ANNAPOLIS, MD. — Demand for seniors housing has reached an all-time high, according to the National Investment Center for Seniors Housing & Care (NIC). In a press release, the Annapolis-based organization reported that occupancy rates in the United States increased 30 basis points — from 87.1 percent in the fourth quarter of 2024 to 87.4 percent in the first quarter of 2025 — referencing data from NIC MAP, which tracks occupancy rates in 31 primary markets throughout the country. Occupancy across independent living properties rose to 89 percent from 88.6 percent in the same period, and occupancy rates in assisted living communities increased to 85.8 percent from 85.5 percent. The first quarter of 2025 marked a record for occupied seniors housing units, with roughly 621,000 units occupied, an increase from 617,000 in the fourth quarter of 2024. Simultaneously, construction starts in the seniors housing sector were at only 1,076 units, their lowest since the second quarter of 2009. Approximately 19,500 units total were under construction in the first quarter of 2025, marking the lowest level since 2013. Rental rates, on average, saw a slight decrease quarter-over-quarter.
HYATTSVILLE, MD. — Gilbane Development has cut the ribbon on Sovren, a five-story, 293-unit multifamily community in Hyattsville. Amazon’s housing equity fund contributed debt to fund the development. Located within the larger mixed-use development of The Riverfront at West Hyattsville, Sovren has direct access to the West Hyattsville Metro station and the Northwest Branch Anacostia River trail system. Sovren includes 147 units reserved for residents earning 80 percent or less of the area median income, as well as 2,500 square feet of retail space and an art-wrapped, 298-space parking garage. The community offers studios, one-, two- and three-bedroom floorplans ranging from 429 square feet to 1,417 square feet in size. Amenities at the property include a resort-style swimming pool with cabanas, fitness center with a dedicated yoga space, coworking areas, dog park, pet-washing facilities, outdoor grilling areas, fire pits and an entertainment lounge with a billiards table. Monthly rental rates for Sovren begin at $1,860, according to Apartments.com.
BIRMINGHAM, ALA. — First Citizens Bank’s healthcare finance division, First Citizens Healthcare Finance, has provided a $53.5 million loan to refinance Grandview Physicians Plaza II, a 140,000-square-foot medical office facility located in Birmingham. The borrower was an affiliate of Rethink Healthcare Real Estate. Constructed in 2022, Grandview Physicians Plaza II is situated within the Grandview Medical Center Campus that occupies Affinity Hospital and Grandview Plaza I. Grandview Plaza II completes the primary medical campus for Grandview Health, which has signed a long-term anchor tenant lease for physician offices and hospital services. First Citizens Healthcare Finance also provided takeout financing for Grandview Physicians Plaza I in 2024.
ATLANTA — Stream Realty Partners has added five leases at The Interlock, a 672,688-square foot mixed-use development located at 1115 Howell Mill Road NW in Atlanta’s West Midtown district. Kevin Driver and Malik Leaphart of Stream Realty arranged the leases, while colleague Michaela Roberts managed the firm’s initiatives to reposition and deliver customized office suites. The Gathering Spot, a private, members-only modern city club, leased 21,000 square feet of office space, as well as an additional 40,000 square feet of rooftop space. Directional Capital, a Los Angeles-based private equity firm and one of the largest national Rent-A-Center franchise owners, leased 10,500 square feet to establish its new headquarters. Creative firm agency Look Listen secured an 8,500-square-foot lease with drive-up access and direct connectivity to the Bellyard Hotel. Workers’ compensation defense law firm Levy, Sibley, Foreman & Speir LLC (LSFS) signed a 5,000-square-foot lease while Alloy Marketing signed a 10,000-square-foot lease, with both firms occupying newly built office suites on the sixth floor. Mike Davis and Nathan Williams of Scotland Wright Associates represented The Gathering Spot, Directional Capital, Look Listen and LSFS, while Dan Granot of Savills represented Alloy Marketing in the lease negotiations.
CARYVILLE, TENN. — Marcus & Millichap has arranged the $5.9 million sale of a 62-room Hampton Inn hotel in Caryville, roughly 24 miles north of Knoxville via I-75. Located at 4459 Veterans Memorial Highway along Cove Lake, the 42,000-square-foot Hampton Inn was originally built in 1994. Amenities at the property include an outdoor swimming pool, fitness center and a business center. Alexandre Duong and Lucas Jalenak of Marcus & Millichap’s Cleveland and Nashville offices marketed the property on behalf of the undisclosed seller. Alexandre Duong and Kishan Patel from the firm’s Louisville office procured the buyer. Jody McKibben served as Marcus & Millichap’s broker of record in Tennessee for the deal.
