Top Stories

Pantzer Properties, Savanna Sell 795-Unit Apartment Community in New York for $208M

by Kristin Harlow February 24, 2017

BELLPORT, N.Y. — A joint venture between Pantzer Properties Inc. and Savanna has sold Atlantic Point Apartments in Bellport, on Long Island, for $208 million. The 795-unit apartment community is located at 1220 Orchid Circle. The community was built in two phases in 2003 and 2004. Situated on 115 acres, the property comprises 137 two-story buildings totaling 183 one-bedroom, 346 two-bedroom and 266 three-bedroom apartment units. The units average 1,133 square feet. Amenities include outdoor swimming pools, tennis courts, and a two-story clubhouse with a fitness center, locker rooms, half-court basketball court, media room, business center, community room and kitchen/bar area. The property was 96 percent leased at the time of sale. Jose Cruz, Kevin O’Hearn, Michael Oliver and Stephen Simonelli of HFF represented the seller in the deal. The buyer was not disclosed. Pantzer Properties is an East Coast-based apartment owner with nearly $3 billion in real estate assets. Savanna, a real estate investment manager and institutional fiduciary based in New York City, focuses on property investments throughout the city’s five boroughs. Since 2006, the company has invested over $3 billion in properties totaling nearly 14 million square feet. —Kristin Hiller and Amy Works

February 24, 2017

Alabama Mixed-Use Southeast Top Stories

White-Spunner, Poarch Band of Creek Indians to Deliver First Phase of $500M Resort in Alabama

by John Nelson February 23, 2017

FOLEY, ALA. — White-Spunner Construction (WSC) and the Poarch Band of Creek Indians are underway on OWA, a $500 million entertainment and retail district in Foley, a town in south Alabama near the Gulf of Mexico. WSC is constructing 154,000 square feet of retail and dining space for the $240 million first phase of OWA, which is set to open this summer. Phase I of OWA will also feature a themed amusement park and a 150-room Marriott TownePlace Suites hotel. Future phases call for a water park, additional hotels and a resort-level RV park. “This will be an exciting new family-friendly destination for locals and visitors alike in Baldwin County,” says John White-Spunner, president of WSC. “We’re proud to be a part of such an innovative entertainment concept that will bring thousands of new jobs and draw more tourism to the Gulf Coast.” When completed, the OWA development is expected to generate nearly 3,500 direct and indirect jobs and draw about 1 million visitors a year. Plans call for the development to include three themed districts that offer shopping, dining and other entertainment. Located off the Foley Beach Express and County Road 20, OWA is nine miles from Gulf Shores …

February 23, 2017

Features Loans Top Stories

After Strong 2016, Commercial Lenders Prepare for a Slightly Better 2017

by Kristin Harlow February 23, 2017

SAN DIEGO — Commercial mortgage lenders, their correspondent lenders and brokers gathered this week in San Diego at the annual MBA CREF Conference held at the Manchester Grand Hyatt. The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) reports 3,200 attendees at this year’s conference, a 10 percent rise in attendance over 2015. Mortgage bankers are fresh from one of the strongest years in originations in an era that shows few signs of a slow down. While there are some possible speed bumps in 2017, many attendees were upbeat and positive about 2017 and beyond for the commercial real estate lending industry. MBA reported its results for the industry in a session with its chief economist and senior vice president of research and technology, Michael Fratantoni, and vice president, commercial real estate research, Jamie Woodwell. Volume was up in commercial mortgage lending in 2016, with a record $502 billion in originations. MBA has forecasted 2017 to have a slightly larger volume of $515 billion. MBA cites continuing strong commercial real estate fundamentals as the main reason for the predicted increase in 2017, with other factors including a strong job market and relatively low interest rates. MBA’s forecast does not include any possible economic stimulus — …

