RALEIGH, N.C. ― VinFast, a Vietnamese-based electric vehicle and battery company, has plans to open its first North American automotive assembly and battery manufacturing plant in metro Raleigh. The company plans to invest $4 billion and create 7,500 jobs in Chatham County. VinFast is the automotive branch of Vingroup, a company founded in Ukraine that covers trade and services, technology and industry and social enterprise. VinFast announced plans for its California headquarters earlier this year. The company plans to start producing vehicles in the United States in 2024. VinFast evaluated over 50 megasites in 10 states for its facility, before choosing Chatham County site. The Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina and its business recruitment managers helped the company connect with state entities, like the North Carolina Department of Commerce, and local entities to secure the necessary information and details.
CHINA GROVE, N.C. — Macy’s Inc. has plans to open a 1.4 million-square-foot fulfillment center in China Grove. The New York City-based retail giant plans to invest approximately $584 million in the facility, which is expected to open in 2024. The fulfillment center will offer automated direct-to-consumer fulfillment capacity. When fully operational, the property will account for nearly 30 percent of Macy’s digital supply chain capacity and serve customers nationwide. The facility will be equipped with new automation technology, including an advanced goods-to-person and pocket sorter system that will help to distribute merchandise efficiently. The property will employ nearly 2,800 workers when fully operational.
STATESVILLE, N.C. — CBRE has brokered the sale-leaseback of a 416,300-square-foot manufacturing facility in Statesville. Nevada-based CAI Investments purchased the property for $30.3 million. Patrick Gildea, Trey Barry, Matt Smith, Grayson Hawkins and John Christenbury of CBRE represented the seller and tenant, Kewaunee Scientific Corp., in the sale-leaseback transaction. Kewaunee Scientific Corp. is a designer and manufacturer of laboratory, healthcare and technical furniture products. The Statesville building serves as Kewaunee Scientific’s primary manufacturing facility. Situated on 21.3 acres at 2700 W. Front St., the property is located within three miles of the Interstates 40 and 77 and about 41.6 miles north of Charlotte.
MCLEANSVILLE, N.C. — CN Investors LLC, an affiliate of Raleigh-based APG Capital, has purchased a 176,778-square-foot office building in McLeansville. The Class A property sold for $17 million. Patrick Gildea of CBRE represented the undisclosed seller. Daniel Walser and James Anthony III at APG were responsible for sourcing the deal and closing the acquisition. Originally built in 2004 to house Citibank, the three-story office building is situated on 21 acres. Today, the property’s tenant includes LabCorp, a Burlington, N.C.-based lab test provider. Located at 5450 Millstream Road, the property is situated 36.2 miles from Winston-Salem and 45 miles from Durham.
CARY, N.C. — JLL Capital Markets has arranged the sale of Twin Lakes Center, a multi-tenant shopping center in Cary anchored by Wegmans. Thomas Kolarczyk and Ryan Eklund of JLL represented the seller, Leyland Alliance. Dallas-based L&B Realty Advisors acquired the property on behalf of an institutional client. The sales price was not disclosed. Built in 2020, Twin Lakes Center was fully leased at the time of sale to tenants including Hollywood Feed, Great Clips, Mezeh Mediterranean Grill, Premier Martial Arts, PM Pediatrics, Paris Nail Bar, Bul Box and Gulli Boys. Situated on 1.7 acres at 1125 Hatches Pond Lane, Twin Lakes Center is situated 16.1 miles from Raleigh and 14.1 miles from Durham.
AUSTIN, TEXAS — Newmark has brokered the sale of a four-property portfolio of mid-rise student housing properties totaling 1,441 beds. The properties are situated adjacent to public universities in the Southeast and Illinois. Ryan Lang, Jack Brett, Ben Harkrider, Tim McKay, Debra Corson, Blake Pera and Dean Smith of Newmark represented the seller, Rael Corp., in the transaction. The sales price and the buyer were not disclosed. The properties include: Gather Illinois, which is located near the University of Illinois at 410 North Lincoln Ave. in Urbana, Ill.; Gather Uptown located near East Carolina University at 400 South Greene St. in Greenville, N.C.; Gather Dickson located near the University of Arkansas at 333 St. Charles Ave. in Fayetteville, Ark.; and Gather Southern located near the University of Memphis at 3655/3695 Southern Ave. in Memphis.
