Top Stories

PennFIRST Designs $1.5B Hospital Pavilion for University of Pennsylvania

by Kristin Harlow May 5, 2017

PHILADELPHIA — PennFIRST is completing the planning and design process for the University of Pennsylvania’s new $1.5 billion hospital. The “Pavilion” will be situated on Penn Medicine’s West Philadelphia campus where it will create a new public square and a focal point for all surrounding buildings to anchor the health system. An official groundbreaking took place on Wednesday, May 3. The Pavilion will house inpatient care for the Abramson Cancer Center, heart and vascular medicine and surgery, neurology and neurosurgery, and a new emergency department. The project is slated for completion in 2021. Located on the former site of Penn Tower, the Pavilion will be home to about 500 new private patient rooms and 47 operating/interventional rooms in a 1.5 million-square-foot, 16-story facility. The Pavilion will be linked to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and the adjacent Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine as well as the train station via a network of public bridges and walkways. Long-term flexibility was incorporated into the design so that patient rooms can be adapted and changed over time with minimal impact to the building fabric. The patient rooms will be equipped with in-room technologies to strengthen communication between patients, families and care …

May 5, 2017

Multifamily Seniors Housing Top Stories

Kayne Anderson to Acquire Sentio Healthcare Properties for $825M

by John Nelson May 4, 2017

BOCA RATON AND ORLANDO, FLA. — Kayne Anderson Real Estate Advisors (KAREA) has entered into a definitive merger agreement under which affiliates of KAREA will acquire Sentio Healthcare Properties Inc. KAREA will acquire all of the outstanding shares of Sentio in an all-cash transaction valued at $825 million. Sentio is a public, non-listed real estate investment trust (REIT), externally advised by Sentio Investments. The firm’s portfolio includes 34 seniors housing communities and medical office buildings located in 16 states across the United States. The Orlando-based company is financially backed by KKR (NYSE: KKR), a global private equity firm based in New York City. The merger would end KKR’s partnership with Sentio. Sentio’s board of directors has unanimously approved the merger, which is expected to close in the third quarter of this year. KAREA plans to increase the value of the Sentio portfolio through property renovations, facility expansions and other operational enhancements. KAREA is part of Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors LP, a $26 billion, Los Angeles-based alternative investment management firm with more than 30 years of experience in the energy, infrastructure, growth capital, real estate, middle market credit and distressed municipal sectors. KAREA, which operates out of Boca Raton, focuses on …

May 4, 2017

Features Retail Top Stories

M&M: Positive Economic Forces Buoy Net-Leased Retail Sector, Despite Rising Interest Rates

by Kristin Harlow May 4, 2017

Steady growth of the U.S. economy will likely continue through 2017, benefitting a wide range of single-tenant, net-lease retail concepts that will dominate the development pipeline over the coming year, according to Marcus & Millichap’s latest Net-Leased Retail Research Report. The report details three aspects of the U.S. economy that are proving to be positive forces for the net-leased retail sector: job growth, consumer sentiment and core retail sales. Job growth gains averaged 195,000 positions per month over the last year, and the unemployment rate has fallen to 4.7 percent, the lowest level since 2007. The report also references an annual increase in average hourly earnings of 2.8 percent. Consumer sentiment posted its highest level since 2000, with expectations also elevated. The U.S. consumer confidence index is 11.9 percent above the average reading since the survey began in 1967. Core retail sales, defined as aggregate sales excluding automobile and gasoline sales, vaulted 5.7 percent year-over-year in February. Lead growth categories within the retail sector include e-commerce, food and drink establishments and health and personal care stores. As For Rising Interest Rates The postelection surge of the 10-year Treasury yield, as well as the Federal Reserve’s decision to increase the federal funds …

May 4, 2017

Features Multifamily Top Stories

MBA: First-Quarter Mortgage Originations Up 9 Percent Year Over Year

by Taylor Williams May 4, 2017

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Commercial and multifamily mortgage originations increased by 9 percent during the first quarter of 2017 on a year-over-year basis, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA). The results are based on the MBA’s Commercial/Multifamily Mortgage Bankers Originations index, which has tracked quarterly activity since 2002. The first quarter saw the dollar volume of loans for industrial properties increase by 40 percent compared with the first quarter of 2016. The volume of loans for healthcare and multifamily properties rose by 22 percent and 14 percent, respectively, during the same time frame. Loan production for all property classes was down 27 percent relative to the fourth quarter of 2016, but that was to be expected, says Jamie Woodwell, MBA’s vice president of commercial real estate research. “Commercial real estate borrowing and lending started 2017 on much the same footing it ended 2016,” says Woodwell. “Multifamily properties remain the key force behind overall origination trends. Matching, broader investment themes, financing for industrial properties also picked up while retail declined.” The dollar volume of loans originated by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac during the first quarter represented a 33 percent increase from the same period a year ago. On the flip …

May 4, 2017

New York Northeast Retail Top Stories

Kimco Signs First Retail Leases for $180M Boulevard Redevelopment in New York’s Staten Island

by Nellie Day May 3, 2017

NEW YORK CITY — Kimco Realty (NYSE: KIM) has signed its first round of retail leases at The Boulevard, a $180 million lifestyle center in the Staten Island borough of New York City. The project is a redevelopment of Hylan Plaza, which has been shuttering its existing retailers over the past several months. Situated on Ebbitts Street and Hylan Boulevard, The Boulevard will feature 50 stores in a 460,000-square-foot, multi-level format. The first retailers to sign onto the project include ShopRite (68,000 square feet), Alamo Drafthouse (41,000 square feet), Party City (13,000 square feet), PetSmart (23,500 square feet) and Chase Bank (5,100 square feet). Modell’s sporting goods store and Mandee will be relocating within the center, absorbing 16,000 square feet and 11,000 square feet, respectively. Construction at the redevelopment is scheduled to commence in early summer or late fall, with a grand opening scheduled for summer 2019. Existing Hylan Plaza tenants that have shuttered in anticipation of this redevelopment include United Artist movie theater, Toys “R” Us/Babies “R” Us, the Salvation Army, Kids Place and Subway. Rainbow Shops and Telco are scheduled to close by the end of this month. S9 Architecture is designing the redevelopment to feature ground-floor retail …

