Top Stories

Madison Marquette, GFH Financial Acquire Six-Property Senior Living Portfolio for Over $180M

by Kristin Harlow July 24, 2019

CALIFORNIA, WASHINGTON AND MICHIGAN — Madison Marquette and GFH Financial Group have acquired a portfolio of six private-pay senior living communities in California, Washington and Michigan. Although a specific purchase price was not provided, GFH described the deal as “exceeding $180 million in value.” The properties include: Chateau at River’s Edge and Chateau on Capitol Ave in Sacramento, Calif.; Callaway Gardens in Kennewick, Wash.; Summer Wood in Moses Lake, Wash.; Pine Ridge in Spokane, Wash.; and Independence Village in Brighton, Mich. The communities total 509 units and feature a mix of independent living, assisted living and memory care. The occupancy as of the first quarter was 92 percent, and GFH notes that most of the assets were recently renovated and able to attain above-market rents. Senior Resource Group, JEA Senior Living and Senior Village Management operate the properties. GFH, an investment firm from the tiny Middle Eastern island country of Bahrain, will serve as the investment manager while Madison Marquette will serve as the day-to-day manager of the portfolio. GFH will be 91 percent owner, while Madison Marquette will own 6 percent. The communities’ operators will own the remaining 3 percent stake. “Through our recent platform activities in the space, …

July 24, 2019

San Francisco Flower Mart Redevelopment Rendering

California Development Mixed-Use Office Retail Top Stories Western

San Francisco Planning Commission Approves 2.3 MSF Flower Mart Redevelopment Project

by Jeff Shaw July 23, 2019

SAN FRANCISCO — The San Francisco Planning Commission has unanimously approved plans to redevelop the historic Flower Mart in the city’s South of Market (SoMa) district as a 2.3 million-square-foot mixed-use property. Kilroy Realty Corp. (NYSE: KRC) is leading the development, which will preserve and update the 115,000-square-foot Flower Mart, while also adding 2.1 million square feet of creative office space, a 100,000-square-foot retail market hall and one acre of public open space. The project still requires approval from the San Francisco Board of Supervisors and the city’s mayor, which Kilroy hopes to receive by October. The project is the product of more than five years of negotiations and partnership between Kilroy Realty, the wholesale flower vendor community and the city. Kilroy expects to break ground in mid-2020 and deliver all phases by 2024. The Flower Mart vendors will be moved to an interim location during construction. “The Flower Mart Project represents the future of Central SoMa and San Francisco,” says John Kilroy, the developer’s chairman and CEO. “The project’s vibrant mix of uses, abundant neighborhood-serving retail and innovative work environments will make it the transformational hub that the city and the neighborhood need.” “This is one of the best …

July 23, 2019

Development Industrial Midwest Ohio Top Stories

Amazon to Open Two 700,000 SF Fulfillment Centers in Ohio

by Taylor Williams July 22, 2019

AKRON AND ROSSFORD, OHIO — Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) will open two fulfillment centers in Ohio in a move that will bring more than 2,500 new jobs to the northern part of the state. The properties, each of which will span more than 700,000 square feet, will be located in Akron and Rossford, the latter being a suburb of Toledo. The developments will be the e-commerce giant’s seventh and eighth industrial assets in Ohio, and will be used to sort, pack and ship various items to customers in the region. According to the Akron Beacon Journal, the Akron facility will be developed at the site of the former Rolling Acres mall, which was recently foreclosed upon and demolished. Construction is scheduled to begin in September, the paper reports. Amazon did not disclose additional timelines for the openings of the centers. “Ohio has been a great place to do business, serve customers and create jobs,” says Alicia Boler Davis, Amazon’s vice president of global customer fulfillment. “We’re excited to grow our team in the Buckeye state, which now includes more than 8,500 Amazonians.” “Amazon continues to demonstrate confidence in the great workforce and e-commerce business climate we have in Ohio,” adds Ohio …

