AUSTIN, TEXAS — Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) have introduced a tenant-based, rental assistance program for Texans experiencing financial hardships as a result of COVID-19. The governor has waived statutes related to HUD’s HOME Investments Partnership program, which provides grants in partnership with local nonprofits to build, buy and rehabilitate affordable housing. Waiving these statutes gives Texans more flexibility in using these funds to pay rent, and the governor’s office has officially requested federal waivers from HUD to allow funds to be reprogramed for that purpose. The move to help Texans maintain their housing coincides with the governor’s mandate, effective April 1, for all Texans to stay at home except for when engaging in essential activities. Texas had approximately 4,000 positive COVID-19 cases as of the morning of Thursday, April 2.
DALLAS AND CALABASAS, CALIF. — Marcus & Millichap has acquired Metropolitan Capital Advisors (MCA), a Dallas-based financial intermediary specializing in arranging debt and equity for commercial real estate investors and developers. MCA, which was founded by Scott Lynn in 1992, completed more than $650 million in commercial debt and equity transactions in 2019. The deal has officially closed.
FORT WORTH, TEXAS — FourPoint Investment Sales Partners has arranged the sale of Windrush Apartments, a 278-unit multifamily community in Fort Worth. Built in 1984, the property features both apartment and townhomes with full-size appliances, vaulted ceilings, and fireplaces. Community amenities include two pools, a fitness center, basketball court and picnic areas. Kevin Dufour and Kyle Peco of FourPoint represented the seller, Shore to Shore Properties, in the off-market transaction. The California-based buyer will implement a value-add program.
HOUSTON — Newmark Knight Frank (NKF) has negotiated a 46,800-square-foot industrial lease extension for Fleenor Co., a manufacturer of paper and packaging products, at Cole Creek Business Park in Houston. Griffin Rich and Andy Iversen of NKF represented the tenant in the lease negotiations. CBRE represented the landlord, LIT Industrial Texas LP.
FORT WORTH, TEXAS — Cornerstone Projects Group will develop Triune Center, a 30,000-square-foot office project that will be located at the convergence of Interstate 30, Montgomery Street and Chisholm Trail Parkway in Fort Worth. The six-story, Class A building will feature an automated valet parking garage by Trident Structures. Construction is expected to last 12 months and could begin as early as May. Stream Realty Partners will handle leasing of Triune Center
PLANO, TEXAS — J.C. Penney Co. Inc. will furlough the majority of the hourly associates at its stores beginning Thursday, April 2, a move that coincides with the extended store closures brought about by the spread of the novel coronavirus. The Plano-based retailer will also furlough a portion of its corporate staff, and will continue with furloughs of workers in its supply chain and distribution centers, which began on March 20.
HOUSTON — JLL has arranged a loan for the refinancing of Two CityWestPlace, a 443,549-square-foot office tower located in Houston’s Westchase neighborhood. The building is situated within the 29-acre CityWestPlace complex, which offers amenities such as conference space, a dry cleaner, salon, dentist, car detailing and auto service, multiple food and beverage options, two fitness centers, jogging track, soccer field, basketball court, sand volleyball and bocce ball courts. Susan Hill, Jett Lucia and Sherri Rollins of JLL arranged the five-year, floating-rate loan through Regions Bank and Citizens Bank on behalf of the borrower, Parkway.
HOUSTON — Self-storage investment brokerage firm Bellomy & Co. has negotiated the sale of Houston Mini Storage, a 240-unit facility located at 12841 S. Main St. on the city’s southwest side. The property features 31,490 net rentable square feet and was 84 percent occupied at the time of sale. Bill Bellomy and Michael Johnson of Bellomy & Co. represented the locally based buyer in the transaction. Taucha Hogue of Newmark Knight Frank represented the seller.
ROCKWALL, TEXAS — Wellington Realty has brokered the sale of Ridge Road Towne Center, a 54,250-square-foot neighborhood shopping center in Rockwall, a northeastern suburb of Dallas. The property was built in 2005 and was 74 percent leased at the time of sale. David Shaffer, Caleb Jones, Curtis Sung, Tammy Shaffer and Brandon Johnson of Wellington Realty represented the seller in the transaction. Additional terms of sale were not disclosed.
PLANO, TEXAS — NRG Energy, a nuclear electric power generation firm based in Houston and Princeton, New Jersey, has signed a 24,555-square-foot office lease renewal at Parkway Center III in the northern Dallas suburb of Plano. The 153,314-square-foot, Class A building offers a deli, conference centers and two structured garages. Kim Lyon and Scott Hobbs of Cushman & Wakefield represented NRG Energy in the lease negotiations. Matt Weiser of Stream Realty Partners represented the landlord.