Following the financial markets crash 15 years ago, banks and other lenders began working with commercial real estate (CRE) borrowers who had run into trouble. Solutions included loan extensions, loan sales, recapitalizations and foreclosures. Today lenders are pulling out the playbook again. “We have seen a huge number of loan workout deals come across our desk,” says Jeff Salladin, a managing director with Dallas-based private debt fund Revere Capital. “Any lender that holds loans on their books is seeing the same thing.” Back in 2008, dodgy and highly leveraged residential and CRE loans — along with the emergence of exceedingly risky debt derivatives created by Wall Street — eventually crashed, causing the credit market to collapse. Today credit is still available, but the cost of it has spiked over the last 18 months. Consequently, many commercial properties owners have seen values plummet, making it difficult to find refinancing. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.’s (FDIC) imminent auction of Signature Bank’s $33 billion in commercial property loans and other assets is expected to attract bids as much as 40 percent below face value, according to The Wall Street Journal. That’s just the latest gloomy bellwether regarding CRE values and underscores the predicament …
Southeast
Hoffman, ESL to Develop 15-Story Seniors Housing Project at West Falls Development in Northern Virginia
by John Nelson
FALLS CHURCH, VA. — Hoffman & Associates and Experience Senior Living (ESL) plan to co-develop The Reserve at Falls Church, a 15-story seniors housing project within the 10-acre West Falls mixed-use development underway in Northern Virginia. The Reserve will feature more than 200 units of independent living, assisted living and memory care residences. Amenities will include a spa with a saltwater pool and fitness center, multiple onsite restaurants, a sky bar, maker space, concierge floors and electric vehicle transportation services. Aside from the seniors housing component, West Falls will feature apartments, condominiums, shops, restaurants, service retailers, a hotel and a medical office building, along with a central 18,000-square-foot outdoor community gathering space. Hoffman and ESL aim to open The Reserve in fourth-quarter 2026.
Katz & Associates Signs 120,000 SF of Retail Leases at Solar-Powered Mixed-Use Development in South Florida
by John Nelson
BABCOCK RANCH, FLA. — Katz & Associates has signed several retail tenants to leases totaling more than 120,000 square feet at Babcock Ranch, a solar-powered mixed-use community currently underway in South Florida. The project is entitled for 6 million square feet of commercial space, in addition to residences. Jon Cashion and Eric Spritz of Katz & Associates represented the landlord and developer, Kitson & Partners, in the lease negotiations. Upon completion, the development will feature 4 million square feet of retail space, including shopping centers The Shoppes at Yellow Pine and Crescent B Commons. Marshalls, Ace Hardware, Five Below, Oar & Iron, Tipsy Salonbar, Fountain Pools, Seymour Orthodontics, Yummy Thai & Chinese, Verizon Wireless, Papa John’s Pizza, Carvel and Laser Lounge will occupy space at The Shoppes at Yellow Pine. Starbucks Coffee, Fifth Third Bank and Fiore + Ela Salon recently signed leases at Crescent B Commons. A total of 24 retail tenants have now signed leases at Babcock Ranch. The Shoppes at Yellow Pine, which will comprise 120,000 square feet, is scheduled for completion in the first quarter of 2025, with retailer openings scheduled to begin early that year.
RALEIGH, N.C. — Swinerton will serve as the design coordinator and general contractor for a $21 million build-to-suit office and industrial facility south of Raleigh. The location of the 75,000-square-foot development and name of the tenant, a Fortune 150 electrical utilities provider, were not disclosed. Set to open on a 33-acre site in spring 2025, the project will comprise a 45,000-square-foot, single-story mobile substation storage facility and a 30,000-square-foot command center that will feature eight office spaces and four large collaboration areas.
