Top Stories

KBS Sells 580,368 SF Office Campus Near St. Louis to Lingerfelt CommonWealth

by Alex Tostado May 24, 2019

CLAYTON, MO. — KBS has sold Pierre Laclede Center I & II, a two-building, 580,368-square-foot office campus in Clayton, to Lingerfelt CommonWealth. The sales price was not disclosed. Pierre Laclede Center I & II were constructed in 1964 and 1970, respectively. KBS acquired the office campus in 2010 and implemented a $19 million renovation plan in the intervening years. Amenities include an outdoor veranda/patio area, conference rooms, fitness centers, café, deli, onsite concierge and car washing. The sale included a four-level, 1,304-stall parking garage. HFF marketed the property on behalf of KBS, a California-based private equity firm that owned the asset through its KBS Real Estate Investment Trust II portfolio. The buyer is a national real estate investment management firm based in Richmond, Virginia. Current tenants include Centene, Lathrop Gage, Morgan Stanley and Dana McKitrick P.C. Additionally, The St. Louis Club, a private dining club, occupies the top floor of the property with views of downtown and the Gateway Arch. Clayton is one of the St. Louis region’s most sought-after submarkets for office space and is considered the hub of the St. Louis metropolitan area. Clayton boasts over 1 million square feet of retail space as well, and the Pierre …

May 24, 2019

Acquisitions Florida Office Southeast Top Stories

Joint Venture Acquires 11-Building Office Portfolio in Jacksonville for $231M

by Alex Tostado May 23, 2019

JACKSONVILLE, FLA. — A joint venture between Starwood Real Estate Income Trust Inc. (SREIT), Vanderbilt Office Properties and Trinity Capital Advisors has acquired an 11-building office portfolio in Jacksonville in an off-market transaction for $231 million. The portfolio spans 1.3 million square feet and is situated within Jacksonville’s Deerwood Park submarket. The portfolio was 90 percent leased at the time of sale to 55 tenants, including Fidelity Investments, The Adecco Group and JPMorgan Chase Bank, with leases that expire in 2026, 2022 and 2022, respectively. Investment-grade companies make up 65 percent of the portfolio’s tenants. “The Florida office portfolio is another example of SREIT acquiring high-quality real estate in markets with strong population and job growth,” says John McCarthy, CEO and president of SREIT. “SREIT focuses on markets with strong growth dynamics because they drive occupancies, rents and values upward.” The Deerwood Park submarket includes St. Johns Town Center and is situated 10 miles southeast of downtown Jacksonville near Interstates 95 and 295. St. Johns Town Center is home to more than 150 restaurants and retailers. According to Cushman & Wakefield, the submarket has the lowest vacancy rate at 9.2 percent in the Butler/Baymeadows region. It also has highest asking …

May 23, 2019

Development Industrial Kentucky Southeast Top Stories

Georgia-Pacific Plans $100M Expansion of Dixie Manufacturing Facility in Kentucky

by Kristin Harlow May 22, 2019

BOWLING GREEN, KY. — Georgia-Pacific’s Consumer Products Group has unveiled plans to invest $100 million to expand its manufacturing facility in Bowling Green, a town in southern Kentucky. The investment will expand operations for the production of Dixie-branded plates and bowls. Construction has commenced and the project is slated for completion in the first half of 2020. “This expansion will help us continue meeting the needs of our customers, as demand continues to grow for high-quality, durable paper plates and bowls,” says Erik Sjogren, vice president and general manager of livingware at Georgia-Pacific. “We believe this expansion will also position our Bowling Green Dixie facility to remain competitive in the market and in the local community for the long-term.” The expansion will include a new building and the addition of a new printer and several new plate forming presses. The project will create more than 50 full-time jobs, increasing total employment at the plant to about 200 people. Originally built in 1991, the plant has been expanded several times. Production at the facility represents about 25 percent of all paper plates and bowls produced by Georgia-Pacific. The Atlanta-based company also operates a plant in Lexington, Ky. Within Kentucky, Georgia-Pacific currently …

