Top Stories

Brixmor Property Group Acquires 404,000 SF Shopping Center in Ann Arbor for $102M

by Katie Sloan March 7, 2017

ANN ARBOR, MICH. — Brixmor Property Group (NYSE: BRX) has acquired Arborland Center, a 404,000-square-foot, grocery-anchored shopping center located in Ann Arbor, for $102 million. The property is located between the University of Michigan and Eastern Michigan University at 3600 Washtenaw Ave. Kroger anchors the center, which is also home to tenants including DSW, Old Navy, Marshalls, Maurices, Nordstrom Rack, Starbucks Coffee, Ulta Beauty, Bed Bath & Beyond, Petco and Five Below. The property was previously owned by Stamford, Conn.-based AmCap Inc. and was roughly 96 percent occupied at the time of sale, according to reports by Crain’s Detroit Business. With this acquisition, Brixmor owns four assets totaling over 1 million square feet in metro Ann Arbor. The company’s stock price closed on Monday, March 6, at $22.30 per share, down from $24.04 a year ago. — Katie Sloan

March 7, 2017

Features Multifamily Top Stories

Interest Rates Are Top Concern for Multifamily Professionals, Capital One Survey Finds

by John Nelson March 7, 2017

BETHESDA, MD. — Concern over potential interest rate hikes is tempering optimism in the multifamily market, according to a recent survey conducted by Capital One Multifamily Finance. Capital One conducted the survey during the NMHC 2017 conference in San Diego in late January. The survey gauges emerging trends and industry insights from multifamily real estate professionals across the country. About 51 percent of multifamily professionals consider rising interest rates to be their biggest challenge in 2017, more than double the 25 percent of respondents who cited rising costs as their greatest concern. Only 5 percent of those surveyed anticipate potential regulation to be their biggest challenge this year. (Percentages are based on 95 responses.) These interest rate concerns may signal the end of the current cycle for the multifamily market as 50 percent of those surveyed believe the market has entered the last few legs of the race, while only 7 percent feel the cycle is in its early stages. Despite market sentiment, significantly more respondents anticipate being buyers than sellers in 2017; 51 percent said that they anticipate being buyers, while 23 percent anticipate being sellers. “While more industry professionals expect to be buyers than sellers in 2017, increasing …

March 7, 2017

Indiana Retail Top Stories

Growth of E-Commerce Sales, Intense Competition Lead to hhgregg Store Closures

by Taylor Williams March 6, 2017

INDIANAPOLIS — Electronics and home appliances retailer hhgregg’s Inc.’s decision last week to close 88 stores — or roughly 40 percent of its total outlets — and three distribution facilities over the next two months came in the wake of a rough financial stretch for the company. Net sales decreased 23.7 percent on a year-over-year basis during the company’s most recent fiscal quarter, which ended Dec. 31, 2016, and the gross operating margin declined 4.1 percent. The net loss for the quarter was roughly $58.3 million, despite the fact that this period encompassed the holidays. The company was recently delisted from the New York Stock Exchange for failing to meet minimum requirements. Most commonly, delisting occurs when a security trades below $1 per share for 30 consecutive business days; hhgregg had not closed at or above this level since Jan. 9 of this year As a supplier of consumer goods that span several different sectors, hhgregg has been hit equally hard by the rising popularity of e-commerce and competition from other multichannel retailers like Walmart and Home Depot, both of which have enjoyed upward-trending stock prices throughout the year’s early stages. Its electronics division, in particular, was hit hard by this …

March 6, 2017

Midwest Mixed-Use Nebraska Top Stories

Jasper Stone Plans $1.2B Mixed-Use Development in Omaha

by Kristin Harlow March 3, 2017

OMAHA, NEB. — Jasper Stone Partners has received preliminary governmental approval for Avenue One, a $1.2 billion mixed-use development in west Omaha. The Omaha Planning Board unanimously approved the nearly 200-acre project this week, according to the Omaha World-Herald, the local daily newspaper. Avenue One will be located south of 192nd and Dodge streets. The development will feature office, retail, residential, hotel and civic spaces, as well as public green spaces and walking trails. Jasper Stone plans to break ground later this year on the project, which will consist of 1.3 million square feet of office and retail space, and more than 2,000 residential units. Phase I of construction is slated for completion in late 2018. Avenue One will be one of the largest projects of its kind in Omaha and is expected to have an annual economic impact of more than $1 billion, according to a news release from the developers. Jasper Stone is working with Block Real Estate Services LLC during the master planning phase. Other participants in the project include HOK for architecture and land planning, Omaha-based Olsson and Associates for engineering and design, Pansing Hogan Ernst & Bachman and Husch Blackwell for legal services and Pinnacle …

