AUSTIN, TEXAS — InvenTrust Properties, an Illinois-based REIT, has acquired two shopping centers in Austin for a combined price of $189.3 million. The Shops at Arbor Trails is a 357,000-square-foot center that was 99 percent leased at the time of sale to tenants including anchors Costco and Whole Foods Market. The other property is Escarpment Village, a 168,000-square-foot center anchored by Texas-based grocer H-E-B that was fully leased at the time of sale. The seller(s) was not disclosed.
AUSTIN, TEXAS — Locally based developer Lincoln Ventures has acquired land in East Austin for the development of a 625-unit multifamily project. The six-story property at 2700 E. Fifth St. will house a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom units, with 10 percent of the residences reserved as affordable housing. The development will also include retail space that is preleased to a café and an urban grocer. The amenity package will consist of two pools, a fitness center with yoga and spin studios, coworking space, a pet park and spa and a catering kitchen. Construction is slated to begin in the second half of the year and to be complete in summer 2024.
SAN ANTONIO — Newmark has brokered the sale of Augusta Flats, a 260-unit apartment community in downtown San Antonio. Built in 2020, the property offers one-, two- and three-bedroom units with stainless steel appliances, quartz countertops and custom cabinetry and an average size of 799 square feet. Amenities include a pool, outdoor grilling stations, fitness center, resident lounge, golf simulator, Amazon package lockers and a rooftop deck. Texas-based developer Stillwater Capital sold the property to a joint venture between New Jersey-based Strategic Properties of North America and Benefit Street Partners Multifamily Trust for an undisclosed price. Patton Jones and Matt Michelson of Newmark brokered the deal on behalf of Stillwater Capital.
SAN ANTONIO — Northmarq has arranged the sale of The Reserve at Lone Oak, a 200-unit multifamily property in southeast San Antonio that was built in 2014. Units are furnished with granite countertops and walk-in closets. Amenities include a pool, fitness center, playground, grilling areas and a clubhouse. Moses Siller of Northmarq represented the seller, Encore Residential LLC, in the transaction. Siller also procured the buyer, GV&A Real Estate Investments.
HOUSTON — New York City-based Ready Capital has closed a $13 million loan for the acquisition, renovation and stabilization of an unnamed, 152-unit apartment complex in Houston’s Medical Center submarket. The nonrecourse, interest-only loan features a 36-month term, floating interest rate, two extension options and a facility to fund future capital improvements. The undisclosed sponsor plans to implement a value-add program.
The need for affordable housing has grown, but factors like municipal slowdowns and delays in financing have helped contribute to a lack of supply. Gregg Gerken, head of U.S. Commercial Real Estate with TD Bank, spoke to REBusiness about why the need for affordable housing is at a critical juncture and why this need is so difficult to fill. Finance Insight: What is the state of affordable housing right now? Gerken: There is a supply/demand imbalance. There continues to be a desperate need for more investment in affordable housing, not less. The arrival of COVID introduced more challenges for affordable housing, but the struggle to find high-quality affordable rental housing existed well before the pandemic. Rent prices affect millions of Americans, especially those with low incomes, and rents have only increased. Furthermore, the pandemic has caused an interruption of the supply chain and much-needed new projects have been delayed. Finance Insight: Can you outline a few big-picture national trends that are most impacting affordable housing right now? Gerken: As I mentioned, the imbalance of supply and demand is negatively affecting affordable housing. Rising rental rates mean fewer people will be able to qualify for affordable housing. Coming out of COVID …
By Taylor Williams The factors that have long enticed Texas retailers and restaurants to locate in mixed-use environments are back in full force, such that these users are once again willing to pay a premium for spaces built-in density and walkability. In some ways, this trend never really disappeared in Texas, one of the first states to reopen during the early months of COVID-19. Through measures passed in 2020 like sanctioning to-go alcohol sales and allowing businesses to stay open, albeit at reduced capacities, Texas has worked to minimize retail and restaurant closures and prevent large volumes of these spaces from being returned to markets. Neither has the state’s job and population growth slowed during the 22-month global health crisis, allowing developers across all asset classes to push forward. In addition, the newfound desire from consumers and businesses to work, shop and dine outdoors as much as possible has kept trains rolling on mixed-use projects, which inherently connect different uses through external features like trails, open streets, pocket parks and plazas. From a design standpoint, those connective features remain critically important, says Barry Hand, principal in the Dallas office of global architecture firm Gensler. “Pocket or linear parks are viewed …
ALLEN, TEXAS — A partnership between JaRyCo, the master developer of the 135-acre Farm at Allen mixed-use development in metro Dallas, and multifamily developer Wood Partners has broken ground on a 325-unit multifamily project in the northeastern Dallas suburb. The property, known as Alta at The Farm, will offer studio, one- and two-bedroom units that will be furnished with stainless steel appliances, granite countertops and tile backsplashes. Amenities will include a pool, fitness center, outdoor activity areas, remote workspaces and a rooftop deck. Preleasing is scheduled to begin this winter, and full completion is slated for early 2023.
HOUSTON — Stream Realty Partners will develop Raceway NW Distribution Center, a 156,000-square-foot speculative industrial project that will be located in northwest Houston. Building features will include 36-foot clear heights, 109 car parking spaces and 22 trailer parking stalls. Construction is set to begin in the second quarter, and completion is scheduled for December. Project partners include Randall-Paulson Architects and civil engineer Halff Associates. A general contractor has yet to be selected.
AUSTIN, TEXAS — Dallas-based Conti Capital has acquired Pioneer Hill, a 300-unit apartment community located at 1625 Edgeworth Bend in northeast Austin. The property was built in 2021, according to Apartments.com. Units feature one-, two- and three-bedroom floor plans, and amenities include a pool, movie theater, 24-hour fitness center, business center, outdoor grilling and dining areas, package lockers and a dog park. The seller and sales price were not disclosed.
