ATLANTA — Executives from some of the most active multifamily firms in the Southeast are honing in on the suburbs of Charlotte and Raleigh as they map out their long-term investment and development strategies. During the Carolinas panel at the eighth annual InterFace Multifamily Southeast conference, the panelists stated they’re preparing for a suburban shift as a large swath of the millennial renting cohort and downsizing baby boomers will be priced out of core submarkets. “There’s a confluence of different demand drivers that will persist in earnest for the next five to 10 years as we see the millennial migration happening and affordability constraints start to enter the picture more,” said Eddy O’Brien, managing partner and co-founder of Blaze Partners, a boutique multifamily investment firm based in Charleston, S.C. Ben Yorker, vice president of development at Northwood Ravin, said his firm is also interested in Charlotte and the Triangle area for new development opportunities in 2018. “Within those markets we’re edging away from infill and exploring more suburban opportunities,” said Yorker. “We’re targeting renters by choice like empty nesters or urban professionals. In 2018, we’ll shift significantly to target millennials looking to the suburbs.” New development is already trickling its …
Southeast
Conference CoverageFeaturesMultifamilyNorth CarolinaSouth CarolinaSoutheastSoutheast Feature Archive
LOUISVILLE, KY. — KeyBank Real Estate Capital has arranged a $73.3 million Freddie Mac loan for the acquisition of Mallard Crossing, a 600-unit multifamily property located at 400 Mallard Creek Road in Louisville. Louisville Business First reports Lifestyle Communities acquired the asset from M.F. Mallard Crossing KY LLC, an affiliate of Blackstone Group, in November. Tim Migchelbrink of KeyBank arranged the adjustable-rate loan with four years of interest-only payments on behalf of the borrower. Mallard Crossing was constructed in two phases starting in 1991, and includes 51 two- and three-story garden-style apartment buildings. Community amenities include indoor and outdoor basketball courts, a theater room, two swimming pools, grilling deck, sauna, two dog parks and tennis courts.
WEST PALM BEACH, FLA. — Crane Capital Group Inc., in partnership with Westmont Hospitality Group, has received an $18.7 million construction loan for the conversion of a vacant office tower in West Palm Beach into a 191-room hotel. Scott Wadler and Wesley Hightower of HFF arranged the three-year, fixed-rate loan through Woodforest National Bank on behalf of the joint venture, which acquired the vacant Forum Office tower earlier this year. The redeveloped 10-story hotel, located roughly five miles from the new $150 million Houston Astros Spring Training facility, will serve the public, as well as the Houston Astros players, staff and family. The hotel will feature a restaurant, pool and a gym. Westmont Hospitality Group will manage the property, which is expected to open mid-year 2018.
LAWRENCEVILLE, GA. — Steadfast Apartment REIT III Inc. (STAR III) has acquired Sugar Mill Apartments, a 244-unit multifamily community in Lawrenceville, a northeast suburb of Atlanta in Gwinnett County, for $35.3 million. Constructed in 1997, the community includes one- to three-bedroom units that average 1,094 square feet with an average rental rate of $1,073 per month. Community amenities include gated access, a clubhouse, business center, fitness center, pool, spa, tennis courts, car wash and a dog park. STAR III plans to renovate all unit interiors and exteriors, including the addition of new appliances, cabinets and light fixtures. The REIT also plans to renovate the landscaping and common area amenities. At the time of sale, Sugar Mill Apartments was 97.5 percent occupied.
JACKSONVILLE, FLA. — Walker & Dunlop has arranged a $50.4 million loan for Matthews Crossing, a 1,103-unit multifamily community in Jacksonville. Alex Inman of Walker & Dunlop arranged the loan on behalf of the sponsor, S2 Capital LLC, which acquired the asset in July for $49.5 million, according to the Jax Daily Record. Matthews Crossing features five swimming pools, a playground, fitness center and a business center. In addition, the community is roughly 11 miles northwest of the University of North Florida and a half-mile from Jacksonville University.
