New Orleans recently celebrated a significant milestone: the 10-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina making landfall. Those familiar with the area’s commercial real estate market agree that the city continues to thrive in and around the metro area. Despite a low vacancy rate and shortage of commercial opportunities in downtown proper, competition is fierce for quality properties, and new-to-market retailers have moved into the area. From the market downtown to the immediate suburbs and surrounding parishes, the Big Easy is well-positioned for continuous, steady growth. Sharing a border with New Orleans, Jefferson Parish is the most populous parish in the state. Veterans Memorial Boulevard is a six-lane thoroughfare in Jefferson Parish, which remains the primary retail development corridor in the market with the 120-store Lakeside Shopping Center. One of the most desirable spans of commercial real estate, the seven-mile stretch of highway runs from the airport to the intersection of Jefferson Parish and Orleans Parish. After scouring the market for several years, Trader Joe’s recently announced its first New Orleans metro area store in one of the last undeveloped tracts on Veterans Memorial Boulevard. Another grocery retailer, The Fresh Market, opened its first Jefferson Parish store in July. In addition, the …
LAFAYETTE, LA. — RCG Ventures has purchased Acadiana Square, a 244,768-square-foot power retail center in Lafayette. Located adjacent to Acadiana Mall, the retail center is anchored by T.J. Maxx, Party City, PetSmart and Office Depot. Scott Tarbet represented RCG Ventures internally, and Jim Hamilton and Richard Reid of HFF represented the undisclosed seller.
BOSSIER CITY, LA. — NorthMarq Capital has arranged a $16.3 million acquisition loan for Villaggio, a 239-unit apartment community located in Bossier City. Greg Duvall of NorthMarq Capital’s Kansas City office arranged the loan through Freddie Mac on behalf of the borrower. In addition to its apartment residences, Villaggio features retail and office space.
NEW ORLEANS — Hodges Ward Elliott has arranged the sale of the Q&C Hotel and Bar in downtown New Orleans. KBS SOR II Q&C Property LLC, a joint venture between KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT II and Dallas-based Encore Hospitality LLC, purchased the 196-room hotel for an undisclosed price. Fully renovated in 2014, the boutique hotel features 2,600 square feet of flexible meeting space, a restaurant and bar, valet and self-parking and a 24-hour fitness center. Currently an independent hotel, the property will be franchised under the Marriott Autograph brand. Following the sale, Encore Hospitality will manage the hotel.
COVINGTON, LA. — Monmouth Real Estate Investment Corp., a publicly traded industrial REIT based in Freehold, N.J., has purchased a 175,315-square-foot industrial facility for $18.4 million. Located at 450 Northpointe Court in Covington, a suburb of New Orleans, the distribution center is net-leased for 10 years to FedEx Ground Packaging System Inc. The property is situated on a 19.2-acre lot near I-12 and the Port of New Orleans. This is the first acquisition in Louisiana for Monmouth, which now owns 14.4 million square feet of industrial space in 29 states.
PRAIRIEVILLE, LA. — Greystone has provided a $30.6 million construction loan for Manchac Lake Apartments, a 272-unit luxury multifamily community that is set to be built in Prairieville. Donny Rosenberg of Greystone originated the FHA-insured loan on behalf of the borrower, Noland McKay Manchac LP. The loan features a 40-year term following the initial construction period. Upon completion, the property will feature a business center, clubhouse with fitness center, indoor sport court, beach approach pool and detached garages.
NEW ORLEANS — HFF has arranged a $27.7 million loan for Algiers Plaza, a recently renovated, 236,389-square-foot shopping center located along General deGaulle Drive in New Orleans. The Winn Dixie-anchored shopping center has recently added Petco, Ross Dress for Less, T.J. Maxx and Burke’s to its tenant roster. Existing tenants include Payless Shoe Source, Buffalo Wild Wings, Mattress Firm and Walgreens. Algiers Plaza was 85 percent leased at the time of financing. De’On Collins and Travis Anderson of HFF arranged the floating-rate loan through BBVA Compass on behalf of the borrower, N3 Real Estate. N3 will use the loan proceeds to pay off a construction loan, acquire all of the minority partnership interests and fund future capital improvements and leasing costs at the property.
SHREVEPORT, LA. — Dallas-based Venture Commercial Real Estate has brokered the sale of Shoppes at Bellemead, an upscale, 79,328-square-foot shopping center located at the northeast quadrant of Youree Drive and East 70th Street in Shreveport. The property’s tenant roster includes Talbots, Chico’s, Ann Taylor Loft, White House Black Market, J. Jill, Soma and Charming Charlie. Jonathan Cooper, Christopher Gibbons, Don Miller, John Zikos and Cheryl Hill of Venture Commercial, along with Shreveport-based Vintage Realty Co., brokered the transaction. An undisclosed buyer purchased Shoppes at Bellemead from WFB/Shoppes at Bellemead LLC, a partnership involving Vintage Realty Co., for an undisclosed price.
LAKE CHARLES, LA. — Marcus & Millichap has brokered the sale of The Gardens and The Guardian, a 108-bed seniors housing property located at 1401 Country Club Road in Lake Charles. The sales price was undisclosed, but the list price was $9.6 million. Rod Llanos and Doug O’Toole of Marcus & Millichap’s Houston office represented the seller, a limited liability company, in the transaction. Llanos and O’Toole also secured the buyer, also a limited liability company. William Hoffpauir of Marcus & Millichap assisted in the transaction.
NEW ORLEANS — NewcrestImage, a Dallas-based hotel developer and operator, has purchased a 13-story office building located at 1600 Canal St. in New Orleans. The company plans to repurpose the vacant building into a 105-room TownePlace Suites by Marriott and a 78-room SpringHill Suites by Marriott. Built in 1960 and vacant for the past 10 years, 1600 Canal St. is located at the intersection of Canal Street and I-10, nine blocks from the French Quarter and adjacent to the new 1,500-acre, $1.2 billion BioDistrict development. The asking price for the office building was $6 million, but the sales price was undisclosed. The two hotels will share amenities, including a single lobby, registration desk, breakfast area and indoor bar. There will be a single management and sales team, as well as a single housekeeping staff. The rooftop will be renovated into an 8,000-square-foot garden overlooking Canal Street and will feature an outdoor bar, exercise room and laundry facilities. NewcrestImage plans to open the two hotels by December 2016. Upon completion, the dual-branded hotel building will be the first property to combine the TownePlace Suites and SpringHill Suites brands into one building.