Sembler Completes $13.3M Redevelopment of Publix-Anchored Shopping Center in Metro Tampa
by John Nelson
SPRING HILL, FLA. — The Sembler Co. has completed the $13.3 million redevelopment of Hernando West Plaza, a Publix-anchored shopping center in Spring Hill, approximately 35 miles northwest of Tampa. Publix closed its store at the center last December to make way for its new 45,000-square-foot store, which opened earlier this month. Originally built in 1980 along U.S. Highway 19, Hernando West Plaza features 54,800 square feet of inline retail space in addition to the Publix store, as well as 3,200 square feet of small shop space and an outparcel. The center is 94 percent leased to tenants including Beall’s Outlet, AAA Auto Club, Little Caesar’s, Miracle Ear and other soft goods, dining and service retailers. Forge Real Estate Partners IV, a joint venture between Sembler and Forge Capital Partners, has owned the center since 2020.
Axiom Arranges $2.1M Acquisition Financing for Industrial Property on Florida’s Space Coast
by John Nelson
MELBOURNE, FLA. — Axiom Capital has arranged a $2.1 million loan for the acquisition of an industrial property located 1.5 miles from I-95 in Melbourne, a city on Florida’s Space Coast. Constructed on a 4.2-acre site in 1998, the 30,000-square-foot property features 18- to 20-foot ceiling heights, two dock doors, three drive-in doors and 101 car parking spaces. The borrower was not disclosed.
PGIM Provides $188M Refinancing for Multifamily Portfolio in Downtown Silver Spring, Maryland
by John Nelson
SILVER SPRING, MD. — PGIM Real Estate has provided a $188 million loan for a five-property multifamily portfolio in downtown Silver Spring. The borrower, Tower Cos., is using the fixed-rate loan to refinance The Blairs, a 1,396-unit portfolio that comprises The Pearl, Blair Towns, Blair House, Blair East and Blair Plaza. The five properties are situated within a master-planned community that Tower Cos. owns. In 2012, The Blairs was the first multifamily residential campus to receive the LEED Gold certification for operations and maintenance, according to PGIM.
ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Tanger, a publicly traded owner and operator of outlet malls, has purchased Asheville Outlets, a 382,000-square-foot retail development in Asheville. Tanger acquired the outlet mall from New England Development for $70 million in an all-cash, off-market transaction. The property represents Tanger’s 38th outlet mall and the second new addition to its holdings in fourth-quarter 2023, following the opening of Tanger Outlets Nashville last month. Asheville Outlets was 95 percent leased at the time of sale to tenants including Nike, Under Armour, RH, Bath & Body Works, Crate & Barrel and West Elm. The property includes two anchors: Sportsman’s Warehouse and a separately owned Dillard’s Clearance Center. New England Development purchased and redeveloped the former indoor regional mall into an outlet mall in 2015. Tanger will officially transition the center to become Tanger Outlets Asheville in early January 2024.
Vesper Recapitalizes 850-Bed Student Housing Community Near Kennesaw State University in Metro Atlanta
by John Nelson
KENNESAW, GA. — Vesper Holdings has recapitalized West 22, an 850-bed student housing property located near the Kennesaw State University campus in metro Atlanta. Vesper owns the community through a joint venture partnership with an undisclosed investor. West 22 offers a mix of cottage and apartment units in one- through five-bedroom configurations. Shared amenities include a two-story fitness center, outdoor kitchen, basketball court, sand volleyball court, firepit and a hammock garden. The partnership plans to execute $3 million in capital improvements at the property over the next two years, including the addition of new flooring in units, lighting and cabinet upgrades, the addition of Nest thermostats and smart locks, and renovations to the clubhouse, gym and swimming pool. Jaclyn Fitts, William Vonderfecht and Casey Schaefer of CBRE’s National Student Housing team represented Vesper in the transaction, along with CBRE’s Kevin Geiger and Shea Campbell. Timothy Bradley and Austin Kinn of TSB Capital Advisors arranged the financing on behalf of the joint venture.
HUNTSVILLE, ALA. — The Beach Co. has signed Arrow Electronics, a tech services provider, to an office lease at The Range, a new 49,229-square-foot office building along Governors Drive in Huntsville. The Range is connected via a new pedestrian sidewalk to Beach Co.’s sister property The Foundry, a new 342-unit multifamily development, and Stovehouse, a property with food-and-beverage options, offices and event space. Arrow Electronics will occupy the remaining space on The Range’s ground floor. Crunkleton Commercial Real Estate Group managed the leasing efforts. The Range has one 10,000-square-foot availability on the second floor, according to Beach Co.