Top Stories

Vantage Data Centers to Invest $25B for Mega-Campus in Shackelford County, Texas

by Abby Cox August 19, 2025

SHACKELFORD COUNTY, TEXAS — Vantage Data Centers will invest $25 billion to develop a 3.7 million-square-foot, large-scale data center campus in Shackelford County, which is situated near Abilene, Texas, and about 120 miles west of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. Construction of the new 1.4-gigawatt (GW) campus, dubbed “Frontier,” has already begun, with the first of 10 buildings scheduled for delivery in the second half of 2026. The 1,200-acre, multi-phase project is expected to create jobs for 5,000 people across construction and ongoing operations at the campus, according to company representatives. Additionally, Vantage has pledged annual college scholarships for Shackelford County students throughout the lifespan of the project and plans to hire locally while providing training opportunities. “This investment in Texas will be a significant economic growth driver for the area as we rapidly deploy the digital infrastructure needed to support AI applications,” says Dana Adams, president of Vantage’s North America operations. The Frontier campus will be capable of supporting server racks with a power draw of more than 250 kilowatts (kW), while utilizing liquid cooling to support the next generation of graphics processing unit (GPU) loads. Vantage is also pursuing LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification for Frontier, which …

August 19, 2025

Acquisitions Industrial Top Stories

W. P. Carey Acquires Tennessee Food Processing Facility in $166M Sale-Leaseback Deal

by Taylor Williams August 18, 2025

NEW YORK CITY — W. P. Carey, a New York City-based REIT specializing in net-leased deals, has acquired a food processing facility in Tennessee in a sales-leaseback transaction valued at $166 million. The exact location of the facility, which was completed in May and is occupied by a subsidiary of Canadian manufacturer and distributor Premium Brands Holding Corp., was not disclosed. The facility spans approximately 350,000 square feet. Building features include 40-foot clear heights, 27 dock doors and over 250,000 square feet of cooler and freezer space. In addition, the facility is fully powered by renewable energy sources and is expected to receive LEED Silver certification. Under the terms of the deal, which formally closed earlier this summer, Premium Brands is subject to a triple-net lease for a term of 25 years with fixed annual rent increases. Premium Brands will reinvest the proceeds of the sale into its core business. “We’re thrilled to partner with Premium Brands on this transaction, which highlights our conviction in the food production sector and our ability to structure real estate solutions that support operational growth for market-leading companies,” says Boyd Borjiet, vice president of investments at W. P. Carey. — Taylor Williams

August 18, 2025

Acquisitions Industrial Southeast Top Stories

JLL Arranges $352.7M Financing for Fundrise National Industrial Portfolio in Sun Belt, Mid-Atlantic

by Abby Cox August 15, 2025

WASHINGTON, D.C. — JLL Capital Markets has arranged a $352.7 million financing package for the Fundrise National Industrial Portfolio, a collection of 12 institutional-quality industrial buildings concentrated in the Mid-Atlantic and Sun Belt regions. Goldman Sachs and TPG Real Estate Credit provided the loan to an affiliate of Fundrise, a private equity firm based in Washington, D.C. Robert Carey, Carl Beardsley, Jason Carlos, Gus Caiola and Patrick Wu of JLL’s Debt Advisory team arranged the loan, which will be used to refinance the portfolio. “This financing will enable us to advance our long-term business plan for the industrial portfolio, create value for our investors and capitalize on the strong macro tailwinds in the industrial sector today,” says Brandon Jenkins, chief operating officer of Fundrise. Buildings within the portfolio, which totals roughly 3.2 million square feet, feature LED lighting, ESFR sprinkler systems, cross-dock configurations and clear heights ranging from 23 feet to 40 feet. “This portfolio represents a compelling investment opportunity, offering both geographic diversification and strong income stability from a quality tenant roster,” says Carey. “The strategic locations near major transportation networks, including international airports and key interstate corridors, position these assets to benefit from continued logistics demand.” The facilities …

