Top Stories

Airbnb Agrees to Acquire HotelTonight in Effort to Expand Booking Options

by Kristin Harlow March 8, 2019

SAN FRANCISCO — Airbnb has signed an agreement to acquire HotelTonight, a hotel-booking service focused on making last-minute trips for boutique and independent hotels. The deal will expand Airbnb’s ability to offer hotel listings. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but The Wall Street Journal reports that HotelTonight was last valued at $463 million in March 2017. Airbnb expects the transaction to close in approximately 30 days. San Francisco-based Airbnb, an online lodging company, says the acquisition is part of its mission to create “an end-to-end travel platform that combines where you stay, what you do and how you get there, all in one place.” More than 400,000 companies are using Airbnb to help manage their travel, and same-day bookings are now growing twofold year over year, according to Airbnb. “Welcoming more boutique hotels to our platform will help us deliver on our commitment to make Airbnb for everyone, providing guests the authentic, local experience they have come to expect on every trip,” wrote Airbnb in a press release. In 2018, Airbnb more than doubled the number of rooms available on its platform in properties that hosts categorized as boutique hotels, bed and breakfasts and other hospitality venues like …

March 8, 2019

Acquisitions Multifamily Nevada Top Stories Western

Shopoff Realty Sells Apartment Community in Las Vegas for $100M

by Alex Tostado March 7, 2019

LAS VEGAS — Shopoff Realty Investments has sold Pointe at Centennial, a 624-unit apartment community in Las Vegas, to The Calida Group for $100 million. Pointe at Centennial is situated at 5850 Sky Pointe Drive, about 11 miles northwest of downtown Las Vegas. The community offers one-, two- and three-bedroom floor plans ranging from 740 to 1,121 square feet per unit. Shopoff purchased the property in September 2016 as a value-add acquisition when roughly 25 percent of the units were updated. At the time of the most recent sale, Shopoff said 50 percent of the units are currently updated. “By bringing the percentage of renovated units at the property up to 50 percent, we captured significant rent increases, approximately 20 percent higher than the property’s average rental rate at the outset of the renovation plan,” says Shopoff CEO William Shopoff. Irvine, Calif.-based Shopoff also made investments to community-wide amenities such as adding new entry gates, remodeling the leasing office, upgrading lighting, improving landscaping, and implementing roof repairs, exterior painting and gym upgrades. Other amenities include a swimming pool, basketball court, tennis court, grilling area, playgrounds, covered parking and a clubhouse. Shopoff has invested in value-add properties across the United States for …

March 7, 2019

Company News Property Type Retail Southeast Top Stories Virginia

Family Dollar to Potentially Close Nearly 400 Stores

by David Cohen March 6, 2019

CHESAPEAKE, VA.— Variety store chain Family Dollar could close up to 390 stores in fiscal 2019 unless it obtains material rent concessions from landlords on underperforming stores. As part of its turnaround efforts, the retailer will also make changes at the stores it is keeping open. Dollar Tree Inc. (NASDAQ: DLTR), which purchased Family Dollar in 2015 for nearly $9 billion in cash and stock, plans to revitalize the brand with store closures and a rebranding of some locations to Dollar Tree. In addition, some locations will be renovated to include $1 Dollar Tree merchandise sections. The retailer also plans to offer adult beverages in approximately 1,000 Family Dollar stores and expand freezers and coolers in approximately 400 stores. Family Dollar sells a variety of items for under $10 at rural and urban locations. Dollar Tree sells all items in its stores for $1 in mostly suburban locations. At the close of the fourth quarter of 2018, the company operated 8,200 Family Dollar stores and 7,000 Dollar Tree stores. “We are confident we are taking the appropriate steps to reposition our Family Dollar brand,” said Dollar Tree CEO Gary Philbin in a news release Wednesday. On March 6, Dollar Tree …

