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CINCINNATI — The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR), the largest grocery store chain in the country, has announced five new customer fulfillment centers (CFCs) that the company will operate along with UK-based delivery logistics partner Ocado Group. The new Kroger Delivery facilities include a distribution center in the Northeast, as well as two centers in Southern California and a pair of facilities in South Florida. The vertically integrated CFCs will utilize machine learning and robotics and serve both Kroger customers and regional stores. The locations, size and construction timelines for these fulfillment centers were not disclosed because Kroger’s team members are still in the site selection process, but the Northeast CFC will be the Cincinnati-based grocer’s first in the region. “We feel great about the momentum we’re experiencing with Kroger Delivery and our partnership with Ocado and are strategically leveraging our assets to expand our operations in existing regions, as well as enter new geographies on the East Coast that leverage facilities across a growing range of sizes,” says Rodney McMullen, chairman and CEO of Kroger. “Kroger Delivery is a thriving part of our dynamic ecosystem and is transforming grocery e-commerce and meeting a range of customer needs.” The Southern California …

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PHOENIX AND TUCSON, ARIZ. — Philadelphia-based investment firm Equus Capital Partners has acquired a portfolio of 73 industrial properties totaling roughly 7.3 million in the Phoenix and Tucson metro areas. The price was approximately $1.1 billion. The portfolio comprises 342 individual industrial buildings across 74 different developments. Between the two markets, about 85 percent of the portfolio is located in Phoenix, with the remaining 15 percent in Tucson. The properties had a collective occupancy rate of 98 percent at the time of sale. The tenant roster encompasses 22 different industries, including traditional industrial uses like e-commerce, logistics and manufacturing. In terms of individual footprints, no tenant occupies more than 1.5 percent (107,300) square feet of the roughly 7.1 million square feet of leased space. Equus acquired the portfolio through sponsored value-added funds and a consortium of strategic co-investment partners that remain unnamed. Internal agents Kyle Turner, Christopher Locatell, Robert Butchenhart, Laura Brestelli and Peter Russo oversaw the acquisition for Equus Capital Partners. As part of the deal, Equus is onboarding 26 professionals from the undisclosed seller’s property management team to maintain operation of the portfolio. “Due to the low market-wide industrial vacancy rates and growing demand, the portfolio is poised …

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River North

NASHVILLE, TENN. — MRP Realty and Creek Lane Capital have broken ground on Phase I of River North, a 1.3 million-square-foot, master-planned, mixed-use project located along the Cumberland River in Nashville. The development cost for Phase I is $263 million. JLL brokered a $160 million construction loan for Phase I. Phase I will feature 817,070 square feet of development, including 651 apartment units, 78,000 square feet of office space and approximately 80,000 square feet of retail space spread across four buildings on the riverfront site. Phase I is slated for completion by 2023. River North is being developed on 13 acres of land in a designated Opportunity Zone across the river from Germantown, a historic district with restaurants, retailers and the Tennessee State Museum. The site was previously the location of a rail yard and shipping terminal, so the developers plan to incorporate restored warehouses and modern industrial finishes into the design of the project. A timeline for completion of all phases was not disclosed. “It’s a great opportunity for MRP to be underway on a project of such magnitude in one of Nashville’s most exciting submarkets,” says Bob Murphy, managing principal of MRP Realty. “We’ve also had the opportunity …

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MIDDLETOWN, OHIO — Main Street Community Capital has unveiled plans for Hollywoodland, a 50-acre mixed-use development along the Great Miami River in Middletown. The city, which boasted a population of about 50,000 residents as of the 2020 census, is located 25 miles southwest of Dayton and 30 miles northeast of Cincinnati. Development costs for the project are estimated at $1.3 billion. The Middletown City Council met for over six hours this week to discuss the project with the public. The official vote on approving or denying the development is scheduled for Oct. 21. If approved, Hollywoodland would be a public-private partnership between the city and Main Street Community Capital. If approved, the development would include:  A luxury hotel with an attached, publicly owned convention center, rooftop bar and themed restaurants;  a family-oriented hotel with a water park; the adaptive redevelopment of an existing First National Bank building into a boutique hotel;  an indoor entertainment and concert venue;  an indoor amusement park;  3,000 deck-based parking spaces;  luxury, mid-rise multifamily units and condominiums;  a pre- and post-production motion picture studio with sound stages and support offices;  restaurants, bars, brew-pubs and cafes;  a comedy club; and lifestyle, convenience and recreational retail space.  The project …

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LONG ISLAND CITY — Locally based developer Tishman Speyer has received a $425 million green bond refinancing for The JACX, a 1.2 million-square-foot office complex in the Long Island City neighborhood of Queens. Built in 2019 and fully leased at the time of closing, The JACX consists of two 26-story office towers connected by a five-story base. According to the developer, the property represents the single largest addition to the supply of office space in Long Island City since the opening of the Citicorp Building in 1990. The development houses more than 50,000 square feet of retail space, including a food hall with nine culinary concepts, a restaurant by chef Dan Kluger and an upscale grocer. Other amenities include a fitness center operated by The Wright Fit, a landscaped public plaza, access to multiple public transit lines and a 175-space bike parking area with showers. MdeAS Architects designed the building to LEED Silver certifications, and environmentally friendly features include a 100,000-gallon stormwater reclamation system and an air filtration system. These assets made the property eligible for the green bond refinancing, which Bank of America originated. The transaction retires existing construction debt with permanent CMBS financing. “Tishman Speyer is dedicated to …

