Top Stories

Google to Invest $1B for Manhattan Campus, Double New York Workforce Over Next Decade

by John Nelson December 18, 2018

NEW YORK CITY — Search engine giant Google (NASDAQ: GOOGL) plans to invest $1 billion to create a new office campus in Manhattan’s Hudson Square district. Situated just south of West Village, the 1.7 million-square-foot campus is a crucial next step for the company’s goal to double its New York workforce to 14,000 over the next 10 years. Google has signed two leases and a letter of intent to establish the campus, to be named Google Hudson Square. The tech firm will occupy 315 and 345 Hudson St. beginning in 2020 and move into 550 Washington St. when it wraps up construction in 2022. The campus will be the primary location for the company’s New York-based Global Business Organization. The site is located near Pier 40 at Hudson River Park and the Holland Tunnel. According to the owner of 315 Hudson, Jack Resnick & Sons, Google will occupy five full floors and portions of another at the 500,000-square-foot building. Google’s new 280,000-square-foot office space will feature open workspaces, a café, rooftop garden and event space. CBRE represented Google and Newmark Knight Frank represented the owner in the lease transaction, which brings the redeveloped office building to full occupancy. Google will …

December 18, 2018

Loans Midwest Office Ohio Top Stories

Berkadia Arranges $100M Refinancing for Ernst & Young Office Building in Downtown Cleveland

by Taylor Williams December 17, 2018

CLEVELAND — Berkadia has arranged a $100 million refinancing of the Ernst & Young Office Tower, a 23-story property in downtown Cleveland.The Class A building is located at 950 Main Ave. and totals 465,000 square feet. Onsite amenities include garage parking, a dry cleaner, a fitness center and concierge services. According to LoopNet Inc., the property has a Walk Score of 85 (out of 100) due to its proximity to numerous downtown restaurants, a commuter rail and Cleveland’s waterfront district. Ernst & Young, a London-based accounting firm, moved into the building upon its completion in 2013, occupying the top six floors. The building was 95 percent leased at the time of the loan closing to other tenants such as law firm Tucker Ellis and Wells Fargo, which houses its regional Cleveland office in the building. Ernst & Young Tower also adjoins a 150-room Starwood Aloft Hotel. Mark Vogel and Eric Bevilacqua of Berkadia arranged the financing through J.P. Morgan with mezzanine debt from Axonic Capital LLC. The borrower was The Wolstein Group, an Ohio-based development and investment firm.The two-year permanent refinancing features an adjustable interest rate, three one-year extension options, an 80 percent loan-to-value ratio and interest-only payments. — Taylor …

December 17, 2018

California Development Multifamily Student Housing Top Stories Western

University Student Living Receives $575M Construction Financing for UC Davis Student Housing Project

by Kristin Harlow December 14, 2018

DAVIS, CALIF. — University Student Living LLC has received $575 million in construction financing for a major expansion of the on-campus housing at the University of California, Davis. The project will add approximately 3,300 beds to the university’s West Village. The developer expects to deliver the first 1,000 beds by the start of the 2020 academic year. The $575 million in project costs will come from the proceeds of a tax-exempt bond issue, the largest ever in the country for a single project, according to the developer. The new complex, set on 34 acres, will comprise nine four-story apartment buildings along with indoor and outdoor community space and recreational fields. A 10,000-square-foot community building will house a fitness center, multipurpose room and student support services. The development team includes general contractor CBG Building Co. and architect Stantec. When complete, the new apartment communities at West Village will be owned by the non-profit Collegiate Housing Foundation, which will hold the ground lease from the University of California. Once the community is operational, the staff and resident life programming will be under the direction of the university, while University Student Living will provide property and facility management. University Student Living has planned a …

