When Zelman & Associates’ 2023 Virtual Housing Summit opens in September, Alex Virtue will take the stage as a newly appointed managing director who has been charged with expanding the firm’s investment banking coverage of multifamily and other commercial real estate property sectors. Virtue joined the institutional research advisory and investment firm in May with over two decades of experience in mergers and acquisition transactions and capital raising across real estate sectors in both the public and private capital markets. His resume includes senior positions with Merrill Lynch, Eastdil Secured/Wells Fargo Securities, CBRE Capital Advisors and Xebec, an industrial developer and asset manager. Zelman & Associates, founded in 2007, was acquired by Bethesda, Md.-based commercial real estate finance and advisory firm Walker & Dunlop in 2021. “My focus at Zelman and Walker & Dunlop is broadening the firm’s reach on entity-level transactions in multifamily and related housing sectors such as single-family rentals, built-for-rent, student housing, affordable housing and manufactured housing communities, as well as other commercial real estate sectors,” says Virtue “I would characterize my concentration as bringing traditional banking investment expertise, knowledge and services across the Walker & Dunlop platform and working with my colleagues to bring these advisory …
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CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Alliance Residential Co. has purchased 3.4 acres at 2130 Wilkinson Blvd. in Charlotte’s FreeMoreWest neighborhood for the development of Broadstone West End. The 332-unit luxury apartment community will span five stories and feature studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom residences ranging in size from 590 to 1,240 square feet. Amenities will include a resort-style pool and adjoining pool deck featuring an outdoor kitchen, 24-hour fitness center, private coworking offices, resident clubroom featuring a kitchen and card room and a fenced pet park. Alliance Residential plans to welcome Broadstone West End’s first residents in 2025. The property represents the 10th community in Charlotte for the Scottsdale, Ariz.-based developer.
Northmarq Arranges Sale of 387,303 SF Distribution Facility in Lumberton, North Carolina
by John Nelson
LUMBERTON, N.C. — Northmarq has arranged the sale of a 387,303-square-foot distribution facility located at the intersection of Interstates 95 and 74 in Lumberton. Situated on 49.7 acres, the single-tenant facility was fully leased at the time of sale to Elkay Plumbing Products Co., an affiliate company of Zurn Elkay Water Solutions. The newly built property is a build-to-suit project for Elkay Plumbing, which has a long-term double-net lease at the facility. Brad Pepin and Jonathan Thompson of Northmarq’s Tulsa office represented the seller, an Atlanta-based developer, in the transaction. The buyer, an individual investor based in California, purchased the facility for an undisclosed price.
THONOTOSASSA, FLA. — Berkadia has negotiated the sale of The Livano Uptown, a 292-unit, garden-style apartment community located at 11810 Walker Road in the Tampa suburb of Thonotosassa. The buyer, Praedium Group, has rebranded the property as Tessa Springs. Alabama-based LIV Development sold the community to Praedium for an undisclosed price. Matt Mitchell and Bailey Smith of Berkadia’s Tampa office represented the seller in the transaction. Built in 2022, Tessa Springs features one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, as well as a clubhouse, resort-style pool with lounge seating, private workspaces with conference rooms, “party barn,” 24-hour fitness center with a yoga/spin room, a pet center and a 24-hour onsite community market.
PANAMA CITY, FLA. — Institutional Property Advisors (IPA), a division of Marcus & Millichap, has brokered the $18.1 million sale of Bay City Point, a 121,413-square-foot shopping center located at 500 E. 23rd St. in Panama City. The center’s tenant roster includes Hobby Lobby, Burlington, Five Below, Skechers and Ulta Beauty. Zach Taylor of IPA represented the seller, Rome, Ga.-based Ledbetter Properties, in the transaction. The buyer was not disclosed. “Demand remains strong for well-located retail projects with strong credit,” said Taylor. “Interest rates remain a headwind, but property-level fundamentals are as strong as ever.”
Jersey Mike’s Subs, Bruster’s Ice Cream to Open at Seven Oaks Shopping Center in Crofton, Maryland
by John Nelson
CROFTON, MD. — Jersey Mike’s Subs and Bruster’s Ice Cream have signed leases to join the tenant roster at Seven Oaks Shopping Center, a Weis Markets-anchored retail center in Crofton. The two brands are dividing a 3,046-square-foot retail pad site at 2288 Blue Water Blvd. Brandon Howard of Divaris Real Estate represented the undisclosed landlord in the lease negotiations. He has also negotiated all the inline retail vacancies at Seven Oaks and is marketing a build-to-suit opportunity for a 5,000-square-foot pad site next to the Jersey Mike’s and Bruster’s. Seven Oaks is situated one block from the Fort Meade campus and about 20 miles south of Baltimore.