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LAS VEGAS — DraftKings Inc., a fantasy and digital sports betting company based in Boston, plans to open its second largest office hub within UnCommons, a $400 million mixed-use development underway in southwest Las Vegas. DraftKings will occupy 90,000 square feet and ultimately house more than 1,000 employees at the new offices. Matter Real Estate Group, a San Diego-based developer, broke ground on the 40-acre project last summer and plans to deliver the first phase of the campus in early 2022. “Our goal is to create another world-class workplace environment that will foster DraftKings’ innovation, further bolster our local presence and deepen community involvement,” says Matt Kalish, co-founder and president of the North America division of DraftKings (NASDAQ: DKNG). “With these lofty aspirations, we were thrilled to discover that UnCommons mirrors these high standards.” Designed by IA Interior Architects, DraftKings’ new space will mirror its Boston headquarters with 130 sports trading desks surrounded by multimedia walls. The property will also include collaborative work spaces, a cafeteria, putting green, custom casino training pit, private and public outdoor spaces, mothers’ rooms, prayer suites and salons for haircuts and manicures/pedicures. UnCommons will comprise more than 500,000 square feet of modern office space; more …

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WASHINGTON, D.C. — Swedish developer Skanska is investing $216 million in U.S. dollars for the development of 17xM, an 11-story office project in the central business district of Washington, D.C. Located at the intersection of 17th and M streets, the building will span 334,000 square feet. Construction is scheduled to begin this fall with completion slated for 2024. More than 50 percent of the project is pre-leased. Global law firm Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP has signed a 16-year lease at the property. Skanska is pursuing LEED Gold and Fitwel certifications for the building. Currently, 17xM is the first WiredScore SmartScore-certified office building in North America, according to the developer. The certification assesses a smart building for both its user functionality and technological foundation. Plans call for MERV-13 air filtration, air quality censors, touchless access and other sustainable and wellness-focused features. MERV refers to minimum efficiency reporting value, which measures how effectively a filter stops dust and other contaminants from passing through the filter and into the air. Amenities will include a covered drop-off area, lobby attendant, rooftop conference area, rooftop lounge, 5,500-square-foot fitness center, bicycle room and outdoor terraces. Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates is the project architect. CBRE is …

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ALLY

CHICAGO — Sterling Bay, Harrison Street and institutional investors advised by J.P. Morgan Global Alternatives have secured a $125 million construction loan for ALLY, a life sciences project in Chicago. Bank OZK provided the financing. Construction is slated to begin this month. Located at 1229 W Concord Place, ALLY will feature 280,000 square feet of Class A medical research lab and creative office space. The life sciences project will be in Lincoln Yards, a 53-acre, mixed-use development created by Sterling Bay. Lincoln Yards was formerly an industrial site that is being redeveloped into a mixed-use community with build-to-suit office developments, retail opportunities, proposed 606 bike trail extension and future residential and hospitality opportunities. When complete, Lincoln Yards will feature affordable housing, create over 23,000 permanent onsite jobs and generate $4.1 billion in economic output for the city of Chicago. ALLY at 1229 W Concord Place is located off the North Branch Chicago River and has private outdoor space on every floor. Mark Burkemper, senior managing director and head of North American transactions at Harrison Street, says the project brings many benefits. “Lincoln Yards is close to several of Chicago’s most notable medical research institutions, and we are excited to expand …

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CAMBRIDGE, MASS. — Moderna (NASDAQ: MRNA) has broken ground on the Moderna Science Center, a 462,000-square-foot research and development facility located at 325 Binney St., less than one mile from the company’s global headquarters in the Boston-area community of Cambridge.  The biotechnology company is a pioneer in the usage of messenger RNA (mRNA) for therapeutics and vaccines, including one of the earliest and most effective vaccinations against the COVID-19 virus. Moderna plans to use this site to advance its pipeline of mRNA research, which includes 37 programs currently in development and 22 ongoing clinical studies. Alexandria Real Estate Equities Inc. is developing the property, which will include custom scientific spaces for research and development, as well as collaborative office space. JLL represented Moderna in the acquisition of the development site. The project is targeting LEED Platinum certification and is scheduled for completion in 2023.  “We have been located in Massachusetts since our founding more than 10 years ago and are proud to be based here,” says Stéphane Bancel, CEO of Moderna. “As we advance our mRNA platform and science, our new science center will integrate digital-first scientific research and development labs along with space for innovation and co-creation with our …

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ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, ILL. — The Chicago Bears have signed an agreement to acquire the Arlington International Racecourse property in Arlington Heights, a northwest suburb of Chicago. The purchase price was $197.2 million, according to the Chicago Tribune. The agreement raises the potential that the Bears could relocate to the 326-acre property and build a new stadium in the suburbs. The football team’s lease at Soldier Field in Chicago expires in 2033. “Finalizing the agreement was the critical next step in continuing our exploration of the property and its potential,” says Ted Phillips, Bears president and CEO. “Much work remains to be completed, including working closely with the Village of Arlington Heights and surrounding communities.” However, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot tweeted late last night that her administrative team remains committed to keeping the team in the city. Arlington International held its last horserace on Saturday, Sept. 25. Owner Churchill Downs announced earlier this year that it was listing the site for sale, and expected any potential buyer to pursue redevelopment opportunities. The property provides direct access to transit, with a Metra commuter rail stop and convenient highway access at Route 53. “This has been an extraordinarily competitive bid process,” says Bill …

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