February 23, 2017

California Loans Office Top Stories Western

Natixis Provides $232.5M Loan for Acquisition of Apple’s Sunnyvale Office Complex

by Nellie Day February 22, 2017

SUNNYVALE, CALIF. — Natixis has provided a $232.5 million loan for the acquisition of Crossroads III, a 349,758-square-foot office property in Sunnyvale that is fully leased to Apple. The complex is located at 410, 420 and 430 N. Mary Ave. in the Silicon Valley submarket. Tristar Capital acquired the campus. The property was built between 1990 and 1992. Each building features two wings around one central core. There are also two courtyards with fountains between the buildings. The Santa Clara Light Rail station is situated approximately a half mile north of Crossroads III. The property also sits adjacent to the Technology Corners development along West Moffett Place Drive. Richard Horowitz of Cooper-Horowitz arranged the finance. David Edelstein heads Tristar Capital. — Nellie Day

February 22, 2017

Georgia Restaurant Retail Southeast Top Stories

Parent Company of Burger King Acquires Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen for $1.8B

by Katie Sloan February 21, 2017

ATLANTA — Restaurant Brands International Inc. (RBI) (NYSE: QSR) has agreed to acquire Atlanta-based Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen Inc. (NASDAQ: PLKI) for $1.8 billion. Ontario, Canada-based RBI is the parent company of fast food giants Burger King and Tim Hortons. The company owns a portfolio of over 20,000 restaurants throughout the world. Popeyes will continue to be managed independently in the U.S. following the close of the transaction, which is slated for April of this year. RBI plans to expand the Popeyes brand at an increasing pace in both the U.S. and international markets over the next few years. The concept, founded in New Orleans in 1972, has over 2,600 restaurants in the U.S. and 25 other countries. “Popeyes is a powerful brand with a rich Louisiana heritage that resonates with guests around the world,” says Daniel Schwartz, CEO of RBI. “With this transaction, RBI is adding a brand that has a distinctive position within a compelling segment and strong U.S. and international prospects for growth.” Under the terms of the transaction, Popeyes shareholders will receive $79 per share in cash at closing. Following the successful completion of the tender offer, RBI will acquire all remaining shares through a second-step merger …

February 21, 2017

Features Top Stories

Rising Interest Rates Top Concern for Real Estate Executives, According to Seyfarth Market Sentiment Survey

by Kristin Harlow February 21, 2017

CHICAGO — Rising interest rates continue to dominate concerns for U.S. commercial real estate executives in 2017, according to Seyfarth Shaw’s second annual survey of the commercial real estate market. Seyfarth’s 2017 Real Estate Market Sentiment Survey found that respondents are even more hawkish about interest rate increases this year (98 percent concerned) compared to last year (90 percent concerned). Of these “hawks,” 77 percent expect multiple rate increases in 2017. Other topics rounding out the top three concerns include supply/demand issues and banking regulations. Notably, political change-over and tax policy rank fourth and fifth this year, overtaking maturing CMBS loans from the previous year. Concern regarding the industry’s ability to refinance record levels of maturing CMBS loans remains strong with 86 percent of respondents expressing concern, nearly matching the 87 percent in 2016. Participants were also asked their primary source of equity for 2017, to which 36 percent of respondents indicate that institutional investors would be their primary source of equity. Comparatively, 21 percent report no engagement of third-party equity. Over two-thirds of respondents believe that the Trump presidential administration will have a positive impact on the 2017 commercial real estate market. Of those respondents, deregulation was top of …

February 21, 2017

Office Texas Top Stories

Parkway to Sell Minority Interest in Houston’s Greenway Plaza, Phoenix Tower Office Properties for $512.1M

by Jeff Shaw February 20, 2017

HOUSTON — Parkway Properties (NYSE: PKY), a Houston-based REIT, has agreed to sell 49 percent interest in Greenway Plaza and Phoenix Tower, two Class A office properties in the Greenway submarket of Houston, for $512.1 million. Ownership of the two properties will now be a joint venture between Parkway, TH Real Estate, Silverpeak Real Estate Partners and Canada Pension Plan Investment Board. Parkway will retain a 51 percent majority interest in the portfolio, with TH Real Estate and Silverpeak sharing a 24.5 percent interest, and Canada Pension Plan Investment Board owning the remaining 24.5 percent. Greenway Plaza is a 52-acre, master-planned, mixed-use development featuring 11 buildings totaling approximately 4.9 million square feet of office space as its focal point. On-site amenities include a full-service restaurant, an underground food court with 16 restaurants, multiple fitness facilities, three full-service banking centers and conference facilities. Although Phoenix Tower is technically a separate property, it’s located immediately adjacent to Greenway Plaza. The 34-story building totals 665,332 square feet and was built in 1984. Amenities include an on-site deli and a Jack Nicklaus-designed, nine-hole putting green. “This transaction helps to mitigate risk in a single office campus that represents 57 percent of our company’s overall …

