RINCON, GA. — Sewon America, a subsidiary of Korean-based automotive supplier Sewon Precision Industry Co., plans to invest $300 million for a new manufacturing facility in Rincon. Situated within the Grande View industrial park, the project is expected to support 740 new jobs in the Effingham County area. Sewon America’s new manufacturing location will produce electric vehicle body parts for automotive manufacturers, including Hyundai. Operations are expected to begin in 2025. The company opened a manufacturing facility in LaGrange, Ga., in 2008, which has since doubled in size. The Sewon America development is the latest in a string of automotive suppliers announcing projects around the Hyundai Metaplant in Bryan County, representing roughly $1.8 billion in investment to-date. This announcement fulfills Hyundai’s commitment to create jobs and investment in all four of the Savannah Harbor Interstate-16 Joint Development Authority (JDA) counties.
EAST POINT, GA. — Crown Bay Group LLC has purchased Cameron Run, a workforce housing community in East Point, for $35 million. Located at 4395 Washington Road, the property comprises 284 units in one-, two- and three-bedroom layouts. Originally built in 1972, the community recently underwent $1 million in capital improvements and features a gym, playground, artificial turf sports field and a dog park. Cameron Run was 93 percent occupied at the time of sale. Crown Bay Group plans to hold the property for three to five years and make capital improvements. The seller and sales price were not disclosed.
DECATUR, GA. — Colliers has arranged the sale of Sam’s Crossing, a 65,785-square-foot shopping center located in Decatur, a suburb northeast of Atlanta. Publix Super Markets anchors the center and was the buyer in the transaction. In addition to the new, 53,785-square-foot grocery store, tenants at the property include DECA Dental, Planet Smoothie, Jersey Mike’s and Jeremiah’s Italian Ice. Joe Montgomery, Scott Israel and Henry Kushner of Colliers’ Retail Investment Sales team represented the seller, Alliance Realty Services, in the transaction. The sales price was not disclosed.
ATLANTA — C3 (Creating Culinary Communities), a food technology platform, and Legends have announced plans for Citizens Market, a 25,000-square-foot food hall set to open at Phipps Plaza in Atlanta in April. Featured eateries at the food hall will include Umami Burger, Krispy Rice, Sam’s Crispy Chicken, Kumi, Sa’Moto, EllaMia, Cicci di Carne, Plant Nation, El Pollo Verde, Stonie Bowls, Frankly by Snap-O-Razzo, Tastemade Me Tacos and Citizens Pizza. The joint venture also has culinary markets planned for this year in Chicago and Miami, as well as a food hall set to open in London next year.
ALPHARETTA, KENNESAW AND ROSWELL, GA. — Coro Realty and Pope & Land Enterprises have sold three shopping centers totaling 120,000 square feet in metro Atlanta in recent months. The joint venture acquired the properties as a portfolio in February 2020, purchasing them from Muntzing-Sattele. Most recently, the partnership completed the disposition of Brookside Station, a 23,500-square-foot retail center located on Old Milton Parkway in Alpharetta, a northeast suburb of Atlanta. Zach Taylor of Institutional Property Advisors (IPA), a division of Marcus & Millichap, represented the sellers in the transaction. The buyer was Last Mile Investments. In August 2022, Coro Realty and Pope & Land sold Town Center Oaks, a 52,000-square-foot shopping center in Kennesaw, roughly 30 miles northwest of Atlanta. Additionally, Mimms Enterprises acquired Mansell Oaks, a 43,000-square-foot property located in Roswell, from the partners in November 2022. Taylor represented Coro Realty and Pope & Land in all three transactions, which totaled more than $29 million. “In each sale, the sellers secured compelling cap rates and the buyers added well-located, north Atlanta centers with upside to their portfolios,” says Taylor. “It was a true win-win.”
