Top Stories

Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae Enact 90-Day Financial Relief Plan for Multifamily Borrowers, Tenants

by John Nelson March 24, 2020

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae have separately announced nationwide initiatives to provide financial relief for their multifamily borrowers and tenants affected by the outbreak of coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19). The two government-sponsored enterprises are enacting programs that allow their borrowers to defer monthly payments for up to 90 days by showing hardship as a consequence of COVID-19 and by gaining lender approval. Additionally, participants in the program must agree to not evict their renters who are facing financial hardship due to the current health crisis. The agencies anticipate the initiatives could impact more than 54,000 apartment communities across the country. “This program is historic in its size, and it has the potential to provide relief to millions of families in multifamily rental homes financed through a Freddie Mac loan,” says Debby Jenkins, executive vice president and head of Freddie Mac Multifamily, which implemented a similar forbearance plan in 2017 following Hurricane Harvey in Houston. “Countless Americans are facing unimaginable hardships, and Freddie Mac is doing what we can to provide relief as our nation addresses this global pandemic,” says Jenkins. The outbreak of COVID-19 is likely to push the United States into a recession as the …

March 24, 2020

Company News Hospitality Top Stories

Marriott to Furlough Two-Thirds of Domestic, International Corporate Staff

by Taylor Williams March 23, 2020

BETHESDA, MD. — Marriott International Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) will furlough approximately two-thirds of its 4,000 corporate staff members in the company’s Bethesda office, as well roughly two-thirds of its international corporate staff, according to multiple media sources. A company spokesperson first confirmed the news to The Wall Street Journal, which also reported that most furloughs are expected to last 60 to 90 days. Hospitality and travel blog One Mile at a Time reported the same time frame. The announcement comes on the heels of Marriott’s decision last week to furlough what could ultimately be tens of thousands of employees at its hotels around the world. According to the company’s website, Marriott owned and operated about 7,300 properties under 30 brands in 134 countries. Those properties total more than 1.3 million rooms. Marriott also employs some 130,000 people worldwide. On a conference call late last week, Marriott CEO Arne Sorenson told investors that after seeing strong growth in revenue per available room (REVpar) in its European and North American hotels during the first two months of the year, these properties were now seeing an average occupancy rate of about 25 percent. That figure stood at roughly 70 percent a year ago, …

March 23, 2020

Development Maryland Southeast Student Housing Top Stories

Balfour Beatty Starts Construction of 557-Bed Student Housing, Innovation Center Development in Bowie, Maryland

by Alex Patton March 20, 2020

BOWIE, MD. — Developer Balfour Beatty Campus Solutions is underway on a 557-bed student housing and mixed-use development in Bowie, a northeastern suburb of Washington, D.C. The 170,000-square-foot development will house students of Bowie State University and will also be the site of the Bowie Business Innovation Center, a program for business acceleration in collaboration with the U.S. Small Business Administration. The development is slated to open in fall 2021. The project cost will be approximately $42 million. “This partnership allows the university to support its growing student body with much-needed modern housing options and provides a dedicated place for the creative leaders of tomorrow to develop their knowledge and skills as they prepare to enter the business world upon graduation,” says Bob Shepko, president of Balfour Beatty. The development will also house the university’s Entrepreneurship Academy, which will help students develop their own business opportunities and better navigate the greater business world. Other project features include a variety of amenities, including a fitness center, laundry facilities, community kitchens, parking and flexible classroom space. The project is primarily funded with tax-exempt bonds through the Maryland Economic Development Corp. Balfour Beatty Construction is and Smoot Construction are serving as contractors for …

March 20, 2020

California Company News Indiana Midwest Retail Top Stories Western

Simon, URW Among Latest to Temporarily Close Retail Centers Amid Coronavirus Outbreak

