Top Stories

SomeraRoad Buys Out Partners for SouthSide Works in Pittsburgh, Plans $167M Development and Renovation

by John Nelson March 10, 2020

PITTSBURGH — SomeraRoad Inc., a value-add investment and development firm based in New York City, has taken full ownership of SouthSide Works in Pittsburgh’s South Side neighborhood. The adaptive reuse project was formerly the site of J&L Steel Works and now houses approximately 280,000 square feet of retail space, 180,000 square feet of office space and 85 apartments. The project opened in 2004. SomeraRoad plans to undertake more than $37 million in capital improvements and invest $130 million in new development at the project, including 230 apartments and 200,000 square feet of office space fronting the Monongahela River. Another key feature of the new development plan is the conversion of the SouthSide Works Cinema to a 77,000-square-foot creative office space dubbed Box Office. SomeraRoad plans for the new office space to house about 500 office workers. The Kansas City office of HOK Architecture will design Box Office, which SomeraRoad will begin work on this summer. “The cinema’s grand entry, high ceilings and efficient useable floorplate, coupled with steel and glass improvements and the adaptive reuse appeal, creates a unique office conversion opportunity Pittsburgh hasn’t seen before,” says Jon Reeser, SomeraRoad’s vice president of acquisitions and head of its Pittsburgh office. …

March 10, 2020

Acquisitions District of Columbia Office Southeast Top Stories

Paramount Group to Sell Pennsylvania Avenue Office Building for $115M

by Taylor Williams March 9, 2020

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Paramount Group Inc. has agreed to sell 1899 Pennsylvania Ave., a 191,000-square-foot office building in Washington, D.C., for $115 million. Originally built in 1915 and most recently renovated in 2002, the 11-story building is located just three blocks from The White House in the city’s central business district. The property features 18,200-square-foot floor plates and floor-to-ceiling glass façades, as well as amenities such as a fitness center, rooftop terrace and 64 covered parking spaces. In addition, four Metrorail lines serve the building. “With the sale of 1899 Pennsylvania Ave., we have now strategically sold all five of our wholly owned assets in Washington, D.C.,” says Albert Behler, chairman, CEO and president of Paramount Group. “This transaction demonstrates our determination to sell stabilized or non-core assets and redeploy that capital into higher-growth opportunities.” The transaction is expected to close during the fourth quarter. The buyer was not disclosed. The Washington Business Journal reported in 2010 that Paramount Group had acquired the asset for $149 million. Paramount Group is a New York City-based investment and management firm that specializes in owning and operating Class A office properties in the core markets of New York City, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. …

March 9, 2020

California Development Retail Top Stories Western

URW Opens Expansion of $1.1B Silicon Valley Retail Destination

by Alex Patton March 6, 2020

SAN JOSE, CALIF. — Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (URW) has opened a 500,000-square-foot expansion of Westfield Valley Fair, the French developer’s $1.1 billion retail destination in San Jose. The retail center is part of a redevelopment project that replaced two 1950s-era shopping centers. The project now encompasses 2.2 million square feet in total, with more restaurant and store openings planned for 2021. A three-level flagship Bloomingdale’s luxury apparel department store anchors the new expansion, alongside other apparel retailers including Anthropologie, Club Monaco, Fabletics, Indochino, Jimmy Choo, John Varvatos, Longchamp, Rodd and Gunn, Urban Outfitters, UNTUCKit and Zadig & Voltaire. “We envisioned Westfield Valley Fair as a place where prestigious luxury brands, digitally native start-up retailers, and best-in-class dining and entertainment all come together to create a true lifestyle destination and the perfect place to shop, dine and play,” says Larry Green, executive vice president of development at URW. The developer recently partnered with the San José Museum of Art to curate and commission artwork for the property, starting with an outdoor sculpture at the new grand entrance on Stevens Creek Boulevard, which will be unveiled this fall. Entertainment offerings include the recently opened ShowPlace ICON Theatre and the soon-to-open PLAYlive Nation social gaming lounge. Future additions to the retail center this year and into …