ATLANTA — Trammell Crow Co. and partner Georgia Advanced Technology Ventures (GATV) have topped out Science Square Labs, a 13-story research-and-development (R&D) facility located adjacent to the Georgia Tech campus in Atlanta. GATV is a cooperative organization of Georgia Tech. The 368,258-square-foot building is part of the first phase of Science Square, an 18-acre mixed-use development that will offer laboratory, R&D offices, dining options and residences. Brasfield & Gorrie is the general contractor on Phase I of Science Square. Also part of the first phase is a 280-unit residential tower by High Street Residential, an affiliate of Trammell Crow Co. The developers aim to deliver Phase I in the first quarter of 2024. Designed by Perkins & Will, Science Square Labs will feature wet and dry laboratories, collaborative spaces, food-and-beverage outlets, a fitness center, interactive conference rooms, indoor/outdoor lounge, catering kitchen and six “graduator” speculative lab/office suites that will accommodate growing life sciences firms. Additionally, Cherry Street Energy is installing a 38,000-square-foot solar panel array atop the parking garage. The design-build team is aiming for Science Square to achieve LEED Gold and WELL certifications. In addition to the topping out, the ownership group has signed the first tenant at Science …
Mill Creek Residential Breaks Ground on 373-Unit Modera Westside Trail Apartments in Atlanta
by John Nelson
ATLANTA — Mill Creek Residential has broken ground on Modera Westside Trail, a 373-unit luxury apartment community in Atlanta’s West Midtown neighborhood. The site is located at 576 Northside Drive, which is adjacent to the western boundary of the Georgia Tech campus and one block south of the new Echo Street West mixed-use development. Modera Westside Trail will comprise studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom units, as well as 37 residences under Mill Creek’s proprietary Premium Collection brand that will feature upgraded finishes. The property will feature immediate access to the Atlanta BeltLine’s Westside Trail, as well as a resort-inspired swimming pool, rooftop deck with fire pit and grilling areas, steam room, coworking space, resident clubhouse with shuffleboard, onsite dog park and pet spa and a fitness center with cardio equipment, yoga studio, TRX system and Peloton bikes. Other amenities will include digital package lockers, controlled-access garage parking, EV charging stations, loaner bikes, bike repair station, bike storage and additional storage space. Mill Creek is anticipating first move-ins for fall 2025.
Greystone Monticello Provides $68.3M Refinancing for Irby Apartments in Atlanta’s Buckhead District
by John Nelson
ATLANTA — Greystone Monticello, a joint venture between Greystone and Monticelloam LLC, has provided two loans totaling $68.3 million for the refinancing of The Irby, a 12-story apartment building in Atlanta’s Buckhead district. The financing comprised a $60.3 million bridge loan and an $8 million mezzanine loan. Greystone Commercial Capital, a division of Greystone, arranged the financing on behalf of the borrower, an affiliate of Lone Star Funds. The Irby was developed in 2020 and features 277 studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments, as well as a resort-style saltwater pool, elevated courtyard with a fire pit and grilling station, private cabanas, 24-hour athletic club and yoga studio, complimentary wine on-tap, sauna, media and game room, onsite pet spa, bike room and repair station, Peloton bikes, high-rise lookout terrace, 24/7 concierge and a curated art program.
CORAL GABLES, FLA. — A joint venture between Torose Equities, LNDMRK Development and Terranova Corp. has acquired 255 Alhambra, a 220,000-square-foot office building located in downtown Coral Gables. Situated on 1.3 acres on Alhambra Circle, the property features floor-to-ceiling windows and a newly renovated lobby. An affiliate of Deutsche Bank/RREEF sold the building. The sales price was not disclosed, but South Florida Business Journal reported that the property traded for more than $50 million. The partnership plans to execute a business plan including leasing up the existing vacancies and upgrading amenities at the property. 255 Alhambra was built in 1974 and renovated in 1993, according to LoopNet Inc.