by Alex Tostado March 19, 2020

INDIANAPOLIS AND LOS ANGELES — Simon Property Group and Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (URW) have announced they will temporarily close their respective shopping centers across the United States amid the worldwide COVID-19 outbreak. Simon (NYSE: SPG) closed all of its U.S. properties at 7 p.m. local time Wednesday. URW will close its properties starting today. URW, which is headquartered in Paris and has offices in Los Angeles and New York City, operates 47 properties in the U.S. Due to European governments implementing crowd bans, URW began shuttering centers in France, Spain, Poland, Austria, the Czech Republic and Slovakia on March 16. In a corresponding move, the company began actively reducing non-staff expenses and deferring non-essential capital expenditure. Unless instructed otherwise by local authorities, URW will reopen its properties March 29. URW says “essential” retailers will remain open. Essential stores are typically defined as grocery stores, pharmacies, convenient stores, etc. “We have not made this decision lightly and believe this is in the best interest of protecting our various stakeholders. We look forward to reopening these centers in the very near future,” says Jean-Marie Tritant, U.S. President of URW. “In the meantime, we are doing everything possible to make sure that ‘essential’ retail outlets …

March 19, 2020

Acquisitions Georgia Office Southeast Top Stories

Lone Star Funds Acquires Ernst & Young-Anchored Office Building in Downtown Atlanta

by Kristin Harlow March 18, 2020

ATLANTA — An affiliate of Lone Star Funds has acquired 55 Allen Plaza, a Class A office building totaling 342,854 square feet in Atlanta’s Innovation Corridor. The purchase price was not disclosed. Completed in 2007 and anchored by professional services firm Ernst & Young, the 14-story property includes a recently constructed tenant lounge and conference center, as well as an innovation lab. It is situated at 55 Ivan Allen Jr Blvd., less than a mile from the World of Coca-Cola, the Georgia Aquarium and Centennial Olympic Park. Richard Reid, Ryan Clutter, Ralph Smalley and Huston Green of JLL represented the seller, a state pension fund advised by Lincoln Property Co. Ed Coco and Matt Casey of JLL arranged a five-year, floating-rate acquisition loan on behalf of the buyer through NXT Capital. In 2011, the property traded hands for $57 million, according to the Atlanta Business Chronicle. Lone Star is a private equity firm advising funds that invest globally in real estate, equity, credit and other financial assets. Since 1995, the firm has organized 20 private equity funds with aggregate capital commitments totaling approximately $85 billion. — Kristin Hiller and Alex Tostado

March 18, 2020

Colorado Loans Mixed-Use Retail Top Stories Western

Kroenke Sports, Revesco Receive $124.6M Refinancing for Elitch Gardens Theme Park in Denver

by John Nelson March 17, 2020

DENVER — Kroenke Sports and Entertainment (KSE) and Revesco Properties have received a $124.6 million loan to refinance Elitch Gardens Theme and Water Park in downtown Denver. The 130-year-old property is Colorado’s only combination amusement park and water park. The park is set to open for its 2020 season in April, but no word has come out if the outbreak of COVID-19 has changed that plan. Eric Tupler and Tyler Dumon of JLL arranged the five-year, floating-rate loan through Pacific Western Bank. KSE and Revesco, both based in Denver, plan to use the loan to retire existing debt and fund predevelopment work for the future River Mile project. Expected to take 25 years to fully come to fruition, River Mile is Revesco’s planned mixed-use district that will span 62 acres along a one-mile stretch of the South Platte River. KSE is a partner on the project. River Mile will eventually replace the amusement park, according to local media outlets. The redevelopment is expected to span 14 million square feet of residential and commercial mixed-use space, as well as public space along the riverfront. The River Mile project will include Meow Wolf, a 90,000-square-foot art installation attraction that is expected to …

March 17, 2020

Loans New York Northeast Office Top Stories

JLL Arranges $545M Refinancing for Historic 711 Fifth Avenue Office Building in Manhattan

by Taylor Williams March 16, 2020

NEW YORK CITY — JLL has arranged a $545 million loan for the refinancing of 711 Fifth Avenue, a 340,024-square-foot office building in Manhattan. Originally built in 1927, the 18-story building consists of 284,061 square feet of office space and 55,963 square feet of retail space. In its 93-year history, 711 Fifth Avenue has served as the both the corporate and regional headquarters of companies such as NBC, Columbia Pictures and Coca-Cola. The building is located near Central Park and the world-renowned 57th Street luxury residential corridor, also known as Billionaires’ Row. Goldman Sachs served as the senior lender on the deal. The borrower was a partnership between locally based development firm SVHO, Deutsche Finance America and BLG Capital. The partnership acquired the building in September 2019. A portion of the proceeds will be used to fund capital improvements, including upgrades to the lobby, mechanical systems, terraces and other outdoor common areas. The SHVO-led development team has acquired seven properties during the past 18 months, including 685 Fifth Avenue, 711 Fifth Avenue and 530 Broadway in New York City. Michael Tepedino, David Sitt, Robert Tonnessen, Kristen Knapp and Sophie Gaylor led the JLL team that placed the debt. Wachtel Missry LLP served as the borrower’s legal …

