Top Stories

Brookfield Purchases Office Building Fully Leased to Facebook in Bellevue, Washington for $365M

by John Nelson October 30, 2020

BELLEVUE, WASH. — A real estate investment fund backed by Brookfield Asset Management Inc. (NYSE: BAM) has purchased Block 16, a 343,528-square-foot office building in Bellevue fully leased to Facebook. A joint venture between Wright Runstad & Co., Shorenstein Properties and institutional investors advised by J.P. Morgan Asset Management sold the recently completed property for $365 million. Block 16 is part of The Spring District, a transit-oriented mixed-use development situated on the east side of Lake Washington from Seattle. Wright Runstad and Shorenstein Properties are the master developers of the campus, which sits south of Bellevue’s central business district near SoundTransit’s future Spring District/120th light rail station. Spring District will ultimately feature 3 million square feet of creative office space, including REI’s headquarters that Facebook purchased last month for $390 million. “The Spring District has become a choice location for high-quality office tenants in Bellevue,” says Greg Johnson, CEO of Seattle-based Wright Runstad. In 2017, University of Washington’s Global Innovation Exchange building opened at Spring District, as well as over 800 residential units and several open spaces accessible to the public. Wright Runstad plans to develop another 530,000 square feet of office space across two buildings at Spring District by …

October 30, 2020

Acquisitions California Office Top Stories Western

SHVO, Deutsche Bank Acquire Transamerica Pyramid Center in San Francisco for $650M

by Alex Tostado October 29, 2020

SAN FRANCISCO — A joint venture led by SHVO and Deutsche Finance America has acquired Transamerica Pyramid Center, a two-building, 750,000-square-foot office complex in San Francisco’s Financial District, for $650 million. The seller was Dutch insurance company Aegon Asset Management, which assumed ownership of the asset in 1999 when it acquired Transamerica Corp. Transamerica Corp. has occupied space in the iconic 48-story, pyramid-shaped anchor building since it was built in 1972. Originally designed by William L. Pereira & Associates, the 853-foot-high tower is currently the third tallest pyramid in the world. Floor plates at the tower range from 22,226 square feet on the sixth floor to 2,531 square feet on the 48th floor. Tenants at the complex include private equity, wealth management, consulting and law firms. The complex spans a city block and includes the main office tower, situated at 600 Montgomery St.; a 20-story, 191,142-square-foot office building at 505 Sansome St.; and a development site at 545 Sansome St. where a nine-story, 106,807-square-foot office building is planned. In the middle of the complex is Transamerica Redwood Park, a grove of mature redwood trees shading public open space. “We’re proud to take on ownership and management of the Transamerica Pyramid, …

October 29, 2020

Development Life Sciences New York Northeast Office Top Stories

Taconic, Nuveen to Transform ABC’s Longtime New York City Headquarters into Life Sciences Space

by Kristin Harlow October 28, 2020

NEW YORK CITY — Taconic Partners and Nuveen Real Estate have unveiled plans to redevelop 125 West End Avenue into a life sciences and research building. Broadcaster ABC has occupied the property as part of its New York City headquarters since 1985 but plans to vacate in January 2021. Chrysler originally constructed the eight-story, 400,000-square-foot property in 1929 as an automotive facility. The New York Times is also a former owner and tenant. The building features floorplates of more than 50,000 square feet, ceiling heights ranging from 13 to 16 feet, multiple access points and views of the Hudson River. Taconic and Nuveen purchased the property in late 2019 for $230 million. Plans call for a mechanical plant, purpose-built lab infrastructure, a new façade, roof terrace and conference center. The developers are still evaluating options for the remainder of the site, which includes a six-story, 131,000-square-foot television studio building and a 1.2-acre development parcel. Construction is slated for completion in 2023. The project team includes architect Perkins+Will and engineer JB&B. The development will feature several environmental sustainability features and is on track to achieve LEED Gold certification. Estimated development costs were not disclosed, though LoanCore Capital did provide a $181 …