March 6, 2019

Acquisitions District of Columbia Office Southeast Top Stories

Saban Real Estate Buys D.C. Office Building from Piedmont for $170M

by John Nelson March 5, 2019

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Los Angeles-based Saban Real Estate has purchased One Independence Square, a 334,000-square-foot office building located at 250 E. St. in Washington, D.C.’s Southwest submarket. Piedmont Office Realty Trust (NYSE: PDM) sold the nine-story office asset to Saban for approximately $170 million. Built in 1991 near the National Mall and the Smithsonian, One Independence was 94 percent leased at the time of sale to multiple government tenants. The property’s average weighted lease term is 10 years, according to Brent Smith, president and chief investment officer of Piedmont. “The sale of One Independence reduces Piedmont’s exposure to the Southwest D.C. submarket and disposes of a fully stabilized asset,” explains Smith. “The net sales proceeds will be used in the short-term to pay down our line of credit as we evaluate our pipeline of acquisition candidates.” After undergoing a major renovation in 2013, One Independence now features a rooftop terrace, modern fitness center, café and an updated lobby. Saban Real Estate and its affiliates own real estate assets in three sectors: student housing, government office and self-storage. The company owns a portfolio of 30 student housing properties containing 20,000 beds, seven office buildings spanning 1.4 million square feet and 34 …

March 5, 2019

Acquisitions Multifamily New York Northeast Top Stories

CBRE Negotiates $472.5M Sale of Multifamily Portfolio in Long Island

by Taylor Williams March 4, 2019

LONG ISLAND, N.Y. — CBRE has negotiated the sale of a portfolio of multifamily properties totaling 1,496 units across seven properties in Long Island. The portfolio fetched a sales price of $472.5 million. The buyer was Melville, N.Y.-based Fairfield Properties, which is the largest owner of multifamily properties in Long Island by volume. The seller was not disclosed, but Long Island Business News reports that the seller was Rochester, N.Y.-based Home Properties. The following properties were included in the portfolio: Westwood Village, a 242-unit community in Westbury that was built between 1969 and 1971; Heritage Square, an 80-unit asset in East Meadow that was constructed in 1951; Cambridge Village in Levittown, an 82-unit property that was completed in 1969; Yorkshire Village in Levittown, a 40-unit complex that was delivered in 1973; Mid-Island Apartments, a 232-unit project in Bay Shore that was built in 1975; Southern Meadows, a 452-unit asset in Bayport that was completed in 1970; Lake Grove Apartments, a 368-unit property in Lake Grove that was constructed in 1972 All of the properties are considered Class B assets and are located in Nassau and Suffolk counties. Fairfield will implement a value-add program that will be focused on each property’s …

March 4, 2019

California Retail Top Stories Western

Gap Inc. to Close 230 Stores, Spin Off Old Navy

by Taylor Williams March 1, 2019

SAN FRANCISCO — Gap Inc. (NYSE: GPS) will close approximately 230 Gap specialty stores within the next two years, the San Francisco-based apparel chain announced in its fourth-quarter and 2018 fiscal year reports, released Thursday. Gap Inc. also revealed plans to spin off Old Navy, a brand it established in 1994, into a separate publicly traded entity, as well as to rebrand itself under a yet-to-be-determined name. In explaining their reasoning behind the split, company leaders cited a growing divergence between the customer bases, operating strategies and value-creation mechanisms of Gap and Old Navy, with the latter outperforming the former. According to The Wall Street Journal, Old Navy accounted for nearly half of Gap Inc.’s total 2018 sales of $16.6 billion. The new company will carry Gap-brand apparel in addition to clothing lines from sister brands like Athleta and Banana Republic. The two companies will trade under different ticker symbols and have separate management and leadership structures, as well as distinct financial profiles, company executives said. The company estimates that the closures of the 230 stores — roughly 20 percent of its total global store count— will result in approximately $625 million in annualized sales losses. Additionally, the company estimates …

March 1, 2019

Acquisitions Florida Industrial North Carolina South Carolina Southeast Top Stories

Graham Commercial Properties Acquires 16 Distribution Centers in Southeast for $194M

by Alex Tostado February 28, 2019

BIRMINGHAM, ALA. — Graham Commercial Properties (GCP) has acquired a distribution center portfolio that encompasses 16 facilities, 2.7 million square feet and three states in the Southeast for $194 million. The assets are located in Spartanburg, S.C.; Charlotte and Winston-Salem, N.C.; and Tampa and Orlando, Fla. The exact locations were not disclosed, but a press release stated the properties average 170,000 square feet and are situated near interstates, airports, rail and both inland and sea ports. The portfolio was 98 percent leased at the time of the sale and the portfolio has a combined 1.5 million square feet of expansion and development capabilities, according to Birmingham, Ala.-based GCP. “The Southeast distribution portfolio improves GCP’s overall portfolio in every category: quality of tenants, building metrics, geography and lease rollover,” says Taylor Graham, vice president of investments for GCP. “We are excited to increase our holdings in the Carolinas to over 30 percent of the total portfolio.” CBRE represented the privately owned buyer in the transaction. The seller was not disclosed. Wells Fargo provided acquisition financing. GCP’s portfolio now spans 11.7 million square feet across Alabama, Georgia, Florida and North and South Carolina. — Alex Tostado