August 15, 2025

Life Sciences Loans Massachusetts Northeast Top Stories

Joint Venture Receives $1B Refinancing for Vertex Pharmaceuticals Headquarters Facility in Boston

by Taylor Williams August 14, 2025

BOSTON — A joint venture led by locally based REIT Diversified Healthcare Trust (NASDAQ: DHC) has received $1 billion for the refinancing of the Vertex Pharmaceuticals headquarters facility in Boston. A consortium of lenders — Morgan Stanley Bank, Bank of Montreal, Goldman Sachs and J.P. Morgan — provided the financing, which was structured with a five-year term and a fixed interest rate. Local investment firm RMR Group, which provides asset and property management services for the joint venture, arranged the debt. The majority of the proceeds will be used to retire $620 million in fixed-rate debt on the property, as well as to fund leasing reserves and repatriate cash to investors. Located at 50 Northern Ave. and 11 Fan Pier Blvd. in Boston’s Seaport District, the two-building facility spans approximately 1.1 million square feet. Both buildings were constructed in 2013. Vertex, which produces medicines and therapies for genetic disorders including cystic fibrosis, renewed its lease in August 2024 and will remain the property’s sole occupant through 2044. The joint venture ownership group includes multiple institutional investment groups that were not named in the announcement. Diversified Healthcare’s stake in the property is 10 percent; the company previously sold a 10 percent …

August 14, 2025

Alabama Development Georgia Industrial Kentucky South Carolina Southeast Tennessee Top Stories

GE Appliances Unveils $3B Investment to Expand U.S. Manufacturing Across Five States

by Kristin Harlow August 13, 2025

LOUISVILLE, KY. — GE Appliances, a Haier company, has unveiled plans to invest more than $3 billion in its U.S. operations over the next five years. The company plans to expand its air conditioning and water heating portfolio, increase production output across all product lines and further modernize its 11 U.S. manufacturing plants with new automation and capital equipment. The first phase of investments will begin at GE Appliances plants in Kentucky, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee and South Carolina. Upon completion of the plan, Louisville-based GE Appliances will have invested $6.5 billion across its U.S. manufacturing plants and nationwide distribution network since 2016, which is the year that the company was sold by General Electric (NYSE: GE) to Haier. The new $3 billion announcement marks the second-largest investment in the company’s history. The GE Appliances plant in Camden, S.C., currently produces gas water heaters. With the new investment, electric and hybrid water heater manufacturing will be added, doubling the plant’s output and employment once the project is complete. The first phase will be implemented by early 2026. In December, GE Appliances will add two new models of air conditioners to its air and water product portfolio at its Selmer, Tenn., plant. …

August 13, 2025

Development Industrial Kentucky Michigan Midwest Southeast Top Stories

Ford Motor Co. to Invest $5B at Manufacturing Plants in Kentucky, Michigan

by John Nelson August 12, 2025

LOUISVILLE, KY. AND MARSHALL, MICH. — Automotive giant Ford Motor Co. (NYSE: F) will invest $2 billion at its Louisville Assembly Plant and $3 billion at its BlueOval Battery Park Michigan factory. Combined, the investment will create and secure approximately 4,000 jobs across both plants, as well as spur dozens of new U.S.-based suppliers, according to Ford. Ford’s investments will help the automaker deliver a suite of electric vehicles (EVs), beginning with a midsize, four-door electric pickup truck that will be assembled at its Louisville plant. Ford plans to launch domestic and international sales of the new trucks, which are expected to be priced starting at $30,000, in 2027. Jim Farley, president and CEO of Ford, says that the automaker will be the first in the country to make prismatic lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, which are cobalt- and nickel-free and serve as the floor of the new EVs. Ford plans to begin manufacturing the new prismatic LFP batteries for the new electric truck at BlueOVal Battery Park Michigan next year. Located in Marshall, Mich., the factory is under construction, with the shell built out and mechanical, electrical and piping infrastructure underway. Ford says that the lithium LFP battery cell …

August 12, 2025

Acquisitions Multifamily Northeast Top Stories

Harbor Group Agrees to Acquire New England Multifamily Portfolio for $740M

by Taylor Williams August 11, 2025

NORFOLK, VA. — Harbor Group International (HGI) has entered into an agreement to acquire a portfolio of five multifamily properties totaling 2,719 units that are scattered throughout the New England area. The sales price was $740 million. The seller was Apartment Investment and Management Co., (Aimco), a REIT that sells on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker “AIV.” All properties in the portfolio were built between 1970 and 1974. Unit interiors are furnished with stainless steel appliances. Amenities across the properties include pools, fitness centers, clubhouses, and community green spaces. HGI plans to implement a value-add program across the portfolio. The Norfolk-based investment company also paid Aimco a $20 million non-refundable deposit as part of the transaction. “The addition of these communities will deepen HGI’s presence within the Boston area, a market exhibiting robust multifamily fundamentals where we already have a strong operating footprint,” says Yisroel Berg, chief investment officer of multifamily at HGI. “With limited new supply in the surrounding areas of each property, we will be well-positioned to leverage our local market knowledge to maintain stable occupancy levels and implement targeted renovations that enhance the resident experience.” As of July 2025, the portfolio was 95.7 percent …