March 6, 2020

Acquisitions Hospitality Top Stories

Xenia Hotels Agrees to Sell Seven-Property Hospitality Portfolio for $483M

by Alex Tostado March 5, 2020

ORLANDO, FLA. — Xenia Hotels & Resorts Inc. (NYSE: XHR), an Orlando-based hospitality REIT, has agreed to sell a seven-hotel, 1,124-room portfolio for $483 million, or approximately $430,000 per room. Kimpton manages all seven properties in the portfolio, which comprises the 97-room Canary Hotel Santa Barbara in California; 191-room Hotel Monaco Chicago; 189-room Hotel Monaco Denver; 225-room Hotel Monaco Salt Lake City; 230-room Hotel Palomar Philadelphia; 107-room Lorien Hotel & Spa in Alexandria, Va.; and the 85-room RiverPlace Hotel in Portland, Ore. Orlando-based Xenia acquired RiverPlace Hotel, Hotel Palomar Philadelphia and Canary Hotel Santa Barbara in 2015. The company acquired Hotel Monaco Denver, Lorien Hotel & Spa, Hotel Monaco Salt Lake City and Hotel Monaco Chicago in 2013. Xenia expects the sale to close in May, although the undisclosed buyer can extend the deadline to June with an additional deposit payment. The sales price represents a 5.3 percent capitalization rate, according to Xenia. “While these hotels are high-quality assets that are largely consistent with our long-term investment strategy, we believe that this disposition is an illustration of our ability to opportunistically unlock value within our current portfolio and increase shareholder value through portfolio recycling,” says Marcel Verbaas, chairman and chief executive officer …

March 5, 2020

Acquisitions North Carolina Office Southeast Top Stories

JLL Arranges $102M Sale of Three Office Buildings Within Charlotte’s Coliseum Centre

by Kristin Harlow March 4, 2020

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — JLL Capital Markets has arranged the sale of Coliseum Centre III, V and VI in Charlotte for $102 million. The three Class A office buildings total 511,344 square feet and are located immediately adjacent to Billy Graham Parkway in Charlotte’s Airport submarket. Completed between 1996 and 1998, the six-story buildings are 87 percent occupied overall. Amenities include onsite dining options, three fitness centers, boardrooms, training facilities, a conference facility, tenant lounge and collaboration area. Ryan Clutter, Chris Lingerfelt and Zack Drozda of JLL represented the seller, America’s Capital Partners. Travis Anderson and Taylor Allison of JLL arranged a $79.3 million acquisition loan on behalf of the buyer, Charlotte-based South Street Partners. Brookfield provided the four-year, floating-rate loan. “Given the strong employment growth and corresponding leasing demand in Charlotte, opportunities like Coliseum Centre are very attractive to investors,” says Clutter. “Charlotte has become one of the top markets for office investment nationally and is poised to continue to see significant inbound capital flows.” America’s Capital Partners is a private commercial real estate investment firm headquartered in Coral Gables, Fla. South Street Partners is a private equity real estate investment firm that has deployed $640 million of capital across …

March 4, 2020

Acquisitions Florida Multifamily Southeast Top Stories

CBRE Global Investors Buys Two Central Florida Apartment Communities Totaling 604 Units

by John Nelson March 3, 2020

WINDERMERE AND ORLANDO, FLA. — CBRE Global Investors, a global real estate assets management based in Los Angeles, has purchased two recently built apartment communities in Central Florida totaling 604 units. Unicorp National Developments Inc., a mixed-use and multifamily developer based in Orlando, sold both properties to a fund sponsored by CBRE Global. The price was not disclosed, but Orlando Business Journal reported last fall that Unicorp was in advanced discussions about selling the communities for a combined $160 million. The properties include the 346-unit Venetian Isle in Windermere and the 258-unit Zen in Orlando, which are situated about four miles apart in southwest Orlando. The communities were both 95 percent occupied at the time of sale. Steve Gullo, senior managing director of multifamily acquisitions for CBRE Global Investors, says the firm pursued Venetian Isle and Zen because of the growth prospects in Orlando. “Orlando continues to have one of the fastest growing economies with population and employment growth outpacing the nation,” says Gullo. “Accordingly, it is forecasted to be one of the highest ranked markets for future rent growth.” Currently, rental rates range from $1,340 to $1,885 per month at Venetian Isle, while two-bedroom apartments average about $1,590 per …