May 22, 2019

Company News Leasing Activity New Jersey Northeast Retail Top Stories

Women’s Apparel Chain Dressbarn to Close All 650 Stores

by John Nelson May 21, 2019

MAHWAH, N.J. — Dressbarn, a women’s apparel retailer, plans to eventually close all 650 of its stores nationwide. The New Jersey-based company is winding down its retail operations and plans to assist its 6,800 associates with transition support as individual stores close. “For more than 50 years, Dressbarn has served women’s fashion needs, and we thank all of our dedicated associates for their commitment to Dressbarn and our valued customers,” says Steven Taylor, Dressbarn’s chief financial officer. “This decision was difficult, but necessary, as the Dressbarn chain has not been operating at an acceptable level of profitability in today’s retail environment.” No information was made available about how the store closures will affect Dressbarn’s lease agreements in place with landlords, but the company has retained A&G Realty Partners to assist on all real estate-related matters during the wind down process. A&G Realty Partners is actively marketing Dressbarn’s available locations to interested tenants. According to A&G Realty’s marketing materials, Dressbarn’s available stores range in size from a 3,300-square-foot store in Michigan to a 15,000-square-foot location in Virginia Beach. Approximately 165 Dressbarn stores have leases that expire in 2020. In 2021, an additional 111 Dressbarn leases are expected to come due. The …

May 21, 2019

Development Georgia Industrial Southeast Top Stories

Hitachi Automotive Undertakes $100M Plant Expansion in Monroe, Georgia

by Taylor Williams May 20, 2019

MONROE, GA. — Hitachi Automotive Systems Americas Inc., a global supplier of automotive parts, has announced a massive, multi-year expansion of its manufacturing plant in Monroe, approximately 45 miles east of Atlanta. Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp announced on Friday, May 17 that Hitachi will invest anywhere from $100 million to $330 million in expanding its existing facility. The project is expected to bring an additional 100 jobs to Walton County. The parent company of Hitachi Americas, Hitachi Automotive Systems Ltd., is headquartered in Tokyo and manufactures engine powertrain systems, electric powertrain systems and integrated vehicle control systems. The company opened its first facility in Georgia in 1997 and currently employs more than 900 people in the Peach State, making it the largest employer in Walton County. The expansion project will be unveiled in phases over the next five years, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and parts produced at the plant will continue to be sold to major automotive companies like Ford, General Motors, Honda and Nissan. Hitachi cited larger growth in the automotive industry and the strength of the local workforce as the key incentives behind the expansion project. “It’s our goal at the Georgia Department of Economic Development to …

May 20, 2019

Development Industrial Louisiana Southeast Top Stories

Lotte Chemical, Westlake Chemical Open $3.1B Plant in Lake Charles, Louisiana

by Jeff Shaw May 17, 2019

LAKE CHARLES, LA. — A joint venture between Lotte Chemical USA (KRX: KRW) and Westlake Chemical Corp. (NYSE: WLK) has opened a new chemical plant in Lake Charles, located in the southwest corner of Louisiana near the Texas border. Development costs for the 250-acre campus were estimated at $3.1 billion. The chemical plant produces monoethylene glycol — commonly called MEG — an important ingredient in the making of paper, textile fibers, latex paints, asphalt, resins, antifreeze, coolants and adhesives. With an annual capacity of 700,000 metric tons, the new facility is now the largest MEG plant in the world. South Korea-based Lotte and Houston-Based Westlake expect the plant to generate 250 permanent jobs. According to the Louisiana Economic Development office, approximately 2,000 “indirect jobs” have also been created as a result of this project. “Among Korean petrochemical companies, Lotte Chemical is the first to locate a project in the United States. As such, this project represents a significant investment by Lotte Chemical,” says Jinkoo Hwang, president and CEO of Lotte Chemical USA. “Today also marks the opening of our new corporate headquarters in Lake Charles, and we are very excited to be part of the industrial growth in the region.” …

May 17, 2019

Development Midwest Missouri Mixed-Use Top Stories

Drake Development Plans $180M Mixed-Use Project in Metro Kansas City

by Alex Tostado May 16, 2019

LEE’S SUMMIT, MO. — Drake Development will break ground Friday, May 17, on Streets of West Pryor, a 70-acre, $180 million mixed-use project in Lee’s Summit. Streets of West Pryor will be situated at the intersection of Interstate 470 and NW Pryor Road, 18 miles southeast of downtown Kansas City. McKeever’s Market, the first location in the region for the grocery store, will occupy 63,000 square feet and anchor the development. At full build-out, Streets of West Pryor will feature more than 220 apartment units, a 165-room hotel and more than 160 senior living units. Indianapolis-based Pearl Cos. is developing the apartment building, which will include amenities such as underground structured parking, a swimming pool, fitness center, multiple courtyards, and first floor access to restaurants, retail and walking trails to nearby Lowenstein Park. “When people think of a mixed-use development, sometimes the end product falls short. It’s commonplace to have opportunities for live and play, but the ‘play’ doesn’t extend beyond shopping or dining,” says Matt Pennington, Drake Development’s president. “We wanted to extend the ‘play’ to outdoor recreation, and this was achieved through ample green space and walking trails connecting to neighboring Lowenstein Park. It was critical we tailored …

