local, regional and national retailers, including an organic grocer. A 12,000-square-foot food hall, known as Mt. Olive Market, will be a dining venue within Jodeco where local and regional chefs will serve guests at counters and communal tables. Plans also call for two upscale hotels and an …
LAWRENCEVILLE, GA. — Hillwood, a Perot company, has purchased Gwinnett 316, a 15-building distribution park totaling 2.2 million square feet, for an undisclosed price. The park is situated one mile off GA Highway 316 in Lawrenceville within Atlanta’s I-85 Northeast submarket. The acquisition consists of rear- and front-loading distribution buildings ranging from 70,000 to 200,000 square feet. The buildings have an average construction date of 1992 with an average 24-foot clear height, ESFR sprinkler systems, T-5 lighting, ample parking and some office space. Hillwood has begun major capital improvements that include enhanced landscaping, parking lot and roof refurbishments and upgrades to vacant space. Hillwood recently opened an office in Atlanta, with Todd Parker leading the division as senior vice president.
ATLANTA — Hotel Development Partners has commenced construction on a new 128-room Residence Inn on a 4.8-acre site located at the intersection of Ashford Dunwoody and Meadow Lane roads in Atlanta’s Central Perimeter submarket. The site surrounds the existing Spruill Center for the Arts and will feature the hotel, Fogo de Chao Brazilian Steakhouse and other dining and shopping amenities in early 2017. Alan Shaw of The Shopping Center Group is leasing the site on behalf of Hotel Development Partners, which purchased the site in 2015. The developer is also underway on a Hampton Inn-anchored mixed-use project on Ashford Dunwoody Road.