We hear this question a lot: “How is commercial real estate doing in Birmingham?” Many people assume our market is experiencing the same volatility seen in national headlines over the past few years. The reality is a bit different. Birmingham is actually a stable market. While we certainly feel broader economic shifts, our office sector has avoided many of the dramatic swings seen in larger metro areas and is gradually positioning itself for future growth. To set the stage, Birmingham’s office market consists of approximately 18.8 million square feet of multi-tenant inventory across five submarkets, four of which include Class A properties. Overall absorption for fourth-quarter 2025 totaled negative 35,336 square feet following a positive third quarter. However, the market still finished the year with 56,786 square feet of positive net absorption. Occupancy remained largely stable throughout the year, with the overall vacancy rate holding at 19.8 percent. Direct vacancy improved slightly to 16.6 percent by year-end. Leasing activity also remained steady across the market. In total, 640,255 square feet of office space was leased in 2025, representing an approximately 14 percent increase compared to the amount of office space leased in 2024. Class A transactions accounted for more than …
BOWLING GREEN, KY. — The Western Kentucky University (WKU) Board of Regents has approved the “Elevate WKU” development plan with Gilbane Development Co., a global real estate development firm, to launch the first phase of a multi-year student housing initiative on the WKU campus in Bowling Green. The Kentucky Capital Projects and Bond Oversight Committee also approved the partnership this week. The $350 million initiative is the largest residential investment in WKU’s history, according to Gilbane. Phase I of the development will replace Hugh Poland and Douglas Keen Halls with a new roughly 1,000-bed residential complex featuring suite-style options, community kitchens, collaborative lounges, expanded community spaces, tech-enabled learning environments and enhanced safety and accessibility features. The facility is expected to open in fall 2028. Gilbane is developing the Elevate WKU master plan in a public-private partnership with the university under a 50-year ground lease model. Under the structure, WKU will enter into a ground lease with the Collegiate Housing Foundation (CHF) — a national 501(c)(3) organization — which will serve as owner and borrower. Gilbane and WKU have selected Inwood Management to oversee the day-to-day operations and physical maintenance of the Elevate WKU portfolio alongside the university’s Residence Life team. Future phases will address renovations of existing …
TUSCALOOSA, ALA. — Greystone has provided a $28.2 million Freddie Mac loan to finance the purchase of Landmark Apartments, a 264-unit multifamily community located in Tuscaloosa. Elliott Mulkin of Greystone originated the five-year loan, which features a 30-year amortization schedule and interest-only payments. The borrower and seller were not disclosed. Andrew Brown and Craig Hey of Cushman & Wakefield represented the buyer in the sale. Built in 2007, Landmark Apartments spans 23 acres and comprises a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom floorplans. Amenities at the garden-style community include a resort-style swimming pool, fitness center with yoga studio, resident clubhouse, business center and outdoor gathering spaces.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — JLL Capital Markets has arranged a $16 million construction loan for Project J, an 84-unit apartment building in Charlotte’s South End neighborhood. Taylor Allison, Alexis Kaiser, Nick Thornton and Abby Reed of JLL secured the loan through Genesis Capital on behalf of the borrower, Panorama Holdings. Situated at 1722 S. Tryon St., Project J will span six floors and feature 30,457 square feet of rentable space, along with a mix of amenities such as a first-floor lounge, outdoor patio with a kitchen and grill, sixth-floor balcony patio, indoor bike storage on each floor and food locker services. The apartments at Project J are described as “micro units,” as they average 363 square feet in size.
NEW ORLEANS — SRSA Real Estate has negotiated the $7.2 million sale of a ground-floor retail condominium at 1200 Poydras St. in New Orleans near the Caesars Superdome, home of the NFL’s New Orleans Saints. Chick-fil-A and Hurts Donut anchor the 17,270-square-foot space, with Juicy Seafood expected to open immediately. Steve Reisig and Christopher Robertson Jr. of SRSA Real Estate represented the seller, an entity doing business as Poydras Properties II LLC, in the transaction. The buyer requested anonymity.
NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. — The Barton Malow | Edifice joint venture team has begun structural steel work at Roper St. Francis Healthcare’s $1.2 billion Roper Hospital development in North Charleston. The start of steel work signals the 27-acre project’s transition from below-grade construction to its vertical rise. Designed by E4H Environments for Health Architecture and Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, the hospital campus will span 805,000 square feet and will offer 328 inpatient beds, a 47-bay emergency department, 44 critical care beds, 18 operating rooms, a comprehensive imaging department and a 12-bay hemodialysis unit. Completion is targeted for 2029.
PEMBROKE PINES, FLA. — McDowell Housing Partners and Miami Jewish Health have completed the development of Douglas Gardens Senior Health and Living, a new affordable seniors housing community located in Pembroke Pines, roughly 25 miles northwest of Miami. Now open, the community totals 410 units reserved for residents age 55 and older earning 30, 60 and 100 percent of the area median income. Amenities at the community include a pond with walking paths, theater room, business center and multiple indoor and outdoor gathering spaces. Development costs for the project totaled $139 million. This marks the third project completed in partnership by McDowell Housing and Miami Jewish Health. ANF Group served as the construction manager. The project team also included engineer and landscape designer Keith & Associates, REPRTWAR Architecture and Design and interior designer Jewel Toned Interiors.
RICHMOND, VA. — Berkadia has originated three HUD 223(f) loans for a trio of garden-style apartment communities in Virginia. The deals included an $11.5 million loan for the refinancing of Westlake Apartments in Hardy; a $9.5 million loan for the refinancing of River Retreat Apartments in Covington; and an $11.4 million loan for the refinancing of Madison Apartments in Christiansburg. Amy Gay of Berkadia’s FHA/HUD division originated the loans on behalf of the borrower, Roanoke, Va.-based Fralin Cos.
DELRAY BEACH, FLA. — Cushman & Wakefield has brokered the $6.9 million sale of Delray Beach Medical Pavilion, a 36,041-square-foot healthcare facility located at 14000 S. Military Trail in Delray Beach. Located in South Florida’s Palm Beach County, the clinic features covered parking and was 63.4 percent leased at the time of sale. Benlee Asset Management purchased Delray Beach Medical Pavilion from the seller, an entity doing business as 14000 S Military Trail LLC. Scott O’Donnell, Mike Ciadella, Greg Miller, Miguel Alcivar, Gino Lollio and Travis Ives of Cushman & Wakefield represented the seller in the transaction.
BRANDON, FLA. — Walker & Dunlop has provided a $60.2 million Freddie Mac loan for 2211 Grand Isle Apartment Homes, a 390-unit, garden-style apartment community located at 2211 Grand Isle Drive in Brandon, a southeastern suburb of Tampa. Stephen West, Matthew Wallach and Walker Layne of Walker & Dunlop originated the floating-rate loan on behalf of the borrower, Providence Real Estate. Apprise, Walker & Dunlop’s independent third-party appraisal platform, appraised the transaction. Built in 1999, 2211 Grand Isle Apartment Homes offers one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom residences, as well as a 24-hour fitness center, car care center and a pool with poolside cabanas.