August 11, 2025

Arizona Development Leasing Activity Mixed-Use Multifamily Restaurant Retail Top Stories Western

Partnership Receives Final Approval for $1B Mixed-Use Development in Gilbert, Arizona

by Abby Cox August 8, 2025

GILBERT, ARIZ. — A partnership between Las Vegas-based IndiCap, Salt Lake City-based Colmena Group and locally based Langley Properties has received final entitlement approval from the Town of Gilbert’s Planning Commission to begin construction for The Ranch, a proposed $1 billion mixed-use development in Gilbert. Situated near the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport and Arizona State University’s Polytechnic Campus, The Ranch will span more than 295 acres and is anticipated to become Gilbert’s largest mixed-use development to date, according to the development team. The project is also expected to create roughly 6,000 jobs during construction. “This entitlement approval marks a turning point not just for The Ranch, but for Gilbert as a whole,” says Todd Ostransky, vice president of regional development at IndiCap. “This development is designed to meet the evolving needs of businesses and residents while driving sustainable economic growth in the region.” Upon full build-out of the multi-phase project, The Ranch will include a 221-acre light industrial component totaling 3 million square feet, 34 acres of retail space and 729 multifamily units across three communities. Steve Larsen of JLL is managing leasing efforts for the industrial portion of the project. Phase I of The Ranch — which is set to break ground in the fall …

August 8, 2025

Loans New York Northeast Office Top Stories

Durst Organization Receives $1.3B in CMBS Financing for One Five One Office Building in Times Square

by Hayden Spiess August 7, 2025

NEW YORK CITY — The Durst Organization, a family-owned real estate owner and development firm based in New York City, has received $1.3 billion in CMBS financing for One Five One, a 48-story building located at 151 W. 42nd St. in the Times Square area of Midtown Manhattan. A consortium of Wells Fargo Bank, JPMorgan Chase and Bank of America provided the loan. The debt, which was structured with a five-year term and an interest rate of 5.86 percent, reflects a loan-to-value ratio based on an estimated property valuation of approximately $2.3 billion. The Durst Organization will use the proceeds to fund tenant improvements, closing costs and other capital expenditures, as well as to return equity to Durst. At the time of the loan closing, One Five One was 92 percent leased to tenants such as TikTok, NASDAQ Inc., BMO Capital Markets and law firm Venable LLP. According to Wikipedia, The Durst Organization developed the building in the late 1990s. Formerly known as 4 Times Square, the 1.8 million-square-foot building includes 72,000 square feet of retail space and underwent a $150 million repositioning in the 2010s, following the departures of publishing firm Condé Nast and law firm Skadden Arps. Law …

August 7, 2025

Illinois Midwest Retail Top Stories

Claire’s Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Again for U.S. Operations, Aims to Close Underperforming Stores

by Kristin Harlow August 6, 2025

HOFFMAN ESTATES, ILL. — Claire’s U.S., the operator of Claire’s and Icing stores across the United States, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in Delaware. The jewelry retailer listed both its liabilities and assets between $1 billion to $10 billion. Hoffman Estates-based Claire’s previously filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2018. Claire’s says that the proceedings will enable the company to immediately commence the monetization process for its assets to maximize value for the business. The retailer is continuing a comprehensive review of strategic alternatives, including discussions with potential partners that began prior to the filings. “This decision is difficult, but a necessary one. Increased competition, consumer spending trends and the ongoing shift away from brick-and-mortar retail, in combination with our current debt obligations and macroeconomic factors, necessitate this course of action for Claire’s and its stakeholders,” says Chris Cramer, CEO of Claire’s. Claire’s retail stores in North America will remain open and continue to serve customers. However, in its bankruptcy filings the retailer noted 18 Claire’s and Icing stores that “should be exited” and is requesting the approval of store closing sales. These include: Claire’s U.S. intends to seek approval for a consensual use of cash collateral to …

August 6, 2025

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