February 20, 2017

Florida Industrial Southeast Top Stories

Cushman & Wakefield Brokers $67.1M Sale of Four Warehouse, Distribution Buildings in Orlando

by Katie Sloan February 17, 2017

ORLANDO, FLA. — Cushman & Wakefield has brokered the $67.1 million sale of four Class A warehouse and distribution buildings in Orlando totaling 946,379 square feet. The portfolio includes Beachline Distribution Center I and II and Crossroads Business Park V and VI. The buildings were fully leased at the time of sale to tenants including FedEx Smartpost, Dusobox, McKesson, Mattress One, Petco and US Mattress Depot. Each building offers front-load and cross-dock capabilities, tilt-wall construction, 26- to 30-foot clear heights, fire safety systems, parking and 120- to 150-foot truck courts with 55-foot concrete aprons. Mike Davis, Michael Lerner and Rick Brugge of Cushman & Wakefield represented the seller, a state pension fund advised by L&B Realty Advisors LLP. Los Angeles-based Colony NorthStar acquired the assets through its Dallas-based industrial fund, Colony Industrial. The transaction is the largest multi-tenant industrial portfolio sale in Orlando’s history in terms of square footage, according to Cushman & Wakefield. — Katie Sloan

February 17, 2017

New York Northeast Top Stories

Japanese Tech Conglomerate to Acquire Fortress Investment Group for $3.3B

by John Nelson February 16, 2017

NEW YORK AND TOKYO — SoftBank Group Corp., a Tokyo-based tech conglomerate, has entered into a definitive merger agreement under which the company will acquire equity firm Fortress Investment Group LLC (NYSE: FIG) for approximately $3.3 billion in cash. Founded in 1998, Fortress has 1,100 employees and $70.1 billion in assets under management as of Sept. 30, 2016. Private equity funds and permanent capital vehicles, including commercial real estate, comprise about 65 percent of the company’s portfolio. Within the multifamily sector, Fortress manages New Senior Investment Group Inc., a seniors housing REIT that as of Sept. 30 owned 154 properties in 37 states. “Fortress’ excellent track record speaks for itself, and we look forward to benefitting from its leadership, broad-based expertise and world-class investment platform,” says Masayoshi Son, chairman and CEO of SoftBank Group Corp. “For SoftBank, this opportunity will immediately help expand our group capabilities, and, alongside our soon-to-be-established SoftBank Vision Fund platform, will accelerate our SoftBank 2.0 transformation strategy of bold, disciplined investment and world class execution to drive sustainable long-term growth,” adds Son. SoftBank’s global portfolio of companies includes advanced telecommunications, internet services, artificial intelligence, smart robotics, clean energy technology and Internet of Things (IoT) providers. Last …

February 16, 2017

Conference Coverage Features Retail Top Stories

Building Emotional Connection to Visitors Paramount to Retail Success, Say EEE Panelists

by Katie Sloan February 16, 2017

SANTA MONICA, CALIF. — The retail landscape is changing, and the tried and true formulas for retail centers and malls are no longer cutting it. The convenience of e-commerce is cutting into purchases once almost exclusively entrusted to the local mall, and consumer tastes are evolving to demand better experiences from the centers they choose to shop at with their discretionary dollars. Those were the conclusions suggested by panelists at the third annual Entertainment Experience Evolution (EEE) conference, where over 550 retail experts and top industry players joined Shopping Center Business at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows in Santa Monica Feb. 7-8. Panelists and attendees were there to discuss the future of retail and the brightest and best upcoming trends for success in today’s changing landscape. Overwhelmingly, the conversation focused on creating an emotional connection with visitors. When it comes to discretionary purchases, shoppers seek a space where they can create memories, not just pick up merchandise and leave. This connection is attained through thoughtful placemaking, a carefully chosen mix of unique shopping and dining, the hosting of community events and the creation of an environment through lighting, music and landscaping. Creating Memory-Making Destinations After opening remarks by Jerry …

February 16, 2017

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