GREENVILLE, S.C. — Asking rents for the retail market in Upstate South Carolina are beginning to bounce back from the COVID-19 hit the sector took in the first quarter, NAI Earle Furman research has found. The Greenville-based brokerage firm reports that second-quarter rents were up nearly 10 cents to just shy of $10.90 across the region and $1.10 higher in the Greenville central business district (CBD) and West End. For the region, asking rates were around $11 per square foot at year-end 2019, showing the market still has some recovering to do, though. Additionally, the vacancy rate has climbed to nearly 5 percent in the second quarter, up from 4.5 percent the previous quarter and just over 4 percent at the end of 2019. Vacancy in the Greenville CBD was relatively flat, coming in at 5.3 percent in the second quarter, compared with 5 percent in the first quarter. Absorption fell slightly in Upstate, too, from 8,000 square feet to 1,000 square feet of positive absorption.
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Arnold Cos. has broken ground on The Palms on Lady, an 83-unit apartment complex in downtown Columbia. The property will offer studio, one- and two-bedroom floor plans ranging in size from 466 to 1,172 square feet. The asset will be situated at the intersection of Lady and Assembly streets. Unit interiors will feature quartz countertops, energy-efficient appliances and 10-foot ceilings for residents on the top floor. Communal amenities will include a fitness center, Luxer One package services, pool, business center and a residents’ lounge. MB Kahn is the general contractor, and Cline Design Associates is the architect. The developer expects to deliver the community in early 2022.
GREENVILLE, S.C. — Frampton Construction has completed a 126-room, Cambria-branded hotel in Greenville. The four-story property is located at 135 Carolina Point Parkway, seven miles east of downtown Greenville. Amenities include an outdoor pool with sundeck, Tesla electric vehicle charging stations, a cobblestone porte-cochère entrance, spa-style bathrooms with Bluetooth mirrors, a restaurant/bar, and 1,486 square feet of meeting space. ODA Architecture was the hotel’s designer, and Choice Hotels will operate the hotel.
CAYCE, S.C. — The Simpson Organization Inc. plans to develop a $65 million mixed-use project at the intersection of Interstate 77 and 12th Street in Cayce. The Atlanta-based developer acquired 36 acres of Dominion Energy’s 260-acre Otarre Pointe development for the project, which is slated to include apartments, restaurants, retail space, a hotel, office space and an entertainment area. ODA Architecture is the designer, Paris Projects is the general contractor and EB Development will handle leasing and marketing. Simpson Organization expects to break ground on Phase I in late 2021. The property is located seven miles south of downtown Columbia.
GREENVILLE, HARDEEVILLE AND IRMO, S.C. — Southwood Realty has acquired a four-property apartment portfolio totaling 1,120 units across South Carolina for $146 million. The four communities include Ardmore at the Park and Ardmore Howell Road in Greenville, Ardmore New River in Hardeeville and Ardmore Ballentine in Irmo. Each of the properties features amenities such as a pool, fitness center, playground, business center and grilling area. Austin Green and Caleb Troop of Capstone Apartment Partners represented the seller, Greensboro, N.C.-based Ardmore Residential. The team also procured the Gastonia, North Carolina-based buyer. “We continue to see demand from investors for well-located, new-construction garden product across the Carolinas,” says Troop. “Multifamily investment throughout in-migration markets like Greenville, Charleston, Columbia and Hilton Head has weathered the pandemic storm quite well this year.” The 305-unit Ardmore at the Park sold for $39.8 million and has been renamed Palisades at the Park. Built in 2017, it was 95 percent occupied at the time of sale. Ardmore Howell Road, now renamed Palisades at Howell Road, sold for $33.3 million. Built in 2016, it was 90 percent leased at the time of closing. Located less than 25 miles from the Atlantic Coast, Ardmore New River sold for $35.1 …
CHARLESTON, S.C. — Iron Bridge Capital Partners will install a medical-grade air filtration and UV light system at Charleston Tech Center to prevent the spread of COVID-19 or other pathogens through its ventilation system. Iron Bridge, the lead developer of the 92,000-square-foot building, expects to open the property by the end of the year. Charleston Digital Corridor will anchor the property. The system will include an electrostatic filtration process similar to what surgery centers and medical facilities install to prevent the spread of airborne bacteria and viruses from room-to-room. Additionally, the system features a bank of UV lights that will treat any remaining pathogens, as well as reduce the amount of airborne mold and dust. In addition to the air treatment system, Charleston Tech Center will also include COVID-19 protocols and features such as occupancy maximums for elevators and shared conference spaces, hand sanitizer stations in the lobby and at each elevator, touchless faucets and the strong encouragement for workers and guests to wear masks in all common areas.
VALDOSTA, GA. — Ambling has sold a 20-property affordable housing multifamily portfolio spanning Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina for $106 million. The portfolio totals 1,763 units and sold to three separate buyers. Preservation Partners Development purchased 12 communities in Georgia. Six of the communities are currently undergoing substantial rehabilitation that will include updated interiors, as well as updated and improved community spaces. Infinity Real Estate Advisors LLC acquired two North Carolina properties and five South Carolina communities. Jonathan Rose Cos. acquired a property in Savannah, Ga. Doug Childers, Michael Fox and Ryan Clutter of JLL represented the Valdosta-based seller in the transaction.
WEST COLUMBIA, S.C. — Colliers International has arranged a 54,312-square-foot industrial lease for Shiyu Electronics USA in West Columbia. The property is located at 128 McQueen St., seven miles southwest of downtown Columbia. China-based Shiyu Electronics supplies parts for washing machines that are produced in Samsung’s plant in Newberry, S.C., about 50 miles from 128 McQueen St. The building at 128 McQueen spans 170,195 square feet and is now fully leased to Shiyu Electronics, Morrisette Paper Co. and plastic fabrication company Carolina Container. Chuck Salley, Dave Mathews, Thomas Beard and John Peebles of Colliers represented the tenant in the transaction. The landlord was not disclosed.
ROCK HILL, S.C. — Cushman & Wakefield’s Senior Housing Capital Markets team has arranged a $19.8 million loan for HarborChase of Riverwalk, a recently opened assisted living and memory care community in Rock Hill. The borrower, private equity firm BridgeForth Capital, will use the funds to refinance the construction loan. Operated by Harbor Retirement Associates, HarborChase of Riverwalk is an 88-unit property located within the Riverwalk master-planned development. The community, which opened February, is located 25 miles south of Charlotte. Richard Swartz, Jay Wagner and Tim Hosmer of Cushman & Wakefield arranged the loan through Saperean Capital.
BEAUFORT, S.C. — The Stellar Group has completed the $2.7 million renovation of Marine Corps Exchange (MCX) on the Marine Corps Air Station in Beaufort. Stellar upgraded the 16,000-square-foot mall and food court, as well as the adjacent 6,500-square-foot fueling station. MCX carries items needed for a quick one-stop shopping experience for personnel, including men’s and women’s athletic wear, athletic shoes, beauty aids, personal care, military gifts and electronics. The United States Marine Corps Non-Appropriated Funds (NAF) and Appropriated Funds (APF) provided the capital for the design and construction of the renovation. U.S. Army Installation Management Command (IMCOM) managed the contract.