PEACHTREE CITY, GA. — Northmarq has arranged the $3.3 million sale of Governor’s Walk, a 21,280-square-foot shopping center located at 1980 GA Highway 54 in Peachtree City. The property was fully leased at the time of sale to Car Wash, Donut Shop, Peachtree Pawn, Fresh Smoothie Café, Mary Nails, Curves, Carolina Hemp Co., Southern Crescent Spa, Peachtree Wax Studio, La Plaza R&R Inc., Flooring Store, Men’s World Barber, Rene’e Paige Salon and M&R Alterations. Jeff Enck of Northmarq represented the Florida-based seller in the transaction, as well as the California-based 1031 exchange buyer.
The self-storage sector has historically been considered resilient and recession-resistant. This year, key trends are already emerging that will contribute to the health and performance of this $80 billion industry. Despite risks of oversaturation in some urban markets, 2023 promises to be a strong year for self-storage investments. Shined-up facilities What started in early 2000s continues to today. Where decrepit, one-story metal buildings with chain-link fences were the standard, now high-caliber, well-designed and polished facilities dot the landscape. Today, new development is almost exclusively Class A product. Intown and suburban communities demand it. And customers now expect professional lobbies with music and complimentary snacks and beverages, staffed by knowledgeable and skilled managers selling space that is clean, bright and secure. The once red-headed stepchild of commercial real estate is now the belle of the ball. The proof can be seen in the fervent attention from public REITs and private equity firms. Blackstone Real Estate Income Trust grabbed headlines in 2020 with its acquisition of Simply Self Storage for $1.2 billion. Smaller, yet just as notable, transactions also support increased valuation. In 2022, Space Shop Self Storage, one of the top 20 self-storage operators in the United State, sold two portfolios …
SAVANNAH, GA. — JLL has brokered the sales of two shopping centers located in Savannah in transactions totaling $63 million. Built in 1986, Savannah Centre comprises 186,514 square feet and was 81 percent leased at the time of sale to tenants such as T.J. Maxx, Bed Bath & Beyond, Shoe Carnival, JOANN Fabric and Crafts, Five Below, Rack Room Shoes and Chicken Salad Chick. Originally built in 1972, the 197,605-square-foot Chatham Plaza was renovated in 2001. Tenants at the center, which was 93 percent leased at the time of sale, include Ross Dress for Less, Ashley HomeStore, Pet Supermarket, Dollar Tree, Skechers, Chili’s, Longhorn Steakhouse and Starbucks Coffee. Brad Buchanan, Andrew Kahn and Andrew Michols of JLL brokered the sales on behalf of the undisclosed sellers. JBL Asset Management acquired both properties.
PENDERGRASS, GA. — CBRE has arranged a $62.4 million acquisition loan for The Blakely, a 420-unit apartment community being built in phases in Pendergrass, about 57 miles northeast of Atlanta. ARC Multifamily Group is purchasing the partially developed community from developer Green River Builders for $88.4 million. The buyer is under contract to acquire each phase of The Blakely once it receives a certificate of occupancy. Charlie Clark and Blake Cohen of CBRE’s Debt & Structured Finance team arranged the bridge loan through an unnamed life insurance company on behalf of ARC Multifamily Group. Upon completion, The Blakely will include a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom units ranging in size from 855 to 1,444 square feet. Community amenities will include multiple swimming pools, a theater room, package center, fitness center, game room, yoga pad, fire pit, playground and a beer garden featuring an outdoor kitchen with a bar top, outdoor TV and seating.
GAINESVILLE, GA. — Branch Properties has acquired 14 acres at the intersection of Limestone Parkway and New Holland Way in Gainesville, roughly 55 miles northeast of Atlanta, for the construction of Limestone Marketplace. Upon completion, the shopping center will comprise 76,764 square feet and feature a 54,964-square-foot Publix anchor store. The property will also include three outparcels ranging in size from one to three acres. Branch will break ground on the development in the spring, with completion scheduled for the second quarter of 2024. A sales price for the land was not disclosed.