DOUGLASVILLE, GA. — TSCG has brokered the sale of Douglasville Day Centre, a 25,300-square-foot shopping center located in the Atlanta suburb of Douglasville. The sales price was undisclosed. Situated at the intersection of Chapel Hill and Timber Ridge roads, the center was originally built in 2005. The property was fully leased at the time of sale to tenants including Starbucks Coffee, Verizon Wireless, Orangetheory Fitness, Tropical Smoothie Café and Shane’s Rib Shack. Douglasville Day Centre also features four separate outparcels — McDonald’s, Panda Express, Texas Roadhouse and Carrabba’s Italian Grill — that were not included in the sale. Anthony Blanco, Mallory Silva and Serge Du Lau D’Allemans of TSCG represented the seller, a private partnership, in the transaction. A joint venture managed by Crow Holdings Capital was the buyer.
Birmingham’s retail market continues to demonstrate resilience despite national economic challenges. With a vacancy rate of 3.8 percent — slightly below the national average of 4.1 percent — and rental rates holding steady at $13.13 per square foot, the city remains an attractive destination for both investors and tenants. However, rising interest rates have slowed development and softened transaction volumes, reshaping the investment landscape. Macroeconomic trends The intersection of economic pressures and shifting consumer habits is redefining Birmingham’s retail landscape. Across the nation, big-box retailer bankruptcies have contributed to negative net absorption of 346,200 square feet over the past year, and Birmingham has felt similar effects. The closure of Conn’s HomePlus, among other retailers, has contributed to this contraction. Despite these challenges, suburban retail demand remains robust. Homewood, Hoover and Alabaster are experiencing continued growth, and Crestwood Festival Shopping Center has added new tenants like Fun City Adventure and Armor Gym occupying 100,000 square feet. These trends highlight the increasing popularity of experiential retail, as consumers gravitate toward destinations that offer more than just traditional shopping. Development slows New retail construction has slowed significantly, with only 130,000 square feet delivered in the past year — well below historical averages. However, …
JACKSONVILLE, FLA. — JLL Capital Markets has facilitated a $68.28 million loan for the acquisition of Arcadia Jacksonville, a 333,725-square-foot cold storage facility in Jacksonville. Melissa Rose, Michael Klein, Wells Waller, Nicole Barba and Preston Bacon of JLL secured the five-year, fixed-rate loan through an insurance company on behalf of the borrower, Manulife Investment Management. Completed in 2024, Arcadia Jacksonville is located within Imeson Industrial Park, which is 10 miles from Jacksonville International Airport. The facility is fully leased to Arcadia Cold Storage & Logistics, a major third-party logistics provider in North America. Arcadia Jacksonville features flexible temperature zones ranging from -20 to 35 degrees Fahrenheit, 50-foot clear heights and 210-foot truck court depths.
JOHNS CREEK, GA. — Boehringer Ingelheim, a biopharmaceutical firm that manufactures medicine for humans and animals, has relocated to a 73,000-square-foot lifestyle office space at Medley, a 43-acre mixed-use development underway in the north Atlanta suburb of Johns Creek. Toro Development Co. (TDC) is the developer and owner of Medley, which will become the new U.S. Animal Health headquarters for Boehringer Ingelheim and its 500 employees in summer 2026, ahead of Medley’s opening in October 2026. Boehringer Ingelheim will occupy two full floors of a reimagined office building that totals 150,000 square feet. This deal marks the largest Class A office lease north of the Atlanta Perimeter in roughly five years, according to TDC. Bryan Heller and Parker Welton of Stream Realty Partners represented TDC in the lease negotiations.
TAMPA, FLA. — Continuum Advisors has arranged the sale of a five-property senior living portfolio totaling 340 units in Clermont, Ocala, Brandon, Lecanto and Niceville, Fla. The sales price was not disclosed. David Kliewer and Jay Jordan of Continuum represented the seller, Healthcare Management Partners (HMP), in the transaction, where three separate buyers acquired the five communities.