October 28, 2020

Development Industrial Midwest Ohio Top Stories

Purina to Build $550M Pet Food Production Facility in Metro Cincinnati

by John Nelson October 27, 2020

WILLIAMSBURG TOWNSHIP, OHIO — Nestlé Purina PetCare (Purina), a subsidiary of the global Nestlé brand, plans to build a new 1.2 million-square-foot industrial facility in the Cincinnati suburb of Williamsburg Township. The St. Louis-based pet product manufacturer says its total investment in the facility will total $550 million and it will house more than 300 employees when fully operational. Purina will produce its brands of dry dog and cat food at the new facility such as Purina Pro Plan, Purina ONE and Dog Chow. The property will adhere to the latest food safety and sustainability standards and utilize robotics and digital technology to maximize efficiency, according to Purina. The new facility is situated within South Afton Industrial Park and represents the first ground-up facility for Purina since 1975. Construction will begin this fall and the factory is expected to be operational in 2023. This is Purina’s second pet food production facility announced in 2020 as the company revealed last month its plans to convert a former brewery in Eden, N.C., into a 1.3 million-square-foot pet food factory. The new $450 million property will sit on the North Carolina-Virginia border and begin operations in 2022. “Purina is excited to be building …

October 27, 2020

Civic Development Multifamily New York Northeast Top Stories

Howard Hughes Plans $1.4B Multifamily Project in Manhattan’s Seaport District

by Taylor Williams October 26, 2020

NEW YORK CITY — The Howard Hughes Corp. (NYSE: HHC) has unveiled plans for a $1.4 billion multifamily project in Manhattan’s Seaport District. The proposal calls for the transformation of a full-block surface parking lot along the boundary of the South Street Seaport Historic District into a mixed-income development that would include some of the area’s first new affordable housing in decades. The development would ultimately feature 360 apartments, about 25 percent of which would be affordable, as well as 260 condominium units. In terms of the multifamily component, the centerpiece is 250 Water Street, where Dallas-based HHC plans to develop at least 100 affordable apartments that would be reserved for households earning 40 percent or less of the area median income. Only 2.5 percent of all housing in the Seaport District qualifies as affordable, and the median household income is more than $150,000. The project would also rehabilitate the historic South Street Seaport Museum, which has faced numerous obstacles over the past two decades, including a two-year closure following 9/11, flooding from Hurricane Sandy in 2012 and an existential threat to attendance from COVID-19. In addition, HHC would develop a new museum building on an adjacent vacant lot. The …

October 26, 2020

California Retail Top Stories Western

Gap Inc. to Shutter 350 Stores, Transition Focus from Malls to E-Commerce

by Katie Sloan October 23, 2020

SAN FRANCISCO — Gap Inc. (NYSE: GPS), a longtime apparel tenant in enclosed regional malls nationwide, has announced plans to close 350 stores under its Banana Republic and Gap banners in an effort to transition focus to e-commerce and off-mall retail locations. Store closures are scheduled for completion by fiscal year 2023, which ends Feb. 1, 2024, with 75 percent scheduled to close in 2021. By that time, the company expects 80 percent of its revenue to come from e-commerce and off-mall locations, including street-front retail stores and shops in strip and outlet centers. Gap is the latest mall staple to shutter locations amid struggles due to the COVID-19 pandemic, following Ascena Retail Group — the parent company of Ann Taylor, Justice, Loft, Lane Bryant, Catherines and Lou & Grey — Bed Bath & Beyond, J.C. Penney and GNC. Gap’s comparable sales were up 13 percent at the end of the second quarter, due in large part to an expanded focus on e-commerce and to the success of the company’s activewear brand, Athleta, which saw a 6 percent increase in sales during the quarter. The company also began producing and selling face masks at the start of the pandemic, sales …

October 23, 2020

Development Illinois Loans Midwest Multifamily Top Stories

JLL Arranges More Than $100M in Financing for Multifamily Tower Under Construction in Chicago

by Alex Tostado October 22, 2020

CHICAGO — JLL has arranged more than $100 million in financing for a 278-unit multifamily community in Chicago’s West Loop neighborhood. The developer broke ground on the community in late September and expects to deliver it in spring 2022. JLL worked on behalf of developer Marquette Cos. to secure a $65 million construction loan through Bank OZK. Further details of the financing were not disclosed. Power Construction is the general contractor and Chicago-based Brininstool + Lynch is the architect. The 25-story property, located at 1400 Randolph St., will feature coworking spaces, a fitness center, club room and a pool on the 18th floor. Amenities in the surrounding neighborhood include the 13-acre Union Park; the L Train Ashland Station; and “Restaurant Row,” which features restaurants such as Au Cheval, Bad Hunter, Bandit, Girl & the Goat, Haymarket Tavern, La Josie, Lena Brava and Rooh. Matthew Schoenfeldt of JLL represented the Naperville-based developer in securing the construction financing. “Marquette, their institutional partner and Bank OZK have been steadfast in their commitment to 1400 Randolph, which is a testament to the fundamentally compelling concept,” says Schoenfeldt. According to research from CBRE, there were 2,500 multifamily units delivered in the Chicago area in the …