March 3, 2020

Development Florida Mixed-Use Southeast Top Stories

Treo Group Breaks Ground on $125M VOX Miami Mixed-Use Development

by Taylor Williams March 2, 2020

MIAMI — Locally based investment and development firm The Treo Group has broken ground on VOX Miami, a $125 million mixed-use project in South Florida. Treo Group will develop the transit-oriented site, which is located at the corner of U.S. Highway 1 and Sunset Drive, adjacent to the South Miami Metrorail station, in multiple phases. Phase I will feature an eight-story student housing building with 326 beds across 99 units that will serve undergraduate and graduate students at the University of Miami. Amenities will include study lounges, a rooftop terrace, fitness center and a pool. The building is scheduled for completion before the 2021-2022 academic year. The second phase of VOX Miami is a 195,000-square-foot office building. Perkins + Will is designing the Class A property, which will also house ground-floor retail space. A start and completion date for that component has not yet been released. “VOX Miami is designed to fulfill the needs of various community sectors, from University of Miami students to local businesses, while providing convenient accessibility via the Metrorail and bolstering the overall appeal of public transportation,” says Otto Boudet-Murias, Treo Group principal. Treo Group is also developing Regatta Harbour, a 9.5-acre mixed-use project in Miami’s …

March 2, 2020

Development Louisiana Southeast Top Stories

Provident Realty Advisors Opens $85M Apartment Development in Downtown New Orleans

by Alex Patton February 28, 2020

NEW ORLEANS — Provident Realty Advisors, a Dallas-based developer, has opened Canal 1535, a 330-unit multifamily building in the central business district (CBD) of New Orleans. Canal 1535 features one- and two-bedroom apartments. Amenities include a fitness center, parking garage and heated swimming pool. The property is now leasing to new residents, with rents ranging from approximately $1,500 to $3,700. The total development cost is estimated at $85 million. The building is situated on Canal Street in the heart of New Orleans, near Tulane University Medical School and Louisiana State University School of Medicine. The property is located blocks from the French Quarter, the Mercedes-Benz Superdome and St. Louis Cemetery No. 2, and offers convenient access to public transportation via the Regional Transit Authority streetcar line. Julie Valley, asset manager at Provident, says that the building is intended to serve the growing workforce in the CBD, including native New Orleanians and those moving to the city for work. The economic outlook for 2020 is forecasting an additional 9,400 jobs in the city, an increase of 1.6 percent, according to New Orleans CityBusiness. — Alex Patton

February 28, 2020

Data Centers Development Industrial Office Top Stories

Google to Invest $10B This Year in Office, Data Centers Across the United States

by Alex Tostado February 27, 2020

MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIF. — Google (Nasdaq: GOOGL) plans to invest $10 billion in office and data centers in 11 states this year that will create thousands of jobs. The 11 states will be Colorado, Georgia, Massachusetts, Nebraska, New York, Oklahoma, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington and California, according to Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google and its parent company, Alphabet Inc. In 2019, Mountain View-based Google announced it would invest $13 billion in major office and data center expansions in 14 states. Combined with other investments, Alphabet was the largest investor in the United States last year, according to the Progressive Policy Institute’s Investment Heroes 2019: Boosting U.S. Growth report. Data Centers Google plans to open or expand 13 data centers nationwide. Data center expansions in the South include locations in Georgia, Texas, Virginia, Alabama, South Carolina and Tennessee. In the Midwest, the company will open a new data center in Ohio and expand an existing center in Iowa. Nebraska and Oklahoma will see expanded data centers. Lastly, Google will expand data centers in Oregon and Nevada. Office Space Google plans to open new offices or expand its existing space in 19 communities. Google office expansions are slated for Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois …

February 27, 2020

Acquisitions California Multifamily Student Housing Top Stories Western

Landmark Properties Acquires 2,289-Bed Student Housing Community at University of California, Davis

by Kristin Harlow February 26, 2020

DAVIS, CALIF. — Landmark Properties has acquired Sol at West Village, a 2,289-bed student housing community at the University of California, Davis (UC Davis) campus, which is situated about 15 miles west of Sacramento. While the sales price was not disclosed, the transaction is the largest single-asset sale to date in the student housing sector, according to sources. Amenities at the on-campus property include a 24-hour study hall, fitness center, yoga studio, café, media theater, dog park and two swimming pools. Sol at West Village also includes 36,000 square feet of commercial space, which is currently leased to UC Davis. The community was built in three phases between 2011 and 2013. Sol at West Village is the largest net zero energy community in the United States, meaning it is designed to produce as much energy as it consumes. To meet this goal, the community combines efficient overall design with renewable on-site energy production via solar panels installed throughout the community. “Sol at West Village is a tremendous addition to our growing Class A student housing portfolio,” says Wes Rogers, president and CEO of Landmark. “We continuously pursue strategic opportunities to develop and acquire high-quality assets that are pedestrian to flagship …

February 26, 2020

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