February 28, 2019

Acquisitions Alabama Florida Michigan Midwest Multifamily Northeast Pennsylvania Southeast Student Housing Texas Top Stories

Vie Management, Middle Eastern Investor Acquire 2,059-Bed Student Housing Portfolio in Six States for $134.6M

by David Cohen February 27, 2019

MIAMI— A joint venture between Miami-based Vie Management and a Middle Eastern asset manager have acquired a six-property student housing portfolio totaling 911 units and 2,059 beds. The purchase price was $134.6 million. The properties are located in six states and include: University Downs Apartments and Condos, a 222-unit property serving the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. University View, a 55-unit property serving Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Florida. Hillcrest Oakwood Apartments, a 224-unit property serving Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Michigan. Colonie Apartments, a 184-unit property serving the University at Buffalo in Amherst, New York. Southgate Apartments, a 151-unit property serving Penn State University in State College, Pennsylvania. Ella Lofts, a 75-unit property serving Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas. “These acquisitions are new canvases to us,” says Ari Rosenblum, CEO of Vie. “[The are] places to create experiential living environments where students can watch live music, study at a coffee shop, or work out at the best gym in town all within the confines of the community in which they live.” Claudio Sgobba of HFF represented the buyers in securing a $75.3 million loan in connection with the acquisition. The financing features a 10-year term, …

February 27, 2019

Acquisitions District of Columbia Hospitality Southeast Top Stories

Pebblebrook Hotel Trust Sells Hotel in D.C. for $141.5M

by John Nelson February 26, 2019

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Pebblebrook Hotel Trust (NYSE: PEB) has closed on the sale of Hotel Palomar Washington DC, a 335-room hotel located at 2121 P St. N.W. in Washington, D.C.’s Dupont Circle neighborhood. An undisclosed buyer purchased the hotel for $141.5 million. According to Pebblebrook, the sales price reflects a cap rate of 5.9 percent based on the hotel’s 2018 net operating income. The Bethesda, Md.-based hotel REIT will use proceeds from the sale for general business purposes, which may include reducing the company’s outstanding debt. San Francisco-based Kimpton manages Hotel Palomar, which features an outdoor pool and sundeck, spa services, 24-hour fitness center, business center, bike sharing services and Urbana, an onsite Italian restaurant. Pebblebrook has been on a selling spree for its Washington, D.C., hotels. Last week, the company sold The Liaison Capitol Hill, a 343-room hotel, to REIT Bldg Management Co. Inc. for $111 million. According to Washington Business Journal, Pebblebrook is currently marketing three Kimpton-managed hotels it owns near Dupont Circle. In an investor presentation posted yesterday, Pebblebrook disclosed that its Washington, D.C., hotels comprise 7 percent of the company’s 2018 EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization). Pebblebrook announced last year its intent to …

February 26, 2019

Acquisitions Georgia Industrial New Jersey Northeast Pennsylvania Southeast Texas Top Stories

Colony Industrial Sells Four-State, 2.3 MSF Industrial Portfolio for $136M

by Kristin Harlow February 25, 2019

DALLAS — Colony Industrial has sold a light industrial portfolio spanning 2.3 million square feet across four states for $136 million. Nuveen Real Estate, a subsidiary of TIAA, purchased the properties. The sale includes 18 buildings in Atlanta, five in Dallas, five in Houston and six buildings spread across Pennsylvania and New Jersey. CBRE National Partners represented Dallas-based Colony Industrial in the sale. Colony Industrial is the industrial platform of Colony Capital Inc. (NYSE: CLNY), a real estate investment firm with $44 billion of assets under management. “We’ve owned and operated these assets for some time and the portfolio value had achieved Colony Industrial’s targets,” says Lew Friedland, managing director at Colony Capital and head of Colony Industrial. “We reevaluate the portfolio as opportunities arise, and this sale to Nuveen enables us to rebalance our property mix to align with our long-term strategic plans.” Nuveen is an investment manager that maintains its international headquarters in New York. — Kristin Hiller

February 25, 2019

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