October 22, 2020

Development Industrial Michigan Midwest Top Stories

Detroit City Council Approves Sale of Former State Fairgrounds, Amazon to Open 3.8 MSF Facility at Site

by Kristin Harlow October 21, 2020

DETROIT — The Detroit City Council has approved the sale of the former Michigan State Fairgrounds, providing the green light for a $400 million redevelopment of the site. Detroit-based Sterling Group and Dallas-based Hillwood Investment Properties have agreed to pay $9 million for the land, with plans to build a 3.8 million-square-foot distribution center for Amazon at the property. The e-commerce giant will occupy half of the 142-acre site, located at the corner of Woodward Avenue and 8 Mile Road. Its facility is projected to bring more than 1,200 new full-time jobs to the area. The remaining acreage will be dedicated to auto part suppliers or other employers, according to the developers. The Michigan State Fair took place annually in Detroit from 1849 to 2009 when the publicly funded event was removed from the budget. In 2011, the fair went private and moved to nearby Novi. The redevelopment plans call for the demolition of several buildings at the old fairgrounds, including the 5,600-seat arena built in 1922, according to local news outlets. The project also includes the development of a new indoor transit center to replace the current one on Woodward Avenue near the fairgrounds. As part of the agreement, …

October 21, 2020

Development Massachusetts Northeast Top Stories

Beyond the Diamond: Boston Red Sox Owner to Redevelop Five Acres Surrounding Fenway Park

by John Nelson October 20, 2020

BOSTON — A division of Fenway Sports Group, the owner of the Boston Red Sox, is building a team to redevelop the area outside of Fenway Park. The company’s real estate arm, Fenway Sports Group Real Estate (FSGRE), is partnering with Massachusetts-based WS Development and the D’Angelo family to redevelop several sites surrounding the Red Sox home ballpark. Details were not disclosed, but The Boston Globe reports the project would bring office space, apartment buildings, shops, laboratories for life science firms, public spaces and maybe a hotel to the Fenway neighborhood. The office space could house Fenway Sports Group’s staffers who work inside Fenway Park’s offices, according to the newspaper. The move mirrors what other professional sports teams, including the Atlanta Braves and the St. Louis Cardinals, have done in recent years to create density surrounding their ballparks with mixed-use villages. The Boston Globe also reports that Fenway Sports Group has invested $350 million on physical improvements at Fenway Park over the past 18 years and in that time also purchased adjoining sites surrounding the ballpark for future development. “Our partnership’s work in the area surrounding the ballpark will have a profound effect on the experience of Red Sox fans …

October 20, 2020

Acquisitions California Healthcare Life Sciences Office Top Stories Western

Ventas Acquires 800,000 SF Life Sciences Campus in San Francisco for $1B

by Taylor Williams October 19, 2020

SAN FRANCISCO — Chicago-based REIT Ventas Inc. (NYSE: VTR), through its Life Sciences and Healthcare Real Estate Fund, has acquired an 800,000-square-foot life sciences campus in San Francisco for roughly $1 billion. The San Francisco Business Journal reports that the property is the Genesis South office and life sciences hub, which consists of two office and lab buildings totaling roughly 720,000 square feet, as well as a 72,000-square-foot building. The Class A campus is located on the city’s south side and consists of three newly built or renovated buildings. The campus was 96 percent leased at the time of sale with a weighted average lease term of more than six years. The property is purpose-built for advanced research functions and is predominantly features lab space supporting biotechnology and other life sciences research. Nearly half of the tenant roster consists of publicly traded companies with market capitalizations of $10 billion or higher that are backed by venture capital or private equity firms. The price represents a capitalization rate of approximately 5 percent. The seller was a partnership between Boston-based Bain Capital and San Diego-based Phase 3, according to IPE Real Assets, which provides global intelligence for institutional real estate investment. In …

October 19, 2020

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