ATLANTA — Atlanta Property Group (APG) has acquired Shadowood Office Park, a 200,000-square-foot, three-building office park located at 2100 Powers Ferry Road in Atlanta’s Cumberland/Galleria submarket. The Atlanta Business Chronicle reports The Ardent Cos. sold the asset to APG for $22.3 million. Kevin Markwordt of Transwestern arranged the transaction on behalf of the seller. The four-story buildings feature nine-foot ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows and a 3.5 per 1,000 square foot parking ratio. In addition, the property is less than two miles from The Battery mixed-use destination and SunTrust Park, home of the Atlanta Braves. At the time of sale, Shadowood Office Park was 78 percent leased. APG plans to renovate the property during its first year of ownership.
NASHVILLE, TENN. — Gaia Real Estate has acquired Carillon, a 306-unit apartment community in Nashville’s Germantown neighborhood. Embrey Partners, the project developer, sold the community to the private real estate investment firm for an undisclosed price, but the Nashville Business Journal reports the sales price was $76.4 million. Constructed in 2016, the community features a central courtyard, fire pit, swimming pool, fitness center, yoga room and bike storage. In addition, Gaia Real Estate recently acquired Station R, a 285-unit apartment community in Atlanta’s Reynoldstown neighborhood. The property was delivered this year, and features a rooftop deck, central courtyard, fire pit, swimming pool with cabanas and sundeck, fitness center, yoga and spinning studio and a bocce ball court. Greystar developed and sold the property. The sale price was not disclosed. Gaia Real Estate purchased both assets with its institutional partners Amitim Senior Pension Funds and Israeli-based Psagot Investment House.
ATLANTA — SunTrust Banks Inc. has provided a $58.3 million construction loan for the development of 120 Piedmont, a 685-bed student housing community located a half-mile from Georgia State University in downtown Atlanta. SunTrust originated the loan on behalf of the developer, South City Partners. The $90 million project will total 467,125 square feet, including 8,200 square feet of retail space. Community amenities will include a rooftop deck with an outdoor living room, grilling area and study space. In addition, the 26-story tower will feature a swimming pool, clubhouse, fitness center, on-site library and an internet café. The new community is expected to open in August 2019.
ATLANTA — A joint venture between Tampa, Fla.-based Blue Magma Residential LLC and New York-based NCP Enterprise Funds has acquired a three-property multifamily portfolio located across Georgia, Mississippi and Alabama for a combined $34 million. The new owners will invest more than $5 million in capital improvements to the portfolio, which totals 565,282 square feet. The 188-unit Orchard Cove in Covington, Ga., roughly 35 miles southeast of Atlanta, was purchased for $15.2 million. The property will be rebranded as The Park at Arlington. The 232-unit Gardens of Canal in Robinsonville, Miss., was acquired for $11.6 million and will be renamed The Park at Brighton. Lastly, the 184-unit Madison Square, located in Dothan, Ala., was purchased for $7.8 million. The new owners will rename the property the Park at Ashburn. Cushman & Wakefield’s Atlanta office arranged the transaction, and Ladder Capital provided debt financing for the acquisition. The names of the sellers were not disclosed.
SMYRNA, GA. — Halpern Enterprises has opened Belmont Physicians Center, a 30,000-square-foot medical office building located within Belmont, a 48-acre mixed-use community in the Atlanta metro of Smyrna. Emory Healthcare anchors the center, which is located roughly 18 miles northwest of downtown Atlanta. Other tenants at Belmont Medical Center include Gentle Care Dentistry, Cobb Pediatric Associates and Smyrna Pediatric Dentistry. The two-story building was designed by Lyman Davidson Dooley Architects and constructed by Benning Construction. In addition to the new healthcare building, the Belmont mixed-use community features restaurants, retail, Smyrna Elementary School, a residential subdivision and a 274-unit apartment community. A second phase is planned that will include single-family homes, as well as an additional 12,000 square feet of retail space.