KENNESAW, GA. — The Atlantic Cos. has announced that 1075 Big Shanty, a 72,633-square-foot office building in the northwest Atlanta suburb of Kennesaw, is now fully leased following three long-term lease executions totaling nearly 65,000 square feet. FEI Group, a national network of interior finishing contractors specializing in floors and cabinetry, has signed a new lease for 14,700 square feet. The Emory Clinic has also signed a new 19,840-square-foot lease at 1075 Big Shanty. Additionally, WSP, a global engineering and professional services firm, has renewed its 30,255-square-foot lease at the property. Michael Howell, Hunter Henritze and Maia Perri of Lincoln Property Co. represented the landlord in the lease negotiations. Situated near I-75 and Kennesaw State University, 1075 Big Shanty is a one-story office building that features a modern design, full-height glass, abundant natural light and outdoor seating.
ATLANTA — For many multifamily professionals, 2025 is a year to forget. Paul Berry, president and chief operating officer of Mesa Capital Partners, said that U.S. multifamily investment sales are on track to close out the year at $125 billion, which represents a 25 percent decline from an average pre-COVID year and a little more than a third of 2021’s total (a torrid $354 billion). Andrew Zelman, senior vice president of Southeast investments at Boston-based GID Multifamily, said that owners are doing “everything they can to hold out for a profit.” Editor’s note: InterFace Conference Group, a division of France Media Inc., produces networking and educational conferences for commercial real estate executives. To sign up for email announcements about specific events, visit www.interfaceconferencegroup.com/subscribe. “As simplistic as this is, sellers will avoid transacting at less than peak values at any cost,” said Zelman, who added that owners are essentially kicking the can down the road by recapitalizing their assets or stopping and starting the marketing process if their pricing expectations aren’t being met. Zelman’s comments came during the opening panel on Tuesday, Dec. 2, at the 2025 InterFace Multifamily Southeast conference, which was held at the InterContinental Buckhead in Atlanta. Co-hosted …
NEW YORK CITY — CBRE has arranged the sale of a 20-property last-mile distribution and light-manufacturing industrial portfolio across eight states. New York City-based Ares Commercial Real Estate Corp. (NYSE: ACRE) acquired the portfolio, which spans more than 3 million square feet. Brian Fiumara led CBRE’s National Partners team in marketing the portfolio and representing the undisclosed seller in the transaction. The CBRE team also procured the buyer. The properties include: The industrial portfolio consists of well-maintained industrial buildings ranging in size from 16,000 to 500,000 square feet, while average occupancy across the properties currently sits at 95 percent. “The acquisition by Ares allows the company to expand its existing portfolio with a critical mass of light industrial and well-located last-mile assets in major population centers with access to key distribution infrastructure,” says Fiumara. ACRE is a real estate investment trust (REIT) managed by Ares Commercial Real Estate Management LLC, a subsidiary of Ares Management Corp., which manages approximately $596 billion of assets. ACRE’s stock price closed on Thursday, Dec. 4 at $5.15 per share, down from $6.98 a year ago, a nearly 26 percent decline. — Abby Cox
The Richmond industrial market has been undergoing a dramatic transformation that reads like a case study in strategic positioning and timing. Over the past decade, this “regional market” has become a U.S. powerhouse, boasting all the ingredients to attract, maintain and organically grow supply-chain focused global occupiers and institutional capital investment. Richmond’s strategic advantages include its prime location on I-95 — equidistant to both metropolitan D.C. and the Port of Virginia — attractive labor demographics, disciplined development and strong demand from Fortune 100 occupiers. Additionally, the surging data center hyperscalers and their suppliers have further catalyzed growth in the market. The result? Richmond now features one of the lowest U.S. vacancy rates, sustained year-over-year rent growth, a feeding frenzy of institutional capital routinely producing 10 to 15 bids and lender quotes per property that have fundamentally reshaped who owns, develops and finances industrial real estate in the market. From regional player to national stage Over the past decade, Richmond experienced a 68 percent increase in institutional investors and lenders, growing from 47 participants in 2015 to nearly 80 unique institutions that have invested in and loaned on Richmond industrial assets, with 50 cents of every dollar invested in Richmond coming from …
FRANKLIN, LA. — Saronic Technologies, an Austin-based manufacturer for the defense and space industries, has announced plans to invest $300 million to expand its existing shipyard in Franklin, a city in southern Louisiana’s St. Mary Parish. The shipyard first became operational in April. The new investment will allow Saronic to meet client demand for its fleet of autonomous ships, or Autonomous Surface Vessels (ASVs). The company broke ground last month on the expansion, which will add 300,000 square feet of manufacturing space to its site near the Atchafalaya River, which feeds into the Gulf of Mexico. The project will comprise three new slips, expand its existing warehouse and establish a production line for assembly of its ASVs, namely Marauder, the company’s 180-foot autonomous ship. Saronic worked with Louisiana Economic Development, St. Mary Parish and other government offices on the expansion, which will add 1,500 skilled jobs to the Gulf Coast region. Private partners on the design-build team include JacobsWyper Architects, P2S, KPFF, JE Dunn and Alberici. The project is slated for completion by the end of 2026, with expanded operations coming on-line in early 2027. Saronic is also planning its next-generation Port Alpha shipyard, details of which were not released.
