Retail is looking up in Richmond. Following a recession characterized by a dearth of new retail development, the Richmond retail market is once again poised for growth. Decreases in the overall vacancy rate, positive employment growth, increases in retail rents and an upswing in overall retail construction suggest that the market is amidst a retail recovery. Historically, these economic factors have driven robust expansions. While “robust” might be a bit dramatic for 2013, several retail projects are in the pre-development and development phases, coupled with a number of significant retail transactions. Those are encouraging signs that point to recovery. Several noteworthy retail developments fill the pipeline. Walmart recently acquired a 10-acre site at Reynolds Crossing, a 90-acre, mixed-use development in Richmond’s established “near west end” suburb, with plans to build a 90,000-square-foot store with a garden center. Expected to open in spring 2014, Walmart is set to anchor the development that includes small shop and restaurant space in addition to outparcels. Likewise, Kroger is under construction with its third Kroger Marketplace in the Richmond MSA. This 124,000-square-foot grocery concept anchors Staples Mill Marketplace, which will also include outparcels and small shop and restaurant space. After 10 years of planning, Gumenick …
SILVER SPRING, MD. — Bethesda, Md.-based Washington Property Co. has obtained $75 million in permanent financing for its Solaire-Metro community, a 295-unit luxury apartment building located at 1150 Ripley St. in Silver Spring. The property is currently 95 percent occupied. ING Investment Management LLC provided the 20-year loan to Washington Property Co. Walker & Dunlop and Sage Capital represented Washington Property Co. in the transaction.
TRINITY, FLA. — LTC Properties Inc. has entered into an agreement to purchase a 120-bed skilled nursing property in Trinity for $14.4 million. An affiliate of Traditions Management operates the property, which is located in the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater MSA. The seniors housing facility was built in 2008. The property's new master lease, which includes four other properties leased by Traditions Management, has a 10-year term with two five-year renewal options.
RICHMOND, VA. — CBRE | Charlottesville has brokered the sale of Glen Lea Centre, a 78,493-square-foot shopping center located at 3802-3804 Mechanicsville Turnpike in Richmond. Save-A-Lot anchors the center, which also includes Dollar General, Rent-A-Center, KFC and Kool Smiles Children's Dentistry. PK Kamath of CBRE | Charlottesville, along with William Kent and Gary Lawrence of CBRE's Washington, D.C., office, represented the seller, PCS Glen Lea LLC, in the transaction.
MIAMI — Resorts World Bimini and Resorts World Miami are locating their headquarters in the Omni Offices, an office building located at 1501 Biscayne Blvd. in downtown Miami. The two entities will staff about 150 employees and occupy approximately 30,000 square feet. The lease transaction is downtown Miami's largest new occupancy of the year, according to Continental Real Estate Cos. (CREC). Omni Offices also houses the Miami International University of Art & Design, the U.S. State Department, and the U.S. Diplomatic Security and Passport Agency. An additional 185,000 square feet of office space is available at the property. Steven Hurwitz, Douglas Okun and Amy von Hofen of CREC are spearheading the property's leasing and marketing campaign on behalf of the Genting Group, owner of Omni Offices.
SUWANEE, GA. — Dallas-based Lincoln Property Co. Southeast has closed on the sale of a two-building office/warehouse complex totaling 16,740 square feet in Suwanee, a suburb east of Atlanta. The property is located at 390 Brogdon Road. Lincoln Property was the court-appointed receiver for the property. Home South Communities, a residential home builder, purchased the property for $825,000. Denton Shamburger of Lincoln Property represented the owner and lender in the sale. The property was built in 2000 and includes private offices, two docks with oversized doors, conference rooms, break room and large work areas.
ATLANTA — Wood Partners has plans to break ground on a new multifamily project in Midtown Atlanta that will be the first high-rise in the area to solely use natural gas for heating, hot water and cooking. The property will be located on West Peachtree Street and will include approximately 20,000 square feet of retail space. Wood Partners is working with Atlanta Gas Light on the project. The development is within walking distance to the Midtown MARTA station, as well as Piedmont Park, Georgia Tech and Midtown Atlanta's central business district. The property will feature a resort-style pool deck, club rooms and an urban park/courtyard. Wood Partners expects to break ground on the project in the first half of 2014.
WEST PALM BEACH, FLA. — Taylor & Mathis has arranged a 12-year lease deal with Akerman Senterfitt LLC, Florida's largest law firm, for 40,000 square feet of office space in downtown West Palm Beach. In the $25 million deal, the law firm is leasing space for two-and-a-half floors at Phillips Point, a 500,000-square-foot office and retail complex located in West Palm Beach's central business district. Other notable tenants of Phillips Point include Global Capital Econometrix LLC, BMO Harris Bank, Goldman Sachs, Squire Sanders, Morgan Stanley and Greenberg Taurig. Brian Gale of Taylor & Mathis, along with Matt Cheezem of CRESA Partners, brokered the lease transaction.
LAKELAND, FLA. — Tampa, Fla.-based Blue Rock Partners LLC and Konover South LLC, have purchased the 220-unit Madison at Lake Gibson apartments in Lakeland for nearly $12 million. The property is located at 5233 U.S. Highway 98 N. and will be rebranded as The Park at Cortona. The partnership between Blue Rock and Konover South will spend approximately $1.8 million in exterior renovations in the next 12 months and interior renovations in the next 24 months. The partnership purchased the apartment community from Lake Gibson Apartment Associates LP. Cushman & Wakefield brokered the transaction. This is Blue Rock Partners' fifth Tampa Bay/Orlando acquisition in the past 12 months.
DECATUR, GA. — UC Funding has provided a $10.5 million loan to purchase a discounted mortgage note secured by a 1,069-unit, Class C, garden-style apartment complex in Decatur. The property consists of 41 two- and three-story buildings. The borrower, a repeat sponsor of UC Funding, will complete a $6.3 million renovation to the complex. The borrower has more than 35 years of real estate experience and its portfolio consists of 10,000 multifamily units 490 hotel rooms and 750,000 square feet of office space.