Charlotte’s industrial market continues to see strong momentum in early 2019, and with healthy rates of absorption and rental growth despite record levels of new development, it remains the preferred asset class in the Queen City among institutional investors. Industrial absorption totaled 5.2 million square feet in 2018, according to JLL research, making it the fourth consecutive year that the market has absorbed at least 4 million square feet. The demand for new space is driven in part by the growth of the Carolinas: North and South Carolina both ranked in the top 10 nationally for population growth over the past year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, and Charlotte is well-situated geographically for distribution facilities that can cover both states. E-commerce, of course, has been another major driver of demand and development. During the fourth quarter, Amazon received construction permits for its fourth and largest distribution center in the Charlotte region, a 2.4-million-square-foot facility that will be located on 100 acres north of Charlotte Douglas International Airport. A separate 1.2 million-square-foot distribution facility for Amazon in nearby Kannapolis is expected to open this year. Industrial development continues to migrate to Charlotte’s surrounding counties, where land is more readily available …
North Carolina
Ready Capital Provides $22.6M Refinance Loan for Mixed-Use Redevelopment in Charlotte
by Alex Tostado
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Ready Capital has provided a $22.6 million loan for General Assembly, a redevelopment of the longtime home of City North Business Center in Charlotte. The non-recourse, floating rate loan features a 48-month term, one extension option, 36-months of interest only and flexible pre-payment. The site is situated on 8.1 acres in the NoDa-North End submarket of Charlotte and was the longtime home of City North Business Center which was originally built in the 1930s. The borrower, Artesia Real Estate, plans to redevelop the site to include 100,000 square feet of office space and 24,000 square feet of retail and brewery space. The project is slated for completion in late 2020. In addition to the redevelopment, loan proceeds are being used to refinance the acquisition loan. Doug Opalka, Robert Wooten and Cory Fowler of HFF arranged the loan on behalf of the borrower.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Eller Capital Partners has purchased Ashton Oaks, a 288-unit apartment community in Winston-Salem, for $16.4 million. The seller was not disclosed. Built in 1988, the property offers one- and two-bedroom layouts and is situated within one mile of Wake Forest University’s campus. Chapel Hill, N.C.-based Eller Capital plans to renovate Ashton Oak’s exteriors, build new amenities and upgrade the interior finishes. Affiliate firm Eller Residential Living will manage the property and oversee the construction project.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — FCP and High Real Estate Group have sold York Ridge, a 240-unit apartment community in Charlotte. New York-based White Eagle Property Group bought the property for $31.7 million. York Ridge is situated in southwest Charlotte and offers one-, two- and three-bedroom floor plans. Communal amenities include a car care center, fitness center, swimming pool, playground, tennis court, clubhouse and grilling areas. Marc Robinson, Jordan McCarley and Brooks Colquitt of Cushman & Wakefield represented the sellers in the transaction.
GREENSBORO, N.C. — Carlisle Residential Properties has sold Encore North Apartments, a 237-unit apartment complex in Greensboro, for $33.9 million. Denver-based Grimley Residential acquired the property, which was 95 percent occupied at the time of sale. Encore North was built by Lomax Construction in 2016 and is situated five miles north of downtown Greensboro. Carter-Haston will handle leasing efforts on behalf of the buyer. Encore North offers one- and two-bedroom floor plans and communal amenities such as a saltwater swimming pool, resident lounge and a community game room.
HFF Arranges $24.5M Acquisition Loan for Office Property in Charlotte’s SouthPark District
by Alex Tostado
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — HFF has arranged a $24.5 million acquisition loan for Rexford Park I and II, two office buildings in Charlotte totaling 136,812 square feet. The borrower, a partnership between Childress Klein and Gottesman Real Estate Partners, will use the funds to acquire, renovate and re-lease the buildings. Cory Fowler of HFF represented the borrower to secure the six-year, floating-rate loan through Atlantic Union Bank. Planned renovations include new interior common spaces, major improvements to the exterior façade and significant upgrades to building systems. Rexford Park I and II are located at 2100 and 2115 Rexford Road within Charlotte’s SouthPark submarket.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — KeyBank has provided a $40 million acquisition loan to Weston Inc. for the purchase of an industrial portfolio in North and South Carolina. Details on the individual facilities were not disclosed, but the portfolio spans five buildings, 1.5 million square feet, and is located in the Charlotte, Raleigh-Durham, Greenville and Augusta industrial markets. Weston is a privately owned company based in Cleveland that owns more than 13 million square feet of industrial space nationwide.
Flagship Healthcare Purchases 121,741 SF Medical Office Building Portfolio in Metro Charlotte
by Alex Tostado
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Flagship Healthcare Properties has acquired a 121,741-square-foot portfolio featuring six medical office buildings (MOBs) in metro Charlotte. Three of the MOBs are located in Concord, with the remaining three in Kannapolis, China Grove and Locust. The portfolio was 91 percent leased at the time of sale. Cabarrus Family Medicine, part of Atrium Health, occupies 75 percent of the portfolio’s total square footage. Flagship will provide property and asset management services, as well as accounting and lease administration for the buildings. Cliff Berryman internally represented the buyer. CFM Medical Properties LLC sold the portfolio. First National Bank provided financing for the transaction. The sales price was not disclosed.
Northwood Office Breaks Ground on 328,000 SF Office Building in Charlotte’s Ballantyne District
by Alex Tostado
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Northwood Office has broken ground on an 11-story, 328,000-square-foot office building located at 13146 Ballantyne Corporate Place in Charlotte’s Ballantyne district. The building will offer a 2,500-square-foot fitness center, 10 stories of office space with the top floor featuring a rooftop terrace with tables, seating, a fire pit, audio/visual and provisions for outdoor food and beverage service. Northwood Office also plans to add an apartment tower in collaboration with its affiliate firm Northwood Ravin. The office portion is expected to deliver in early 2021. Ballantyne Corporate Park is a 535-acre master-planned business park that Northwood Investors acquired from The Bissell Cos. Inc. in March 2017 for $1 billion. The new building will join an existing 4 million square feet of office space and 600 hotel rooms within the business park. This is the first new office tower to be built under Northwood’s ownership. Northwood Development will manage the office project, working with architectural firm LS3P Associates and general contractor Rodgers Builders.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte-based Parker Poe will occupy 86,000 square feet of office space across three floors at 620 S. Tryon, the first phase of Legacy Union in Charlotte. Parker Poe is expected to move into the space in mid-2020 and have signage on the 33-story, 850,000-square-foot building. Amenities at 620 S. Tryon will include an indoor/outdoor entry plaza for gatherings, fitness center and a walkable promenade lined with restaurants and retailers. A pedestrian bridge above Church Street will provide tenants with direct access to the building. Lincoln Harris is developing Legacy Union, which spans two city blocks and will feature offices, retail shops, restaurants, hotels, residences, a parking garage, public green space and a pedestrian promenade. Ridr Knowlton and Campbell Walker internally represented the developer in the lease transaction. Taylor Senter of Newmark Knight Frank (NKF) represented the tenant.