ASHLAND, VA. — Devon USA plans to develop a 320,853-square-foot distribution center at 11600 N. Lakeride Parkway in Ashland, roughly 18 miles north of Richmond. Known as Building D, the spec project will be situated within Enterchange at Northlake Industrial Park. Set for completion in summer 2017, the property will feature 32-foot clear heights, an ESFR sprinkler system, cross-dock loading, dock-high doors and drive-in doors. The property’s sustainable features will include a white reflective roof, skylights, LED lighting and a R30 insulated roof. Richmond-based Devon USA has selected Evan Magrill and N. Dean Meyer of Cushman & Wakefield | Thalhimer to handle Building D’s leasing responsibilities.
Virginia
ARLINGTON, VA. — Washington, D.C.-based Kettler has opened m.flats Crystal City, an 11-story, 198-unit high-rise apartment tower in Arlington’s Crystal City neighborhood. Situated on the former Crystal City Post Office, m.flats was the first residential building proposed to the Arlington County Board since the adoption of the Crystal City Sector Plan in 2010. KTGY Architecture + Planning designed the high-rise to meet LEED Silver certification. The property features one- and two-bedroom units with washed oak flooring, quartz countertops and stainless steel appliances. Community amenities include a clubroom, Wi-Fi access, fitness center, bike storage and workstation, all-season courtyard with fire and water features, rooftop swimming pool, sundeck with cabanas, outdoor kitchens and entertainment spaces with outdoor seating and dining areas. The design team includes civil engineer and consultant Bohler Engineering and general contractor John Moriarty & Associates.
RICHMOND, VA. — Dominion Realty Partners has purchased a three-building office portfolio totaling 288,416 square feet in Richmond for an undisclosed price. Situated within Boulders Office Park, the purchase of Boulders I, II and III will increase Dominion Realty’s Virginia office portfolio to 450,723 square feet. The portfolio was 76 percent leased at the time of sale to 34 tenants including Timmons Group and Tredegar Corp. Dominion Realty plans to make capital improvements to the portfolio, including upgrades of the common area lobbies, corridors and restrooms, parking lot resurfacing and landscaping improvements. Eric Robison of Cushman & Wakefield | Thalhimer represented the undisclosed seller in the transaction.
ARLINGTON, VA. — Forest City Realty Trust Inc. and Arlington County have formed a public-private partnership to transform Ballston Common Mall into a mixed-use retail destination known as Ballston Quarter. The Arlington County board unanimously approved the development agreement at a recent meeting. Located four miles outside of Washington, D.C., Ballston Quarter will feature open-air retail and restaurant space, 406-unit residential tower, pedestrian bridge spanning Wilson Boulevard, public plaza, parking garage upgrades and enhanced streetscapes. The public-private partnership plans to open Ballston Quarter and the pedestrian bridge in September 2018, with pre-leasing for the residential tower to begin in late 2018. In November 2015, Arlington County approved a letter of intent with Forest City to fund up to $55.5 million in public infrastructure costs related to the project.
Greenwich Group Arranges $73.8M Construction Financing for Apartment Development in Metro D.C.
by John Nelson
WOODBRIDGE, VA. — The Greenwich Group International has arranged $73.8 million in construction financing for the development of Rivergate Phase I, a 402-unit, Class A residential apartment building to be developed along the Occoquan River in Woodbridge, a Virginia suburb of Washington, D.C. Peter Witham and Duke Fairchild led the Greenwich team representing the developer, The IDI Group Cos., in securing a $60.3 million senior construction loan and $13.5 million in subordinate mezzanine construction financing. John Moriarty & Associates, the general contractor, commenced construction on Aug. 1 and the property is scheduled to deliver and begin leasing in February 2018.
GAINESVILLE, VA. — Calkain Cos. has brokered the $16.5 million sale of a triple-net leased gym in Gainesville, about 35 miles west of Washington, D.C. The asset is leased to Sport&Health, a fitness chain that operates 22 locations in the metro Washington, D.C. area. Jeff Bogart of Calkain represented the seller in the transaction. Hasan Ibrahim of HMI Properties LLC represented the private buyer.
VIRGINIA BEACH, VA. — The Franklin Johnston Group has opened Southern Pine, a 240-unit apartment community located at 2520 Allie Nicole Circle in Virginia Beach. The property is situated along the Virginia Beach National Golf Club and behind the Courthouse Market Place Shopping Center. The one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments feature stainless steel appliances and balconies. The gated community’s amenities include an outdoor infinity-style swimming pool, two-story clubhouse, fitness center and a two-lane bowling alley.
WILLIAMSBURG, VA. — WM Dougherty & Co. LLC has acquired an unfinished memory care community in Williamsburg for $7.5 million. The Jacksonville, Fla.-based investment bank and brokerage firm will open the community as Berkeley Oaks. Solvere Senior Living, a New Jersey-based operator, will manage the property upon completion. New Dawn Assisted Living was developing the community before the project declared bankruptcy in late 2015. In addition to the purchase price, WM Dougherty plans to invest $2 million in the community. When completed, Berkeley Oaks will offer 48 memory care units divided into three 16-unit buildings that will operate as separate neighborhoods. Architectural firm Lantz-Boggio designed the project, which is scheduled to open in February 2017. Berkeley Oaks will be the fourth developer-operator partnership between Dougherty and Solvere.
Retail Properties of America to Buy One Loudoun Downtown Mixed-Use Center in Metro D.C. for $163.1M
by John Nelson
ASHBURN, VA. — Retail Properties of America Inc. (RPAI) has entered into a purchase agreement for One Loudoun Downtown, a 466,600-square-foot mixed-use development in Ashburn, about 35 miles outside of Washington, D.C. RPAI will purchase the project for up to $163.1 million from the master developers, Miller & Smith and North America Sekisui House LLC. RPAI will purchase Phase I and Phase II of One Loudoun Downtown separately. Phase I of One Loudoun Downtown spans 236,800 square feet of retail space and 105,200 square feet of office space, which are 85.6 percent and 89.7 percent leased, respectively. Existing tenants include Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, The Fresh Market, Great Gatherings, The Fitness Equation and Uncle Julio’s Rio Grande Café. Phase II is under construction and will feature 78,300 square feet of retail space and 46,300 square feet of office space, which are 71 percent pre-leased. One Loudoun Downtown is the retail and office component of One Loudoun, a 360-acre master planned development in Loudoun County. Miller & Smith and North America Sekisui House LLC will continue to serve as the master developers of One Loudoun.
RICHMOND, VA. — Atlanta-based Benning Construction has hired Richard Heinkel to lead the general contractor’s new office in Richmond. As the firm’s director of East Coast operations, Heinkel will manage new and existing clients in Virginia and North Carolina. Heinkel has 40 years of commercial construction experience and is personally licensed in six states. Heinkel graduated from the University of Florida in 1981 with a bachelor’s degree in Building Construction.