March 3, 2017

Mixed-Use North Carolina Office Southeast Top Stories

Bissell Sells Ballantyne Office Portfolio in Charlotte to Northwood Investors for $1B

by John Nelson March 2, 2017

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Bissell Cos. Inc. has completed the sale of most of its interests in Ballantyne Corporate Park, a 535-acre, master-planned business community in Charlotte, to Northwood Investors, a global real estate investment and management firm. Northwood will acquire over 4 million square feet of Class A office space and nearly 600 hotel rooms within the development, including The Ballantyne Hotel Charlotte. Terms of the sale were not released, but the Charlotte Business Journal reports that the sale closed in more than 40 separate transactions totaling in excess of $1 billion. Current office tenants at Ballantyne Corporate Park include MetLife, Wells Fargo, Premier, TIAA, Liberty Mutual, Snyder’s-Lance, Synchrony Financial, Sonic Automotive, XPO Logistics and Siemens. “What Smoky Bissell and the Bissell team have created in Ballantyne Corporate Park is remarkable,” says John Kukral, president and CEO of Northwood Investors. “We are excited that the Bissell team will join Northwood and help lead the next phase of Ballantyne Corporate Park. This transaction represents one of our largest acquisitions to date and reinforces our commitment to Charlotte.” Northwood has been an active investor in the Charlotte market since 2011, when Northwood and David Ravin formed Northwood Ravin, a multifamily development …

March 2, 2017

Features Healthcare Top Stories

Strong Demographic Trends Drive Investment Activity in Medical Ofﬁce, Says Marcus & Millichap

by John Nelson March 2, 2017

As the 65-and-older age segment increases by 20 million individuals over the next 10 years, demand for healthcare services will rise, which attracts investors to the long-term growth potential of medical office real estate. Institutional funds and REITs are actively searching for larger healthcare deals and portfolios, and private capital is emerging as a major option in the $5 million to $20 million-price range and could begin to take a larger share of transactions this year, according to Marcus & Millichap’s National Medical Office Research report. A rise in crossover capital is also increasing competition for medical ofﬁce properties as single-tenant retail investors target similar investment opportunities in this segment for higher yields. For-sale inventory is limited as medical ofﬁce assets are in high demand with cap rates compressing over the past several years. On-campus medical ofﬁce buildings command top cap rates, trading at sub-6 percent initial yields for single-tenant properties, while multi-tenant buildings draw ﬁrst-year returns in the mid-6 to low-7 percent range, according to the report. Off-campus medical ofﬁce properties with strong tenancy, which often include a healthcare system and long remaining lease terms, are in high demand. These properties fetch initial returns in the mid-6 percent area. …

March 2, 2017

Arizona Hospitality Top Stories Western

DiamondRock Acquires L’Auberge, Orchards Inn Resorts in Arizona for $97M

by Nellie Day March 1, 2017

SEDONA, ARIZ. — DiamondRock Hospitality Co. (NYSE: DRH) has purchased the 88-room L’Auberge de Sedona and the adjacent 70-room Orchards Inn Sedona for a total of $97 million. The resorts are situated in the Red Rock region of Sedona on the banks of Oak Creek, just south of Flagstaff. DiamondRock plans to reposition the resorts through a $5 million capital investment plan, which will enhance the luxury cottages at L’Auberge, among other improvements. The renovations will be completed during the off seasons over the next two years for minimal disruptions. “This acquisition represents a rare opportunity to own two high-quality resort properties in a coveted, high-barrier-to-entry resort market,” says Mark Brugger, DiamondRock’s president and CEO. “While we believe the initial pricing of the deal is attractive, we have identified significant opportunities to increase profitability.” About $14 million has been invested in the resorts, its guest rooms and restaurants since 2015. Sedona is one of the highest growth markets in the U.S. hospitality industry, DiamondRock notes, with RevPAR (revenue per available room) increasing 11.3 percent in 2016. L’Auberge includes dining options Cress on Oak Creek and Etch Kitchen & Bar, while Orchards Inn features 89Agave Mexican restaurant, among other casual dining …

