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OXON HILL, MD. — Sphere Entertainment Co. (NYSE: SPHR), the owner and operator of the Sphere venue in Las Vegas that opened in 2023, is partnering with locally based developer Peterson Cos. for a smaller Sphere venue in National Harbor, a waterfront neighborhood in the Washington, D.C., suburb of Oxon Hill. The planned project represents the second Sphere entertainment venue in the United States and third in the world following the future Sphere’s completion in Abu Dhabi. “Our focus has always been on creating a global network of Spheres across forward-looking cities,” says James Dolan, executive chairman and CEO of Sphere Entertainment. The site for Sphere at National Harbor overlooks the Potomac River and would complement other National Harbor mainstays such as MGM National Harbor, a $1.4 billion casino that opened in 2016, Capital Wheel, Gaylord National Resort and Topgolf. The more than 300-acre National Harbor district welcomes approximately 15 million visitors nationally. At full completion, the Sphere venue will feature the Exosphere, which is the Sphere’s programmable LED exterior display, as well as 6,000 seats for concerts, immersive movie presentations and other events. The new venue’s seating volume represents about a third of the 18,600-seat capacity at the Sphere …

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Cirrus-Redwood-City

MOUNTAIN VIEW, REDWOOD CITY AND SUNNYVALE, CALIF., AND SEATTLE — Interstate Equities Corp. (IEC), in partnership with PGIM, has acquired a portfolio of four multifamily properties totaling 574 units in Silicon Valley and Seattle. The sales price was $272 million. The seller was not disclosed. The properties, all of which were built between 1987 and 2015 and offer amenities such as fitness centers, pools, dog parks, business centers and outdoor grilling and dining stations, are collectively known as the mResidences Portfolio. They include: IEC plans to implement strategic value-add improvements and amenity enhancements designed to optimize operations and improve net operating income across the assets. The deal is structured with PGIM holding a majority of the equity interest, while IEC retains a minority. “This acquisition reflects a disciplined, risk-aware approach to capital deployment, with a focus on assets positioned to perform through the full hold period,” says Brendan Gibney, director of investments at IEC. “In Silicon Valley and South Lake Union, structural supply constraints, elevated replacement costs and durable employment fundamentals provide meaningful downside protection for occupancy, while strong rent momentum in the Bay Area supports continued rent growth across the cycle.” — Amy Works and Taylor Williams

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535-545-Fifth-Avenue

NEW YORK CITY — The Moinian Group has received a $310 million loan for the refinancing of 535-545 Fifth Avenue, a two-building office and retail property located near Grand Central Terminal in Midtown Manhattan. Deutsche Bank and Société Générale co-funded the loan, while Drew Anderman, Eddie Haber, AJ Bruno and Jared Fried of CBRE represented The Moinian Group in the debt placement process according to CoStar Group. “This refinancing underscores the value of prime Fifth Avenue assets and our disciplined approach to asset management,” says Joseph Moinian, founder & CEO of The Moinian Group. “We are pleased to secure attractive financing that positions the property for continued long-term success.” Situated between East 44th and East 45th streets, both buildings underwent renovations in 2009, with Gensler serving as the architect. Known for its pre-war architecture, the 36-story structure at 535 Fifth Avenue was originally completed in 1927. Spanning 329,733 square feet, the complex is occupied by several corporations, financial institutions, law firms and service organizations.  Located adjacent to the first office building, 545 Fifth Avenue rises 13 stories tall and totals roughly 165,000 square feet of space. The building offers additional ground-floor retail space that houses tenants such as Best Buy and …

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401 N. Michigan Ave.

CHICAGO — Real estate investment firm Real Capital Solutions (RCS) has acquired 401 N. Michigan Ave., a Class A office tower in Chicago, for $132.5 million.  Situated on the Chicago River’s north bank along the city’s Magnificent Mile, the property totals 35 stories and 747,522 square feet. According to RCS, the acquisition price represents a 77.8 percent discount relative to replacement cost.  The seller was not disclosed, but Crain’s Chicago Business reports that a joint venture led by locally based Walton Street Capital sold the tower. The news outlet also reports that the transaction represents the highest sales price for a Chicago office tower since 2022. 401 N. Michigan was roughly 87 percent leased at the time of sale. Tenants of the building include the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, the American Dental Association, Scion and private equity firm BDT & MSD Partners.  Since 2023, more than 275,000 square feet of leasing activity has been executed at the property. The building also recently underwent $17 million in renovations, including improvements to the lobby and amenity spaces.  “The acquisition of 401 N. Michigan represents a rare opportunity to secure a top-performing, institutional office tower in an irreplaceable riverfront location,” says Adam Abeln, chief …

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NEW YORK CITY — Saks Global Holdings LLC, the owner of luxury retailers such as Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman, has filed for voluntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas. The company secured a financing commitment of approximately $1.75 billion, comprising $1.5 billion from an ad hoc group of the company’s senior secured bondholders and roughly $240 million of incremental liquidity from its asset-based lenders. Saks Global says the financing package will strengthen its balance sheet and position the company for “a strong and stable future.” In addition, Saks Global has appointed Geoffroy van Raemdonck as CEO, effective immediately. Van Raemdonck, who previously served as CEO of Neiman Marcus Group prior to its acquisition by Saks Global in 2024, succeeds Richard Baker, who stepped down from his role as executive chairman and CEO of Saks Global, effective Jan. 13. Van Raemdonck is expanding Saks Global’s senior leadership team, appointing industry veterans and former Neiman Marcus Group leaders. “This is a defining moment for Saks Global, and the path ahead presents a meaningful opportunity to strengthen the foundation of our business and position it for the future,” says van …