July 22, 2019

Development Retail Top Stories

Joint Venture Revives Toys ‘R’ Us Brand, to Open Two New Stores Before Christmas

by Jeff Shaw July 19, 2019

PARSIPPANY, N.J., AND SAN FRANCISCO — One of the recently fallen retail giants is poised to make a return less than two years after its demise. Tru Kids Brands, the Parsippany-based parent company of Toys ‘R’ Us, and b8ta, a San Francisco-based experiential retail firm, have announced plans to bring back Toys ‘R’ Us stores to the United States. The retailer announced in March 2018 that it was declaring bankruptcy and would start an “orderly wind down” and close its 735 remaining stores. Now, 16 months later, the Tru Kids-b8ta joint venture is hoping to bring the 71-year-old brand back with more small-format, experience-based retail spaces. Plans call for the first two stores — located in The Galleria in Houston and Westfield Garden State Plaza in Paramus, New Jersey — to open before the holiday season. “With a 70-year heritage, the Toys ‘R’ Us brand is beloved by kids and families around the world, and continues to play a leading role in the hearts and minds of today’s consumers,” says Richard Barry, CEO of Tru Kids Brands and interim co-CEO of the new Toys ‘R’ Us joint venture. “We have an incredible opportunity to entirely reimagine the Toys ‘R’ Us …

July 19, 2019

Development Midwest Ohio Top Stories

FC Cincinnati Kicks Off Construction of $250M Soccer Stadium

by Alex Tostado July 18, 2019

CINCINNATI — FC Cincinnati (FCC), a Major League Soccer team, is headed for a new home. The team recently started construction of a $250 million stadium in the city’s West End, unveiling the full design plans for the first time this week. General contractor Turner Construction broke ground on the project in December and expects to complete the stadium in March 2021. Architecture firm Populous designed West End Stadium — the team said the name may change as potential corporate sponsors get involved with naming rights — to hold between 26,000 and 26,500 seats. It will also feature standing room known as “The Bailey,” which can hold up to 3,100 additional fans. FC Cincinnati has entered into a public-private partnership with the City of Cincinnati for infrastructure improvements around the stadium, with the city providing $35 million for those projects. The construction itself will be privately funded by the team’s ownership. U.S. Bank is providing construction financing for the stadium, according to Cincinnati Public Radio. “As a Cincinnati native and lifelong resident, I have nothing but pride knowing our West End Stadium will be a strong symbol of this city on the world stage,” says FCC president Jeff Berding. ““MLS …

July 18, 2019

California Loans Multifamily Top Stories Western

Bellwether Enterprise Arranges $126.5M Refinancing for Newly Completed Apartment Complex Near Los Angeles

by Kristin Harlow July 17, 2019

BURBANK, CALIF. — Bellwether Enterprise Real Estate Capital LLC has arranged a $126.5 million loan for the refinancing of Talaria at Burbank in Los Angeles County. Completed in February, the apartment community is home to 241 luxury units, a ground-floor Whole Foods Market and subterranean parking. The four-story property is located at 3401-3425 W. Olive Ave. across the street from NBC, ABC, Warner Bros. and other major film/television studios. The complex features a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom floor plans as well as two penthouse units. VTBS Architecture designed the project. Amenities at Talaria at Burbank include a resort-style pool, fitness club, rooftop bar and lounge, business center, bicycle repair shop, electronic vehicle charging stations and 24-hour concierge services. The 42,000-square-foot Whole Foods Market also features a restaurant and pub. Tom Kenny of Bellwether Enterprise arranged the 10-year loan on behalf of the borrower, Cusumano Real Estate Group. The structure enabled the borrower to lock in a long-term, fixed-rate loan prior to lease-up and included recouping a significant amount of equity at closing, according to Bellwether Enterprise. PGIM Real Estate Finance provided the funds. The mixed-use complex is somewhat infamous in the area for taking nearly 20 years to …

July 17, 2019

Acquisitions California Colorado Industrial Top Stories Western

Prologis to Acquire Industrial Property Trust for Nearly $4B

by John Nelson July 16, 2019

SAN FRANCISCO AND DENVER — Prologis Inc. (NYSE: PLD) has signed a definitive merger agreement to acquire Industrial Property Trust Inc. (IPT) in a deal valued just shy of $4 billion. IPT is an industrial real estate investment platform sponsored by Black Creek Group, a real estate investment manager and development firm based in Denver. If approved by IPT’s shareholders, the overall transaction would span 236 properties located across 24 geographic areas. The roughly 37.5 million-square-foot portfolio is currently 97 percent leased. About 96 percent of the affected properties are in markets where Prologis already has a presence. The transaction would expand the San Francisco-based firm’s holdings in Southern California, the Bay Area, Chicago, Atlanta, Dallas, Seattle and New Jersey. “This is a compelling opportunity to acquire a portfolio of excellent asset quality and submarket composition consistent with our U.S. investment strategy and footprint,” says Eugene Reilly, chief investment officer of Prologis. “We expect to capture significant cost and revenue synergies.” The merger will include 100 percent of IPT’s wholly owned real estate assets, but will exclude the firm’s minority ownership interests in two unconsolidated joint venture partnerships valued at approximately $295 million. Black Creek Group expects to determine the …

