Like most of the country, the metro Atlanta multifamily market has experienced a dramatic storyline over the past three years. While the continuing plot twists are difficult to predict, important cues suggest Atlanta’s multifamily market will reestablish a solid upward path quicker than many other cities in the country. Economic strength Atlanta’s economic fundamentals make it a favored market for investors, lenders, new residents, and business relocations. Today, metro Atlanta’s population stands at approximately 6 million, growing by 64,940 in 2022. Atlanta also added 126,400 new jobs in 2022. Georgia’s unemployment rate of 3.1 percent is below the national average of 3.6 percent. These figures are a key part of Atlanta’s desirability as an investment market and an indicator of the region’s ability to rebound quickly from cyclical economic disruptions. Record volume Atlanta is a top 10 U.S. market for multifamily inventory and investment. As the nation experienced an 11-year economic expansion after the Global Financial Crisis (GFC), Atlanta’s multifamily sales volume averaged between $7 billion and $9 billion annually. When the pandemic hit in March 2020, most industry participants expected a major transaction pullback. The reality proved different. Sales volume dropped initially but rebounded sharply for a full-year 2020 …
Southeast
Affordable HousingBuild-to-RentGeorgiaMarket ReportsMultifamilySingle-Family RentalSoutheastSoutheast Market Reports
FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. — PEBB Capital and Intalex Capital, in partnership with CDS International Holdings Inc., have acquired 110 East, an office building located in downtown Fort Lauderdale. The 24-story property comprises 343,500 square feet of office space. Christian Lee, Andrew Chilgren, Marcos Minaya and Sean Kelley of CBRE brokered the transaction on behalf of both the buyers and the seller, Stockbridge. The sales price was not disclosed, but multiple media outlets have reported that 110 East traded for $43 million. Travis Herring and Katherine Ridgway of Cushman & Wakefield are working with PEBB and Intalex to oversee leasing of the building, and the partnership has secured 76,000 square feet of new tenancy, with 125,000 square feet of new leases currently in negotiation. Plans for the property include multimillion-dollar renovations to common areas. Greenwall Capital Management advised CDS in the transaction, and Kapp Morrison LLP provided legal representation.
CARTERSVILLE, GA. — CBRE has arranged a 110,441-square-foot industrial lease within Busch Logistics Park at 1187 Cassville White Road NE in Cartersville. The tenant is Ernesta, a New York City-based direct-to-consumer, custom-fit rug company. The company expects to hire up to 50 people at the location. Matt Von der Ahe and Scott Slappey of CBRE represented the tenant in the leasing negotiations. JLL represented the landlord, Houston-based Hines.
CUMMING AND KENNESAW, GA. — The Aubuchon Realty Co. (ARC) has acquired two retail properties in metro Atlanta in separate transactions totaling $15.1 million. ARC purchased Town Center Esplanade — a shopping center located in Kennesaw, roughly 30 miles northwest of Atlanta — from an entity doing business as MC Promenade LLC for $9.5 million. Tenants at the property, which was built in 1988 and comprises 39,108 square feet, include Revolving Sushi Factory, J. Christopher’s Café, Three Dollar Café, The Juicy Crab and Ten Seconds Rice Noodle. ARC also acquired a single-tenant property located in Cumming, approximately 40 miles northeast of Atlanta. CVS/pharmacy occupies the property on a triple-net-lease basis. Hemisphere Limited sold the building for $5.6 million.
LPC Southeast Inks 38,451 SF Office Lease in Midtown Atlanta With Coworking Firm Spaces
by John Nelson
ATLANTA — Lincoln Property Co. Southeast (LPC Southeast) has negotiated a full-building, 38,451-square-foot lease at 1372 Peachtree St. in Midtown Atlanta. The tenant, coworking provider Spaces, offers office rental options, including coworking space, virtual workspaces and communal breakout areas. The building is located near Colony Square, Midtown Arts District and the Arts Center MARTA Station and has undergone $7.5 million of improvements. Michael Howell, Hunter Henritze and Caroline Fisher arranged the lease on behalf of the landlord on an internal basis.
Sprouts to Open 25,000 SF Grocery Store at North Hills Shopping Center in Greenville, South Carolina
by John Nelson
GREENVILLE, S.C. — Sprouts Farmers Market will open a 25,000-square-foot grocery store at North Hills Shopping Center in Greenville. Charlotte-based Aston Properties is the landlord. Originally built in 1975, the retail center is currently undergoing renovations that include updates to facades, landscaping, patios, storefronts and parking lot repairs. Construction of the Sprouts is scheduled to begin this year, with the opening planned for 2024. This marks the second location for the brand in the Greenville market.
