BALTIMORE — Goldman Sachs has committed $233 million to the Port Covington redevelopment project in Baltimore. This is the largest single private equity investment made by the firm’s Urban Investment Group (UIG) to date, according to a Port Covington news release. Port Covington is a 235-acre mixed-use redevelopment located on Baltimore’s waterfront adjacent to I-95. At completion, the 25-year project will include up to 18 million square feet of retail, entertainment, office, hotel and residential space. In addition, the project will encompass 2.5 miles of restored waterfront and 40 acres of parks and green space. Sagamore Development Co. and the UIG have entered into an agreement to jointly own the project and develop the infrastructure in Port Covington. Marc Weller of Sagamore Development will lead the infrastructure development team. The joint venture will own and develop the land in Port Covington that is adjacent to the campus of the future global headquarters of Under Armour. The footwear and sports apparel company owns 50 acres of Port Covington land, and is not involved in this transaction. Other businesses with land parcels in Port Covington that are not part of the joint undertaking include City Garage, Nick’s Fish House, Sagamore Spirit Distillery …
Maryland
WINDSOR MILL, MD. — Marcus & Millichap has arranged the $4.7 million sale of a 94,851-square-foot retail property net-leased to Shoppers Food & Pharmacy in Windsor Mill, roughly 13 miles west of Baltimore. Preet Sabharwal and Michael Soleimani of Marcus & Millichap represented the seller, Jacqueline A. Mickiewicz Trust, in the transaction, and procured the buyer, a limited liability company. The property is located at 8212 Liberty Road at the corner of Liberty and Rolling roads.
Anxiety and hand-wringing about the future of retail were evident at this year’s ICSC RECon event, as developers, retailers and restaurant operators continue trying to make sense of the persistent march of online buying, while also looking to inject new enthusiasm into the bricks-and-mortar shopping experience. In the greater Baltimore metropolitan region, we are experiencing many of same issues as the balance of the country. But, like always, we believe this region has several built-in advantages that will continue to buoy the retail environment, including a diversified business climate, proximity to Washington, D.C., and presence of defense contractors. While “caution ahead” signs seem to be lurking around every corner, there are numerous developments in Baltimore that are screaming “full steam ahead.” Darwinism is in full effect locally, as shopping centers embedded within planned-unit developments or retail destinations offering e-commerce-resistant experiences are the venues with the brightest futures. The developers and retailers that are willing to accept and adapt to changing trends, such as millennials’ preference for experiences rather than ownership, are the entities that will be left standing after this latest seismic shift. Here is a quick look around the Baltimore area landscape, with a focus on the various starts …
BALTIMORE — Natixis has served as lead arranger for a $125 million senior loan for the construction of an 800,000-square-foot mixed-use property in Baltimore. Natixis, M&T and CIT are providing the capital. In addition, HFF arranged $44 million in mezzanine financing through Bridge Investment Group Holdings. The HFF debt placement team representing the borrower included Mark Remington, Brian Crivella and Drake Greer. Madison Marquette is developing the property, which is named One Light Street. The building will be 28 stories tall and feature 280 apartment units. The Class A property will also feature 252,243 square feet of office space, over 5,000 square feet of street-level retail and 646 parking spaces. M&T Bank is the lead tenant. The property is located near to the Inner Harbor, the Baltimore Ravens M&T Bank Stadium and Oriole Park at Camden Yards. “Downtown Baltimore is undergoing major urban renewal, from renovations of older buildings by local real estate investors to billion-dollar development projects by direct users like universities and corporations,” says Greg Murphy, head of Natixis Real Estate Finance Americas. “One Light Street will further add to downtown’s revitalization.” Madison Marquette is a real estate investment manager, developer, operator and service provider headquartered in Washington, D.C. …
ODENTON, MD. — Crows Holdings Capital – Real Estate has purchased NOVUS Odenton, a 244-unit multifamily property in Odenton, roughly 30 miles northeast of Washington, D.C. The sales price was not disclosed. Walter Coker and Brian Crivella of HFF marketed the property on behalf of the seller, a joint venture between Cafritz Interests and Clark Enterprises Inc. Located at 315 Nevada Ave., NOVUS Odenton is within walking distance of the Odenton MARC train station, which provides service to both the D.C. and Baltimore central business districts. The community includes one-, two- and three-bedroom units and features nine-foot ceilings, granite countertops, faux wood plank flooring, walk-in closets and in-unit washers and dryers. Community amenities include a swimming pool, patios with outdoor cooking areas, fitness center, yoga room, theater and media room, game room and a pet-grooming salon.