July 16, 2019

California Development Hospitality Top Stories Western

Pebblebrook, Margaritaville to Open 462-Room Resort in San Diego

by Taylor Williams July 15, 2019

SAN DIEGO — A partnership between Pebblebrook Hotel Trust (NYSE: PEB) and Margaritaville Holdings will open a 462-room beachfront hotel and resort in San Diego. The Margartitaville Island Resort San Diego will be located on the 44-acre Vacation Island in the city’s Mission Bay area. The site is the current home of Paradise Point Resort & Spa, which will be renovated and converted to the Margaritaville hotel. Project costs are estimated at $35 million. The hotel will feature a mile of beachfront with views overlooking the marina and bay, as well Margaritaville food and beverage concepts. Other amenities will include five pools, tennis courts, a spa, fitness center and 80,000 square feet of meeting space. “Our island resort offers a unique San Diego beach experience in a secluded, yet centrally situated location to nearby downtown San Diego, SeaWorld, Balboa Park, Seaport Village and other top attractions,” says Jon Bortz, president and CEO of Pebblebrook. “The Margaritaville lifestyle brand is synonymous with fun and escapism and we expect a dramatic improvement in financial performance of Paradise Point upon reflagging.” Maryland-based Pebblebrook acquired Paradise Point Resort & Spa in 2018. The new Margaritaville hotel, which will be the brand’s first on the West …

July 15, 2019

Company News Retail Top Stories

Charming Charlie Declares Second Bankruptcy, Will Close All 261 Stores

by Jeff Shaw July 12, 2019

HOUSTON — Charming Charlie, a women’s fashion and beauty chain based in Houston, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Thursday. It is the second time the retailer known for its colorful displays of jewelry, handbags, apparel and beauty products has filed for bankruptcy in less than two years. The company now plans to close all 261 of its remaining stores across 38 states. The retailer’s first filing was in December 2017, and the financial restructuring was completed the following April. However, the company continued to struggle following the reorganization and, according to the new filing, only has $6,000 in cash on hand compared to debt of $82 million. The Charming Charlie website was not accepting e-commerce orders during the first restructuring, but had just relaunched in August 2018. As of this morning, the site was once again not accepting orders. The stores are located almost exclusively in malls, with 125 locations in lifestyle centers, 80 in shopping malls and 50 in power centers. The remaining locations are two street stores and four outlets. Texas, Florida and California host the most brick-and-mortar locations with approximately 75 stores in total. “The large format of the store of about 7,500 feet, especially given …

July 12, 2019

Acquisitions Midwest Mississippi Missouri Retail Southeast Top Stories

Twin River Worldwide Agrees to Acquire Two Casinos from Eldorado Resorts for $230M

by Alex Tostado July 11, 2019

LINCOLN, R.I. — Twin River Worldwide Holdings Inc. (NYSE: TRWH) has entered into an agreement to acquire Isle of Capri Casino Kansas City in Missouri and Lady Luck Casino Vicksburg in Mississippi for $230 million. Eldorado Resorts Inc. (Nasdaq: ERI) is the seller. Isle of Capri is located near downtown Kansas City, overlooking the Missouri River. The property offers 40,000 square feet of casino space, 939 gaming machines, 13 table games and two dining venues. Lady Luck Casino Vicksburg is situated along the Mississippi River. The property features 25,000 square feet of casino space, 603 slot machines, eight electronic table games, three dining venues and an 89-room hotel. “Isle Kansas City and Lady Luck Vicksburg expand our geographic footprint with assets in attractive markets,” says George Papanier, president and CEO of Lincoln, R.I.-based TRWH. “We believe these assets are a great fit for our portfolio and see the opportunity to increase the net cash flow from these properties by our redevelopment and operating plans.” Eldorado Resorts expects to use the proceeds from the sale for general corporate purposes, including its proposed $17.3 billion acquisition of Caesars Entertainment Corp. Papanier says TRWH will redevelop Isle of Capri, though he did not …

July 11, 2019

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