December 14, 2018

Development Office Texas Top Stories

Apple to Invest $1B in Austin Campus, Create New Sites in California, Seattle

by Alex Tostado December 13, 2018

AUSTIN, TEXAS — Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) will expand its operations in Austin by building a $1 billion campus in North Austin, the Cupertino, Calif.-based company announced Thursday morning. The new campus will be located less than one mile from existing facilities, though the exact site and development timeline were not disclosed. Apple officials said the 133-acre campus is expected to initially employ 5,000 new workers with the potential to house 15,000 employees, which Apple says would make it the largest private employer in Austin. The jobs to be created will be in engineering, research and development, operations, finance, sales and customer support. “Apple is proud to bring new investment, jobs and opportunity to cities across the United States and to significantly deepen our quarter-century partnership with the city and people of Austin,” says Apple CEO Tim Cook. “Talent, creativity and tomorrow’s breakthrough ideas aren’t limited by region or ZIP code, and, with this new expansion, we’re redoubling our commitment to cultivating the high-tech sector and workforce nationwide.” The Austin Business Journal reports that the Texas capital is the second-largest hub for Apple outside company headquarters. A recent report by Yardi Systems Inc. pegged Apple as one of Austin’s largest office landlords with …

December 13, 2018

Acquisitions Michigan Midwest Ohio Retail Top Stories

Sherwin Williams to Sell, Lease Back More than 100 Stores for $150M

by David Cohen December 12, 2018

BLOOMFIELD HILLS, MICH. — The Sherwin-Williams Co. (NYSE: SHW) has agreed to a sale-leaseback transaction with net lease REIT Agree Realty Corp. (NYSE: ADC) for more than 100 retail properties. Agree will pay more than $150 million for the portfolio. The transaction is expected to close on or before the end of December. The undisclosed properties are located in more than 25 states. The five states with the largest concentration of properties include Florida, New York, North Carolina, Texas and Georgia. “We are pleased to have entered into this agreement with Sherwin-Williams,” said Joey Agree, President of Agree Realty Corp. “This unique transaction is incremental to our operating strategy, demonstrates additional differentiated capabilities and further solidifies the strength of our first-class real estate portfolio.” Bloomfield Hills-based Agree Realty Corp. currently owns and operates a portfolio of 537 properties in 45 states for a total of 10.6 million square feet of gross leasable space. Cleveland, Ohio-based Sherwin-Williams was founded in 1866 and is a leader in the manufacture, development, distribution, and sale of paints, coatings and related products to professional, industrial, commercial, and retail customers. The company operates more than 4,900 retail stores across the United States. Sherwin Williams’ stock price closed …

December 12, 2018

Acquisitions California Office Top Stories Western

CBS to Sell Television City Campus in Los Angeles to Hackman Capital for $750M

by John Nelson December 11, 2018

LOS ANGELES — CBS Corp. (NYSE: CBS) has signed a definitive agreement for the sale of its landmark CBS Television City property and sound stage operation in Los Angeles. Hackman Capital Partners, a Los Angeles-based real estate developer, is purchasing the 25-acre campus from the mass media company for $750 million. As part of the agreement, Hackman Capital will have the rights to use the Television City trademark in connection with its operations on the property. CBS programs including “The Late Late Show With James Corden,” “The Price is Right” and “The Young and The Restless” will continue to be produced on the Television City campus for at least the next five years. CBS will also retain office space for CBS Studios International’s U.S. headquarters and other company departments currently housed on the site. The transaction is expected to close in early 2019. The Los Angeles Times reported that CBS has been considering selling its studio complex since 2017 to capture increased value for developers looking to build in the Fairfax area. The campus features surface parking that Hackman Capital could redevelop, according to the newspaper. Joseph Ianniello, president and acting CEO of CBS Corp. says the company will use …

December 11, 2018

Acquisitions Massachusetts Northeast Office Top Stories

Joint Venture Acquires 1.2 MSF Boston Office Property for $845M

by Taylor Williams December 10, 2018

BOSTON — A joint venture between Allianz Real Estate, Beacon Capital Partners and the Massachusetts Pension Reserves Investment Management (PRIM) Board has acquired 53 State Street, a 1.2 million-square-foot office property in Boston’s Financial District. The sales price was $845 million. The Class A property, known locally as Exchange Place, comprises the historic Boston Stock Exchange building that was completed in 1891 and a 40-story office tower that was built in 1985. The building also features ground-floor retail space. The seller of 53 State Street, which was 93 percent leased at the time of sale, was not disclosed. The property features a seven-story, glass-enclosed atrium and an outdoor arcade with seating areas along Congress Street. Amenities include a rooftop deck, fitness center and conferencing facilities. “Allianz recognizes this acquisition is a unique opportunity to expand into Boston and to continue to diversify our investors’ portfolio,” says Christoph Donner, CEO of Allianz Real Estate. “Our real estate portfolio includes some of the top office buildings in the U.S., and this investment is consistent with our overall strategy to generate strong returns from Class A properties,” adds Michael Trotsky, executive director and chief investment officer of Mass PRIM. Allianz Real Estate is …