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BATAVIA, ILL. — Aldi, a German discount, small-format grocer, plans to open 180 new stores across 31 states this year. By the end of the year, Aldi will operate approximately 2,800 U.S. grocery stores, including its first Maine location in Portland and 10 new stores in the metro Phoenix area. The grocer has operated stores in the United States for 50 years and has gained a loyal following in recent years as the demand for discount grocery items increases in the face of inflation. The company disclosed that 17 million Americans shopped at Aldi for the first time in 2025. “One in three U.S. households shopped at Aldi this past year, and in 2026, we’re focused on making it even easier for customers to shop our aisles first,” says Atty McGrath, CEO of Aldi U.S. Aldi, whose U.S. headquarters is in Batavia, plans to continue its expansion over the next five years in the Southeast and West regions. In the Southeast, Aldi continues to convert former Winn-Dixie retail locations following Aldi’s acquisition of Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket from Southeastern Grocers in 2023. Aldi plans to reposition 80 former Winn-Dixie stores by the end of the year and 200 total by 2027. …

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DrinkPAK-Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA — California-based canned beverage manufacturer DrinkPAK has signed a 1.4 million-square-foot industrial lease at The Bellwether District, a 1,300-acre logistics campus in South Philadelphia. The Bellwether District is a redevelopment of the former Philadelphia Energy Solutions refinery campus that can support traditional industrial uses, as well as life sciences and manufacturing uses. Hilco Redevelopment Partners (HRP) is the master developer of The Bellwether District. Jim Belcher, Nick Pickard, Stephen Cook and Mike Spaeder of Newmark represented DrinkPAK in the lease negotiations. According to the Newmark’s analysis of CoStar Group’s data, the deal represents one of the largest industrial transactions in the history of the Philadelphia market and the largest lease since 2020. “DrinkPAK’s commitment at The Bellwether District represents a defining moment for both the project and the region,” says Pickard. “This type of investment brings significant upside to greater Philadelphia, fueling job creation, supply chain expansion and regional economic growth.” Newmark also recently represented DrinkPAK in its negotiations for a pair of industrial lease expansions totaling 2.9 million square feet in Fort Worth. — Taylor Williams

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1540-Broadway

NEW YORK CITY — A partnership between GFP Real Estate and BDT & MSD Partners has invested $150 million to redevelop 1540 Broadway, a 907,000-square-foot office tower in the Times Square area of Midtown Manhattan. The transformation is intended to reframe the original tower, which was completed in 1990 and designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. Renovations are expected to be complete by late 2026. “Our shared vision is to create a workplace that is purposeful, well-crafted and thoughtfully executed, raising expectations for what defines a leading New York City office tower,” says Brian Steinwurtzel, co-CEO and principal of GFP Real Estate. “This is a full reintroduction of the building.” Affiliates of Apollo (NYSE: APO) will provide financing for the project, while GFP Real Estate will oversee operations with BDT & MSD. JLL will serve as the leasing agent for the building. Designed by Fogarty Finger, the renovation will feature extensive interior improvements and the inclusion of more than 45,000 square feet of amenities across two levels of the building. A 27,000-square-foot “amenity hub,” located on the eighth floor, will comprise upgraded wellness facilities, a reimagined fitness center, new locker rooms, a dedicated recovery and movement zone and enhanced communal areas. …

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77-Park-Avenue_Hoboken-N.J

LOS ANGELES — Real estate investment firm JRK Property Holdings has announced its acquisition of a portfolio of three multifamily properties for $400 million. The portfolio includes apartment communities located in Seattle; Hoboken, N.J.; and Los Angeles totaling 803 units. The seller was Equity Residential (NYSE: EQR), a Chicago-based multifamily REIT. Centennial in Seattle features 408 units, 77 Park Avenue in Hoboken comprises 301 units, and C on Pico in Los Angeles totals 94 units. According to Trulia.com, C on Pico offers two-bedroom units, with monthly rental rates beginning at $3,325.  Monthly rental rates at 77 Park Avenue begin at $3,655, according to Zillow.com.  Rachel Parsons, Derrek Ostrzyzek and Kenji Thomas of CBRE represented Equity Residential in the transaction. Ryan Greer, also with CBRE, arranged an undisclosed amount of acquisition financing for the deal on behalf of JRK. “These recent acquisitions exemplify the type of high-quality, well-located assets we continue to target in today’s market,” says Daniel Lippman, president of JRK. “We believe the multifamily sector has reached an inflection point whereby we can acquire assets at a unique time where new supply subsides and long-term fundamentals remain strong. These dynamics create a compelling backdrop that gave us the conviction to …

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WASHINGTON, D.C. — Nuveen Green Capital (NGC) has provided $465 million in C-PACE financing for The Geneva, an office-to-residential conversion project in Washington, D.C. The transaction represents the largest Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) financing in history as well as D.C.’s largest office-to-residential conversion to date, according to NGC. The borrower, Philadelphia-based developer Post Brothers, also received a $110 million senior loan from investment firm Mavik, bringing total financing to $575 million. The project’s overall price tag is $750 million, according to The Wall Street Journal. Located at 1825-1875 Connecticut Ave. NW, the 604,000-square-foot office property is comprised of two nine-story towers at the confluence of D.C.’s upscale Kalorama, Dupont Circle and Adams Morgan neighborhoods. The property will be converted into a 15-story luxury apartment building with 429 market-rate units, 42 extended-stay rentals, 61 affordable housing units and 57,000 square feet of commercial space. A timeline for construction was not provided. The $465 million in C-PACE financing was administered through DC Green Bank, which serves as the administrator of the DC PACE program on behalf of the District of Columbia. The DC PACE program is a special financing option for renewable energy projects such as solar, energy efficiency upgrades …

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