CHARLOTTE AND HILLSBOROUGH, N.C. — Tampa, Fla.-based American Landmark Apartments has purchased two multifamily communities in North Carolina for an undisclosed price. The seller was also not disclosed. The two properties include Ardmore King’s Grant Apartments in Charlotte and the 270-unit Ardmore Cates Creek Apartments in Hillsborough. American Landmark plans to enhance both properties with landscaping and amenity upgrades, along with adding new subway tile kitchen backsplashes, upgraded cabinets, new faucets and lighting fixtures, new ceilings fans and new USB outlets to all units. Ardmore King’s Grant Apartments has been renamed Conrad at Concord Mills. Built in 2015 and located at 9015 Kings Grant Drive, Conrad at Concord Mills offers one-, two- and three-bedroom floorplans ranging from 740 to 1,430 square feet. Community amenities include a pool, grilling pavilions, fitness center, complimentary Starbucks Coffee bar, pet play area and pet wash station, car wash station and valet trash. Ardmore Cates Creek has been renamed Cadence at Cates Creek. Built in 2016 and located at 100 Waterstone Park Circle, Cadence at Cates Creek offers one-, two- and three-bedroom floorplans ranging from 753 to 1,509 square feet. Community amenities include a saltwater swimming pool, onsite clubhouse with resident lounge, business center, fitness …
NEW YORK CITY — Arch Cos. has sold 1,993 multifamily units across six properties in Winston-Salem, N.C.; Spartanburg, S.C.; and Jacksonville, Fla. The sales price was $199 million. The buyer was not disclosed. Arch Cos. invested more than $15.5 million in capital expenditures in the properties and renovated 59 percent of all units over the past two years. The properties in the sale include The Arlington, The Arcadian and The Charleston in Winston-Salem; The Abner in Spartanburg; and Riverbank and Midtown Oaks in Jacksonville. Jeffrey Julien, Roberto Casas, Vic Ciancetta, Bill Weber, Bill Shippen and Denise Fansler of JLL represented Arch Cos. in the portfolio transaction. Other agents involved in the transaction include Kay Hill and Bern DuPree of Furman Capital Advisors and John Rutherford of NAI Hallmark.
CARY, N.C. — Merritt Properties has bought 142 acres in Cary for $9 million with plans to build Merritt RDU Business Park, a 738,750-square-foot industrial park. The transaction includes three parcels. Construction is expected to begin early 2023. The seller of the land was not disclosed. Merritt RDU Business Park will span up to 13 single-story buildings ranging from 8,400 to 108,225 square feet. The industrial park will offer clear heights from 18 to 32 feet, leasable bays starting at 1,500 square feet, traditional rear-loaded docks and drive-in capabilities and free surface parking. The first phase of the project will include three buildings on the western side of the site, near the corner of Nelson and Pleasant Grove Church roads. The park will be located three miles from RDU International Airport, and will be close to Interstates 540 and 40, as well as US Highway 70. The project will be Merritt’s’ sixth speculative industrial project in the state, as well as the company’s largest North Carolina project since 2020. Merritt has nearly 2 million square feet of leasable space that is developed, proposed or under construction across five other projects in the Triangle area.
MONROE, N.C. — Nyack, N.Y-based Irgang Group has acquired Poplin Place, a 196,462-square-foot regional shopping center in Monroe, about 21.3 miles south of Charlotte. Ben Bruner of the Bruner Group represented Irgang Group in the transaction. Thomas Kolarczyk, Danny Finkle and Eric Williams of JLL Capital Markets represented the seller, Big V Property Group. The sales price was not disclosed. Built in 2005, Poplin Place is fully occupied by an anchor tenant lineup that includes T.J. Maxx, Ross Dress for Less, PetSmart, Burlington, Big Lots and pOpshelf. Poplin Place’s other tenants include Boot Barn, Rack Room Shoes, Kay Jewelers and Claire’s. Additionally, the center’s former Dress Barn space was divided to accommodate Bath & Body Works and Spectrum. Located on 30.2 acres at 2901 W US Highway 74, Poplin Place is located 28 miles from Charlotte Douglas International Airport and 28 miles from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Target shadow-anchors the shopping center.