Regency Centers Agrees to Acquire Urstadt Biddle Properties in $1.4B Shopping Center REIT Merger
by Jeff Shaw
JACKSONVILLE, FLA., AND GREENWICH, CONN.— Jacksonville-based REIT Regency Centers (NASDAQ: REG) has agreed to acquire Urstadt Biddle Properties (NYSE: UBA) in a an all-stock transaction valued at $1.4 billion, including the assumption of debt and preferred stock. Urstadt Biddle Properties is a REIT based in Greenwich that primarily invests in shopping centers. The combined company will have a market capitalization of approximately $11 billion and total enterprise value of approximately $16 billion. The combined portfolio will comprise 56 million square feet of gross leasable area across 481 properties. Regency acquired the company to help expand its footprint in grocery-anchored shopping centers in suburban trade areas in the U.S. Under the terms of the agreement, Urstadt Biddle’s stockholders will receive 0.347 of a newly issued REG share for each UBA or UBP share they own. This represents a total consideration of $20.40 per share based on Regency’s closing share price on May 17, 2023. Upon closing, Regency shareholders will own 93 percent of the combined company, while Urstadt Biddle shareholders will own three percent. The respective boards of directors of both Regency and Urstadt Biddle have each approved the transaction. “The portfolio that Urstadt Biddle has carefully assembled over more than …
Park Avenue Lifestyle to Develop $70M Seniors Housing Project at James Run in Metro Baltimore
by John Nelson
BEL AIR, MD. — Park Avenue Lifestyle has purchased a site within James Run, a mixed-use development underway in the Baltimore suburb of Bel Air, from master developer JEN Partners, a real estate private equity fund based in New York. The Orlando-based buyer plans to develop a $70 million seniors housing community on the site that will feature independent living, assisted living and memory care units, as well as a fitness center, outdoor courtyards, walking paths and an in-house restaurant and pub. At full build-out, which is anticipated for 2025, James Run will comprise this seniors housing property; 190 age-targeted villas and 80 townhomes; the 304-unit James Run Apartments; more than 57,000 square feet of retail space, including boutique shops, sit-down, fast-casual and quick-service restaurants; 20,000 square feet of office and medical office space; and a 125-room hotel and conference center. The development is approximately 50 percent complete, according to JEN Partners. Committed tenants include Starbucks, Kiddie Academy, Royal Farms gas station and convenience store, two unnamed Italian and steakhouse restaurants and a freestanding wine store. Baltimore-based Craftsmen Cos. is the development manager for James Run, and MacKenzie Commercial Real Estate Services is the project’s leasing brokerage firm.
Dwight Capital Provides $45M HUD-Insured Loan for Kinstone Columns Drive Apartments in Marietta, Georgia
by John Nelson
MARIETTA, GA. — Dwight Capital has provided a HUD 223(f) loan for the refinancing of Kinstone Columns Drive, a 384-unit apartment community along the Chattahoochee River in Marietta, a northern suburb of Atlanta. Brandon Baksh and Karnveer Bal of Dwight Capital originated the loan, which features a 25-basis-point Green Mortgage Insurance Premium (MIP), on behalf of the borrower, Walton Communities. The 30.5-acre community comprises 29 three-story apartment buildings, three townhome buildings, two pool bathhouses and a leasing office/clubhouse. Kinstone Columns Drive’s amenities include a fitness center, business center, playground, tennis court, walking trail, picnic area, sports court and two pools, as well as direct access to Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area’s three miles of walking/hiking trails.
JOHNS CREEK, GA. — Toro Development Co. (TDC) has announced leases with 11 tenants at Medley, a mixed-use project currently underway in Johns Creek, roughly 30 miles northeast of Atlanta. Upon completion, the development will include 200,000 square feet of retail, restaurant and entertainment space, as well as 900 residential units and 110,000 square feet of office space. The committed tenants include Little Rey (a concept by Atlanta-based chef and restaurateur Ford Fry), CRÚ Food & Wine Bar, AYA Medical Spa, Fadó Irish Pub, BODY20, Lily Sushi Bar, Lucciano’s Gelato, Sugarcoat Beauty, Summit Coffee, Knuckies Hoagies and Cookie Fix. Len Erickson and Kaitlyn Theriot of Franklin Street handle retail leasing at Medley, and Bryan Heller of Stream Realty Partners handles office leasing. The design-build team includes architect Nelson Worldwide, engineer firm Kimley-Horn and landscape architect Site Solutions. Demolition of a 350,000-square-foot office building is currently underway at the site. TDC plans to break ground on Medley before the end of the year.