PLANO, TEXAS — Law firm Carstens, Allen & Gourley has signed a 12,500-square-foot office lease at One Legacy Circle in Plano. The firm, which specializes in intellectual property cases, now occupies the third floor of the newly renovated building. Roy Reis and Jim Hazard of Cresa represented the tenant in the lease negotiations. Russ Johnson and Lauren Perry of JLL represented the landlord, Franklin Street Properties Corp.
Combinations of offices with laboratories, research and development spaces and/or manufacturing areas make life sciences facilities highly customizable. These multipurpose, technical spaces are in high demand from companies seeking first-class facilities for research-based advancements. Low vacancies, high rents and the chance to convert unused office or retail spaces on a faster timeline have prompted some creative approaches to retrofit existing space to fulfill the needs of science and technology tenants. In other instances, facilities must be built from the ground up to conform to best practices. But what factors matter most to the life sciences field? And how can developers increase their speed to market? Read on for tips and checklists for developers hoping to speed up the process of building or retrofitting these facilities. Industry Drivers: Speed to Market and Flexibility Office conversions into life sciences facilities offer a variety of options. Life sciences facilities often do not need to accommodate large trucks (eliminating circulation and loading dock concerns), they use office components and (most importantly) office conversions offer faster speed to market than other types of conversions. “Speed to market is most important for these developers/tenants. There is a shortage of space, so a well-designed, spec building will …
RICHARDSON, TEXAS — Rubenstein Mortgage Capital has provided a $62 million acquisition loan for 3400 CityLine, a 312,345-square-foot office building located within the CityLine mixed-use development in the northeastern Dallas suburb of Richardson. Built in 2018, the property rises five stories and features a total of 1,400 parking spaces, as well as a lounge, conference center, fitness center and an outdoor entertainment area. Andrew Murray of Rubenstein Mortgage Capital originated the loan on behalf of the borrower, Chicago-based Zeller Realty Group. At the time of the loan closing, 3400 CityLine was 83 percent leased. JLL arranged the debt.
GRAND PRAIRIE, TEXAS — Andretti Indoor Karting & Games will open a 96,000-square-foot racing and entertainment facility in Grand Prairie, located in the central part of the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) metroplex. In addition to the namesake activity, the center will include laser tag, arcade and virtual reality games and duckpin bowling. The facility, which will be the second in the DFW area and seventh nationwide for the Orlando-based concept, is scheduled to open before the end of 2023.
EL PASO, TEXAS — Marcus & Millichap has brokered the sale of Stuff Hotel, a 424-unit self-storage facility that is situated on a 2.5-acre site at 11655 Pellicano Drive in El Paso. Jon Danklefs of Marcus & Millichap represented the seller and procured the buyer, both of which were limited liability companies that requested anonymity, in the transaction.
AUSTIN, TEXAS — Northmarq has negotiated the sale of Aubry Hills, a 192-unit apartment complex located at 8926 N. Lamar Blvd. in North Austin. Built in 1973, the property offers units with a range of floor plans that feature balconies and washer/dryer connections. Amenities include a pool, outdoor grilling and dining areas, a clubhouse, playground and sport courts for tennis, basketball and volleyball. Zar Haro, Moses Siller, Scott Lamontagne, Bryan VanCura and Will Collier of Northmarq represented the seller, a private investor, in the transaction. The buyer was also a private investor.
HOUSTON — Law firm Brown Sims has signed an 35,198-square-foot office lease at Post Oak Central in Uptown Houston. The national litigation firm will occupy two full floors at the three-building, 1.2 million-square-foot campus. Amanda Nebel represented the landlord, Parkway, in the lease negotiations on an internal basis. Griff Bandy of Partners represented Brown Sims.
As the volume of commercial real estate demand, deals and development skyrockets throughout Texas, the industry is working to curate the talented workforce needed to sustain growth, with an emphasis on short-circuiting the gap between education and application. As with any business, understanding the historic principles, ethics and philosophies that govern how commercial real estate is practiced can augment anyone’s career. In addition, it doesn’t hurt to possess certain personality traits — articulation, sociability, self-motivation — that have long been associated with commercial real estate “types.” But according to professors within real estate programs at some of the state’s prominent academic institutions, simulating actual work experience at the grassroots level is what really allows students and interns to thrive early in their careers. Just as important, the industry professionals who hire and train these individuals tend to support this approach. UT Austin At the University of Texas at Austin (UT), real estate is not a formal major that students can declare, but rather a concentration within the finance program in which both undergrad and graduate students can specialize. The program typically includes 100 to 150 undergrads and 15 to 20 graduate students pursuing a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) degree. …
BUDA, TEXAS — Mississippi-based developer EastGroup Properties has begun construction on Stonefield 35, a 275,559-square-foot industrial project in Buda, located south of Austin. The three-building facility will be situated on 21 acres and will be able to accommodate single or multiple users. Building features will include 28-foot clear heights, 180-foot truck court depths, ESFR sprinkler systems and ample car parking. Pross Design Group is the project architect, and RC Page Construction is the general contractor. Transwestern is the leasing agent. Completion is slated for mid-2023.
LANCASTER, DALLAS AND FORT WORTH, TEXAS — Marcus & Millichap has brokered the sale of three multifamily properties totaling 411 units that are located throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) metroplex for a combined price of $58.9 million. The properties include The Meadows, a 120-unit asset in the southern Dallas suburb of Lancaster that was built in 1981; Newport Landing, a 185-unit property in the Lake Highlands area of Dallas that was constructed in 1971; and Monterrey, a 106-unit complex in Fort Worth that was completed in 1969. Al Silva and Ford Braly of Marcus & Millichap represented the buyers and sellers, all of which requested anonymity, in the three separate transactions.