MIAMI — Allen Morris Co. has obtained a $138.5 million construction loan for Ziggurat, a mixed-use development located at 3101 Grand Ave. in Miami’s Coconut Grove neighborhood. Faisal Ashraf of Lotus Capital Partners arranged the loan through BDT & MSD Partners and BHI, the U.S. bank of Israel-based Bank Hapoalim. Further details of the financing were not released. Designed by Oppenheim Architecture, Ziggurat will comprise two buildings featuring natural stone exteriors with gardens wrapping every level. The project will be situated on a 1.7-acre site at the intersection of Grand Avenue, Matilda Street and Florida Avenue. The property will include a five-story, 100,000-square-foot trophy office building with a rooftop restaurant and a three-story building that will comprise 18 for-sale luxury condominiums and 45,000 square feet of retail space on the ground level. The condominiums will range in size from 1,254 to more than 5,000 square feet. ONE Sotheby’s International Realty is handling sales, with prices ranging from $3.5 million to $15 million. Ryan Holtzman, Andrew Trench and Brian Gale with Cushman & Wakefield will manage office leasing alongside Thad Adams with Allen Morris Co. Daniel Cardenas and Michael Sullivan with Vertical Real Estate will lead the retail leasing efforts. Allen Morris …
HARRISONBURG, VA. — Northstar REIS has arranged the $44.5 million sale of Squire Hill Apartments, a 504-bed student housing community located at 1443 Devon Lane near the James Madison University campus in Harrisonburg. Jack Stead of Northstar REIS represented the buyer, North Beacon Capital, and the seller, The Michaels Organization, in the transaction. Squire Hill offers 189 units in one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom configurations. Shared amenities include a 24-hour fitness center, resort-style pool and hot tub, study area, picnic pavilion, coffee bar, clubhouse, conference space and a dog park.
SARASOTA, FLA. — Cushman & Wakefield has brokered the sale of Airport Commerce Center, an eight-building industrial park in Sarasota spanning 186,675 square feet. The Silverman Group purchased the project from Sound Capital for an undisclosed price. Rick Brugge, Mike Davis and Rick Colon of Cushman & Wakefield represented Sound Capital in the transaction. Airport Commerce Center is located at 7602 15th St. E, which sits near U.S. Highway 301 and I-75 and across from Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport. The small-bay industrial park was fully leased at the time of sale to a roster of 48 tenants. Suite sizes range from 1,177 to 12,283 square feet, with the eight buildings featuring a total of 74 grade-level doors and clear heights ranging from 16 to 20 feet.
ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Milan Hotel Group has purchased a two-property hotel portfolio in Asheville, including the 88-room SpringHill Suites by Marriott Asheville (built in 2002) and the 78-room Courtyard by Marriott Asheville (built in 1996). An institutional seller sold the hotels to Milan Hotel Group for an undisclosed price. Sophia Pittaluga of Hunter Hotel Advisors brokered the transaction. The hotels are situated along Buckstone Place near the city’s Tunnel Road retail district, approximately five west of downtown Asheville. SpringHill Suites features kitchenettes in every room, along with a complimentary hot breakfast, an indoor pool and a fitness center. Courtyard by Marriott features The Bistro restaurant and Starbucks coffee service, as well as an indoor heated pool and 24-hour fitness center. Many rooms at Courtyard by Marriott feature private balconies that offer views of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
NASHVILLE, TENN. — Vastland Co. has obtained a $130 million construction loan for VOCE Hotel & Residences, a 25-story mixed-use development located at 1717 Hayes St. in Midtown Nashville. BayBridge Real Estate Capital arranged the loan through Atlanta-based Peachtree Group. Upon completion, VOCE Hotel & Residences will feature 192 private residences, 114 luxury hotel rooms, 60,000 square feet of boutique office space and more than 40,000 square feet of amenities, including a rooftop dining experience. The design-build team includes BL Harbert International (general contractor), The Preston Partnership (architect), ID & Design International (interior design), RH (custom design), Civil Site Design Group (civil engineer) and HDLA (landscape architect). Vastland and the project team plan to break ground next week and deliver the project in fall 2027. Christy Fewin of Vastland is leading sales for the residences, which at full capacity has a total sellout value of $360 million. Pre-sales have already eclipsed 50 percent of available units, according to Vastland.