December 10, 2018

Acquisitions Florida Hospitality Southeast Top Stories

Trinity Investments, Elliott Management Acquire Grande Lakes Orlando Resort for $900M

by Kristin Harlow December 7, 2018

ORLANDO, FLA. — A joint venture between funds managed by Trinity Real Estate Investments LLC and Elliott Management Corp. has acquired the Grande Lakes Orlando Resort. Blackstone Group sold the property for $900 million, according to local media reports. The 409-acre development includes two hotels, a 582-room Ritz-Carlton and a 998-room JW Marriott. The resort also features an 18-hole golf course designed by Greg Norman, an Australian professional golfer and entrepreneur. The Grande Lakes Orlando Resort includes 278,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting space, 15 food and beverage outlets, swimming pools, sporting facilities and a 40,000-square-foot spa. Since 2015, both hotels have undergone multi-million-dollar renovation projects. Trinity and Elliott plan to implement a multi-year capital improvement plan to further enhance the resort’s offerings. In addition to guestroom renovations, plans call for upgrades to the resort’s ballroom, meeting spaces, water features and food offerings. The buyers are hoping to capitalize on Orlando’s booming tourism industry. In 2017, Orlando set a record and became the first ever U.S. destination to surpass 70 million visitors in a year, according to the city’s tourism association, Visit Orlando. Honolulu-based Trinity is a private real estate investment firm that has completed more than $4 …

December 7, 2018

Senior Care of Jacksonville in Jacksonville, Texas

Multifamily Seniors Housing Texas Top Stories

Largest Skilled Nursing Operator in Texas, Senior Care Centers, Declares Bankruptcy

by Jeff Shaw December 6, 2018

DALLAS — Senior Care Centers, a Dallas-based operator of more than 100 seniors housing communities in Texas and Louisiana, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in U.S. bankruptcy court for the Northern District of Texas. The company is the largest skilled nursing provider in Texas, but has struggled to pay its rent. Sabra Health Care REIT (NASDAQ: SBRA) and LTC Properties (NYSE: LTC) — two publicly traded real estate investment trusts that combined own 49 Senior Care Centers locations — both reported that they have not been paid in months. Senior Care Centers also received a slew of bad press last year after not evacuating residents in advance of Hurricane Harvey, which resulted in state citations and dozens of care violations. (The Category 4 hurricane made landfall along the Texas coast in August 2017.) The company reported “burdensome debt levels and expensive leases” as reasons for its bankruptcy filing. All facilities will remain open during the restructuring, and the company claims it will continue to pay all vendors and its 11,000 employees during the process. “As the entire industry has seen, the leases associated with the communities have become cost-prohibitive,” says Michael Beal, chief operating officer. “This kind of action …

December 6, 2018

Acquisitions Multifamily Southeast Top Stories Virginia

Harbor Group International Sells Three Apartment Portfolios for $700M

by David Cohen December 5, 2018

NORFOLK, VA. — Harbor Group International (HGI) has sold three apartment portfolios in Florida, Connecticut and Texas for a total of $700 million. The portfolios included seven properties totaling 2,284 units in Central Florida; two properties totaling 568 units in Connecticut; and 12 properties in Dallas and Houston totaling 3,100 units. The specific names and locations were not released. “These transactions are great examples of HGI’s ‘buy wholesale, sell retail’ investment strategy,” says T. Richard Litton Jr., president of HGI. “For all three of these portfolios, we developed individual business plans on a property-by-property basis and then sold the properties to a wide variety of buyers as each property’s investment goals were achieved.” The 21 properties were sold to a total of 15 different buyers. HGI claims the combined sales prices were $140 million higher than the company’s original acquisition price. Based in Norfolk, Harbor Group International is a private real estate investment and management firm that controls a portfolio of worldwide assets valued at $8.2 billion. The company’s real estate holdings include 3.7 million square feet of commercial properties and 30,400 apartment units. — David Cohen

December 5, 2018

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