May 16, 2019

Development District of Columbia Office Southeast Top Stories

Carr Properties Breaks Ground on 225,000 SF Office Development in Washington, D.C.

by Kristin Harlow May 15, 2019

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Carr Properties has broken ground on Signal House, a 225,000-square-foot office development in the Union Market neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Located at 350 Morse St., the project will be situated adjacent to Florida Avenue and near the NOMA-Gallaudet Metro Station. Designed by Gensler, the 10-story office building will pay tribute to the historic industrial surroundings of the area with a terra cotta, metal and glass exterior. Amenities at the property will include a penthouse with a demonstration kitchen, bar, recording studio, DJ booth, karaoke room and conference center. Other features will include 10,000 square feet of private terraces, fitness facilities, bike storage and 12,500 square feet of retail space. “Signal House will be the first new office development in Union Market and will add to the revitalization of an area that is becoming one of the most dynamic creative and retail destinations in the city,” says Oliver Carr, CEO of Carr Properties. Completion of the project is slated for the first quarter of 2021. John Moriarty & Associates is the general contractor. The developers are seeking LEED Gold certification for the property. Carr Properties is a privately held real estate investment trust that owns, acquires and develops …

May 15, 2019

Development Maryland Mixed-Use Southeast Top Stories

Weller Development, Local Leaders Break Ground on $600M Phase of Port Covington Project in Baltimore

by John Nelson May 14, 2019

BALTIMORE — The first phase of Weller Development’s Port Covington, a 235-acre mixed-use redevelopment project in south Baltimore, kicked off with a ceremonial groundbreaking on Monday. The Baltimore Business Journal reports that this phase of construction, dubbed Chapter 1, will cost $600 million to complete and span five buildings. Weller Development, a privately held developer based in Baltimore, is the project’s lead developer and will build Chapter 1 over several years, with the first new buildings set to be delivered in fall 2021. Known as Rye Street Market, this portion of Chapter 1 will feature a 13,000-square-foot open-air market and food hall, 50,000 square feet of ground-level retail, a 12,000-square-foot meeting facility and a 15,000-square-foot rooftop event space. Rye Street Market will span four buildings totaling 275,000 square feet. At full buildout, Chapter 1 is slated to include approximately 1.4 million square feet of office space, 337,450 square feet of retail, 976,667 square feet of residential space and 285,000 square feet of hotel space. “The Port Covington of today is a completely different place than what it was just a few short years ago, and we are just getting started,” said Marc Weller, founding partner of Weller Development, during the event …

May 14, 2019

Acquisitions Georgia Office Southeast Top Stories

Piedmont Acquires Galleria 100 Office Building in Atlanta for $95.1M

by Taylor Williams May 13, 2019

ATLANTA — Piedmont Office Realty Trust Inc. (NYSE: PDM) has acquired Galleria 100, an 18-story office building located in Atlanta, for $95.1 million. The sale includes a 1.5-acre parcel for future development. Galleria 100, which spans approximately 414,000 square feet, was 91 percent leased at the time of sale. The property is located within The Galleria mixed-use development on the city’s northwest side. The property is connected via footbridge to the Atlanta Braves’ SunTrust Park and the surrounding entertainment destination known as The Battery. Piedmont already owns two office buildings that are adjacent to the acquired property within The Galleria, an 86-acre development with office and retail uses, as well as a hotel and convention center. Tenants at Galleria 100 include insurance giant Aflac, law firm Freeman Mathis & Gary and private dining venue The Georgian Club. With this acquisition, Piedmont, which is based in the northern Atlanta suburb of Johns Creek, now owns roughly 1.3 million square feet of office product within this submarket. The company’s total portfolio consists of nearly 17 million square feet of office space across eight major markets, holdings that are valued at roughly $5 billion. “This transaction underscores our overall strategy of acquiring and …

May 13, 2019

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