March 1, 2017

California Colorado Multifamily Top Stories Western

Lyon Living Receives $388.4M in Freddie Mac Loans to Refinance Multifamily Portfolio in California, Colorado

by Katie Sloan February 28, 2017

NEWPORT BEACH, CALIF. — Lyon Living has received $388.4 million in loans to refinance a seven-property multifamily portfolio located in California and Colorado. The 2,152-unit portfolio consists of Trabuco Highlands in Trabuco Canyon, Calif.; The Vineyards in Anaheim, Calif.; The Arbors in Lake Forest, Calif.; Sedona in Placentia, Calif.; Monarch Coast in Dana Point, Calif.; Capistrano Pointe in San Juan Capistrano, Calif.; and Autumn Chase in Highlands Ranch, Colo. The portfolio was 94 percent leased at the time of financing. Charles Halladay, Sebastian Trujillo and Lauren LaFever of HFF worked on behalf of Lyon Living to secure the financing in seven separate loans placed with Freddie Mac’s CME Program. HFF will service the securitized loans, each of which has a fixed-rate term of 10 years with a minimum five years of interest-only payments. Loan proceeds were used to refinance expiring debt on the properties. Newport Beach-based Lyon Living develops, owns and operates a portfolio of multifamily communities in California, Colorado, Georgia and Florida. — Katie Sloan

February 28, 2017

Features Mixed-Use Top Stories

AIA’s First Architecture Billings Index for 2017 Slips into Negative Territory

by John Nelson February 28, 2017

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The first Architecture Billings Index (ABI) of the year slipped below the positive mark, reflecting a decline in demand for design activity at architecture firms. The American Institute of Architects (AIA) reported the January ABI score was 49.5, down from a very strong 55.6 in December 2016. The score reflects a decrease in design activity, with any score above 50 indicating an increase in billings. The new projects inquiry index was 60.0, up from a reading of 57.6 the previous month, and the design contracts index, which is an early indicator of construction contract awards, was also positive with a mark of 52.1. Given the positive showing for the new projects inquiry and design contracts indices, Kermit Baker, AIA’s chief economist, isn’t too concerned about the ABI starting 2017 in the negative territory. “This small decrease in activity, taking into consideration strong readings in project inquiries and new design contracts, isn’t exactly a cause for concern,” says Baker. “The fundamentals of a sound nonresidential design and construction market persist.” Regionally, the West was the only geographic region with a negative showing (48.8). The South led the way with a 54.2 mark, followed by the Northeast (53.0) and …

February 28, 2017

Office Southeast Top Stories Virginia

Meridian Group Purchases 763,965 SF Office Portfolio in Metro D.C. for $227M

by Taylor Williams February 27, 2017

MCLEAN, VA. — The Meridian Group has purchased Tysons Metro Center, a 763,965-square-foot development of Class A office space in McLean’s Tysons district, roughly 17 miles west of Washington, D.C., from an affiliate of Beacon Capital Partners for $227 million. The portfolio consists of four buildings: Tysons Metro Center I, a 168,006-sqaure-foot, 12-story building constructed in 1984 and renovated in 2012, features a rooftop terrace with outdoor seating, a fitness center and an on-site deli; Tysons Metro Center II, A 129,926-square-foot, six-story property built in 2002 and revamped in 2015, offers an exterior patio and a lounge and gaming center for workplace collaboration; Tysons Metro Center III, a 257,824-square-foot, 12-story site that was erected in 1980 and underwent $18.1 million in improvements in 2014, boasts a 2,800-square-foot café and locker rooms with showers; Tysons Metro Center IV, a 208,219-square-foot, 13-story building, was built in 1999 and later renovated. The four buildings share several amenities, most notably a tenants-only sports court equipped for basketball, short-court tennis and volleyball. The properties span the 8251-8285 stretch of Greensboro Drive, close to the Greensboro Metro station and two malls, Tysons Galleria and Tysons Corner Center. The complex is adjacent to two properties already owned …

February 27, 2017

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