DALTON, GA. — Mattex Group, a Dubai-based carpet backings producer, will establish its U.S. headquarters by building an extrusion manufacturing plant in Murray County, which is part of the Dalton metropolitan statistical area in North Georgia. The company will invest $60 million in the facility and create 200 jobs during the next three years. The company currently has a warehouse in Calhoun, Ga., but the Murray County facility will be Mattex Group's first manufacturing plant outside the Middle East. The property will include between 275,000 and 375,000 square feet. The company, which is building the facility to serve its North American markets, plans to begin construction on the plant this summer and for the facility to become operational in 2014. The Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) partnered with Murray County and Murray County Industrial Development Authority to manage the expansion. Carl Campbell, regional project manager at GDEcD, led the project on behalf of the state. Georgia Quick Start, a workforce training program, will provide assistance to the company.
LAKE CHARLES, LA. — L'Auberge Casino Resort and Pinnacle Entertainment Inc. held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the completion of a $20 million hotel room renovation project in Lake Charles. Phase II of the renovation will begin in September to complete renovation of the remaining hotel tower rooms and suites in the first half of 2014. The renovation included the addition of two new room categories: Royale and Marquis Suites. Upgraded amenities include refrigerators, Keurig brand coffee machines, make-up mirrors and new furnishings. KAP Construction served as the contractor for the project.
SIMPSONVILLE, KY. — Horizon Group Properties Inc. and CBL & Associates Properties Inc. have formed a joint venture to develop The Outlet Shoppes at Louisville in Simpsonville. Located along I-64, the 370,000-square-foot project will serve residents of Louisville, Lexington and Frankfort. It will be the only outlet center located in the state of Kentucky, according to a statement by the joint venture. Construction will begin in June with completion set for late summer 2014. The property is currently more than 75 percent leased and retailers include Coach, Banana Republic, Brooks Brothers, Chicos, Nike and Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH.
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — Trinitas Ventures held a groundbreaking ceremony May 8 for the Bicycle Apartments in Chapel Hill, N.C., near the University of North Carolina. The 608-bed, 194-unit community will be available to students in August 2014. As the name implies, biking will be encouraged, and the community will feature storage for up to 400 bicycles. According to The Daily Tar Heel, a student newspaper for the university, the development costs approximately $20 million.
JACKSONVILLE, FLA. — Marcus & Millichap has arranged the $7.5 million sale of The Columns, a 244-unit apartment complex in Jacksonville, for $7.5 million. The gated community features a clubhouse with leasing office, fitness center, three resort-style swimming pools, 24-hour clothes care center, recreation areas and 24-hour emergency maintenance. Tal Frydman, Daniel Cunningham, Derek Gibbs and Allan Holbrook of Marcus & Millichap represented the seller, a limited liability company. Frydman, Cunningham, Gibbs and Holbrook, also represented the buyer, a limited liability company.
ASHLAND, KY. — Emmes Asset Management Co. has sold Midtown Mall, a 153,723-square-foot, grocery-anchored shopping center in Ashland for $11.3 million. BDB Realty was the buyer. Midtown Mall is located at 711 12th St. and is 81 percent leased. Kroger and Big Lots, which both recently renewed long-term leases, anchor the property. Other tenants include Gatti-Land, Rent-a-Center, Subway and Wendy's. Richard Reid led the HFF team that represented the seller in the transaction.
GREENVILLE, S.C. — Summit Hotel Group has acquired the six-story, 120-room Hilton Garden Inn in Greenville for $127,000 per key. Teague Hunter and Trey Scott of Hunter Hotel Advisors represented the seller, Deean Hospitality, in the transaction.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Rock Creek Property Group has completed its redevelopment of 1100 16th St. N.W., a 28,366-square-foot property at the corner of 16th and L streets in Washington, D.C. In the past eight months, Rock Creek has transformed the former two-building private school into a four-and-a-half-story office building. The property is located three blocks from the White House and features space for up to 130 employees, exposed brick, multiple entrances, ceilings heights of 10 to 20 feet, garage parking and a 1,700-square-foot rooftop deck with views of the Washington Monument. The property will be offered for sale or lease to a single purchaser or tenant.
PLANT CITY, FLA. — NorthMarq has arranged a $6.2 million loan for the refinancing of Townsgate Apartments, a 265-unit multifamily property at 1211 Goldfinch Drive in Plant City. Lee Weaver of NorthMarq arranged the financing on behalf of the borrower, Baker's Pond Group, through AmeriSphere Multifamily Finance LLC, a Fannie Mae DUS lender. The 10-year loan features a 30-year amortization schedule.
JACKSONVILLE, FLA. — Marcus & Millichap has arranged the $3.5 million sale of Royal Estates, a 176-unit apartment property at 8050 Arlington Expressway in Jacksonville. The transaction was a lender-approved short sale. The property was 50 percent occupied at the time of sale, with “a tremendous amount of deferred maintenance,” according to Marcus & Millichap. The buyer plans to rehab the property. The property, constructed in 1973, includes a leasing center, two swimming pools, courtyards, playground areas, a basketball court, a tennis court and two laundry rooms.