March 16, 2020

Illinois Loans Midwest Top Stories

Oaktree, GlenStar Receive $256M Refinancing for Board of Trade Office Building in Downtown Chicago

by Alex Patton March 13, 2020

CHICAGO — A partnership between funds managed by Oaktree Capital Management LP and GlenStar Properties has received a $256 million loan to refinance 141 W. Jackson, a historic, 1.3 million-square-foot office tower in Chicago’s central business district. Known as the Chicago Board of Trade Building, the 44-story skyscraper is the primary trading venue of the CME Group, a global markets company formed by a merger of the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) and the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. JLL arranged the financing provided by a domestic financial institution. Ownership plans to allocate a portion of the loan proceeds toward future leasing. The Chicago Board of Trade Building was originally constructed in 1930 for CBOT and was designated a National Historic Landmark on June 2, 1978. The building is a popular sightseeing attraction and has appeared in several films, including as the headquarters of Wayne Enterprises in “Batman Begins” (2005). Ownership has maintained and updated the building with modern amenities and technology, including a 24/7 fitness center; video conference center; rooftop deck and game room; Ceres Café Bar and Patio; Cellars Market; and a tenant lobby with concierge services. The building is home to a roster of retail, banking, healthcare, legal and …

March 13, 2020

Company News New York Northeast Retail Top Stories

Modell’s Sporting Goods to Close All 153 Stores

by Alex Tostado March 12, 2020

NEW YORK CITY — Modell’s Sporting Goods has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey. The fourth-generation, family-owned retailer will close all of its 153 stores throughout New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C. The New York City-based sporting goods, athletic footwear, active apparel and fan gear retailer was founded in 1889. The company will begin liquidation sales Friday, March 13 and plans to continue operating its online platform. Modell’s lenders, which include Wells Fargo and JP Morgan Chase, will provide the company with the financial flexibility to operate the business in the near term, including paying employee wages and benefits. According to the New York Post, Modell’s employs 3,623 workers. With the rising competition and plethora of online options to shop for athletic gear, CEO Mitchell Modell cites an “extremely challenging environment for retailers” as a reason for the bankruptcy. “Over the past year, we evaluated several options to restructure our business to allow us to maintain our current operations,” says Modell. “While we achieved some success, in partnership with our landlords and vendors, it was not enough to …

March 12, 2020

Acquisitions California Multifamily Top Stories Western

Acacia Capital Buys Park Hacienda Apartment Community in Bay Area for $248M

by Kristin Harlow March 11, 2020

PLEASANTON, CALIF. — JLL Capital Markets has arranged the $248 million sale of Park Hacienda, a 540-unit apartment community within the Hacienda Business Park in Pleasanton, about 30 miles north of San Jose. Equity Residential (NYSE: EQR) sold the property to Acacia Capital Corp. The garden-style community is situated on 24 acres at 5650 Owens Drive. Originally completed in 2000, the property has been partially renovated and features one-, two- and three-bedroom floor plans averaging 998 square feet. Renovated units feature stainless-steel appliances, full-size washers and dryers, and personal patios with storage. Community amenities include two swimming pools, a fitness center, covered parking and direct public park access. Scott Bales, Peter Yorck, Nolan Moore and Max Machiorlette of JLL represented the seller. The sales price of $459,000 per unit makes it one of the largest single-asset, value-add, multifamily sales in Bay Area history, according to JLL. Chicago-based Equity Residential is a publicly traded real estate investment trust focused on the acquisition, development and management of rental apartment properties. The company owns or has investments in 309 properties consisting of 79,962 units, primarily located in Boston, New York, Washington D.C., Seattle, San Francisco, Southern California and Denver. Equity’s stock price closed …

March 11, 2020

Newer Posts

Older Posts