HYATTSVILLE, MD. — Greysteel has brokered the $10.3 million sale of Courtyard Park, a 94-unit apartment community in Hyattsville, roughly seven miles northeast of Washington, D.C. Signature Properties acquired the property from CRG Cos. Kyle Tangney, Herbert Schwat and Ari Azarbarzin of Greysteel negotiated the transaction. Located at 4201-4213 Oglethorpe St., Courtyard Park, constructed in 1948, comprises seven four-story buildings.
LOS ANGELES, WOODLAND HILLS, CALIF. AND LAUREL, MD. — Bellwether Enterprise Real Estate Capital LLC has arranged three loans totaling $185.1 million for the refinancing of a multifamily portfolio located in California and Maryland. The portfolio consists of three properties totaling 1,384 units. The assets include: Avalon Russet in Laurel, Md.; eaves Woodland Hills in Woodland Hills, Calif.; and eaves Los Feliz in Los Angeles. Kip Kimble of Bellwether Enterprise arranged the 10-year loans for the borrower, AvalonBay Communities (NYSE: AVB). New York Life was the lender. AvalonBay Communities is a real estate investment trust that owns and manages apartment properties concentrated in the Northeast and Western regions. Bellwether Enterprise is a subsidiary of Enterprise Community Investment. — Kristin Hiller
ROCKVILLE, MD. — Finmarc Management Inc. has acquired a four-building warehouse portfolio in Rockville, roughly 17 miles north of Washington, D.C., for $8.6 million. Located at 627, 649 and 655 N. Horners Lane and 202 Mason Drive, the portfolio comprises 123,000 square feet. Jay Clogg of Jay Clogg Realty Group Inc. represented the undisclosed seller in the transaction and will handle the property’s leasing assignment. At the time of sale, the portfolio, known as the EU Services Buildings, was fully leased to Envelopes Unlimited, an envelope printing company. The buildings feature ceiling heights ranging from 14 to 24 feet, multiple loading docks, drive-in doors and a 120-space free-surface parking lot.
ANNAPOLIS JUNCTION, MD. — Somerset Construction Co. and Armada Hoffler Properties, the developers behind Annapolis Junction Town Center, have opened the development’s multifamily component, The Residences at Annapolis Junction. The five-story, 416-unit apartment community includes a mix of studio, one- and two-bedroom units ranging in size from 520 square feet to 1,629 square feet. The LEED Gold-certified property features energy-efficient heating, ventilating and air-conditioning and central hot water systems, low-flow plumbing fixtures and Energy Star-rated appliances. Community amenities include a fitness center, media center, community kitchen, business center, pet spa and a saltwater swimming pool with cabanas, grills and gazebos. S.L. Nusbaum Realty Co. will manage the property. Annapolis Junction Town Center is a 19-acre mixed-use, transit-oriented development and is situated adjacent to the Savage Maryland Rail Commuter Rail Station roughly halfway between Baltimore and Washington, D.C. The property is approximately 25 miles northwest of the United States Naval Academy. St. John Properties is partnering with Somerset Construction to develop the office and retail space within Annapolis Junction Town Center.
SAVAGE AND ELKRIDGE, MD. — Terreno Realty Corp. has sold two industrial properties in metro Baltimore for $40.5 million. The portfolio includes a 99,000-square-foot industrial building situated on roughly 12.6 acres at 8730 Bollman Place in Savage, roughly 18 miles southwest of Baltimore, and two industrial buildings totaling 349,000 square feet that are situated on approximately 17.9 acres at 6675 Amberton Drive and 6660 Santa Barbara Road in Elkridge, roughly 11 miles southwest of Baltimore. Both properties were 100 percent leased at the time of sale. The buyer was not disclosed.