May 3, 2017

Features Retail Texas Texas & Oklahoma Feature Archive Top Stories

InterFace Panel: Parking Spaces Present New Opportunities for Developers

by Taylor Williams May 3, 2017

HOUSTON — As e-commerce continues its siege of brick-and-mortar retail, shopping center developers in Houston are re-evaluating and repurposing the space currently allotted for parking. Virtually all centers are seeing reduced need for parking space, which creates opportunities to reclaim that space for more efficient uses, like adding another in-line store. At the InterFace Houston Retail conference on April 18, moderated by David Luther of Marcus & Millichap, industry experts spoke at length about how retail developers are cutting their parking allotments in strip centers and power centers alike, largely because of convenience-oriented technologies. Apps like Postmates and TaskRabbit have made it possible to outsource running errands to other people. Online grocery delivery services like Instacart and Shipt allow customers to do their shopping with a few quick clicks. Even Uber has gotten into the game with delivery features like UberRUSH for errands and UberEATS for meals. According to Tom Lile, president of retail development firm Gulf Coast Commercial Group and a conference panelist, such products and services have already begun to influence Houston developers’ thoughts on parking. “Fifteen years ago, if you were building a power center, you absolutely had to have five parking spaces per 1,000 square feet …

May 3, 2017

Oklahoma Retail Texas Top Stories

Joint Venture Acquires The Outlet Shoppes at Oklahoma City for $130 Million

by Katie Sloan May 2, 2017

OKLAHOMA CITY — A joint venture between The Outlet Resource Group (TORG) and Singerman Real Estate has acquired The Outlet Shoppes at Oklahoma City, a 400,000-square-foot retail center located in Oklahoma City, for $130 million. The mall is the only outlet center in the state of Oklahoma, according to TORG. The center — which opened in 2011 — is home to more than 90 retail outlets, including Nike, Vera Bradley, Michael Kors, Polo Ralph Lauren, Brooks Brothers, Disney, Forever 21, The North Face, Bath & Body Works and Under Armour. A joint venture between Michigan-based Horizon Group Properties Inc. and Chattanooga, Tenn.-based CBL & Associates Properties Inc. sold the property. Richard Frolik of CBRE represented the sellers in the transaction. “We are excited to enter the Oklahoma City market,” says Lisa Wagner, principal of TORG. “The previous ownership established the center as a shopping destination, and we look forward to optimizing and improving the experience for shoppers and retailers.” The new ownership is currently reviewing all aspects of operations, and expects to rebrand the center in the coming months. Avison Young will handle property management. The Outlet Resource Group is a global alliance of experts focused on the acquisition, management, …

May 2, 2017

Features Multifamily Top Stories

Low Turnover, Higher Rental Prices Lead to Attractive Apartment Market for Landlords

by Kristin Harlow May 2, 2017

CHICAGO — Six in 10 apartment landlords say it is more profitable and attractive to be a landlord than it was five years ago, according to a new survey from TransUnion SmartMove, a tenant screening service for owners. The survey was conducted in March 2017 and included responses from 689 landlords across the country. At the close of the first quarter of 2017, property owners indicated it was easier to find qualified renters and that resident turnover had declined compared with the same time last year. Only 21 percent of respondents found it more difficult to find qualified renters. Data also shows that landlords utilized rent screening solutions to evaluate prospective tenants during the past year. “Our survey clearly shows it is a landlord’s market as the number of renters rises and these renters are remaining in units longer,” says Jason Norton, vice president of TransUnion SmartMove. “As a result, landlords are using sophisticated tools and screening solutions to evaluate potential long-term renters with greater certainty.” Six in 10 landlords reported that renters are remaining in their units for longer than they were a year ago. To ensure these residents are good prospects, the majority of owners (90 percent) conduct …

May 2, 2017

Healthcare Top Stories

Duke Realty Sells Medical Office Portfolio to Healthcare Trust of America for $2.8B

by Taylor Williams May 1, 2017

INDIANAPOLIS — Duke Realty Corp. (NYSE: DRE) has agreed to sell its entire portfolio of medical office properties to Healthcare Trust of America (NYSE: HTA) for roughly $2.8 billion. The transaction is expected to close in stages by year’s end. The portfolio totals approximately 6.6 million square feet of gross leasable space across 78 properties. Of those, 71 are in-service buildings, five are under construction and two are holdings of unconsolidated joint ventures in which Duke has interests. The sale also includes two parcels of land totaling 16.5 acres. Collectively, the assets were 94 percent leased at the time of sale. According to Duke CEO Jim Connor, the transaction signifies the company’s effort to focus exclusively on industrial properties. “Monetizing our medical office business is accretive to our net asset value per share and creates a more simplified business model with improved transparency,” says Connor. “This represents a long-term benefit to our stakeholders while we position the company as a leading, pure-play industrial REIT.” Proceeds of the sale will be used to pay off $1.2 billion in existing debt, fund new industrial projects and to pay dividends to shareholders. The terms of sale call for Duke to provide $50 million …

May 1, 2017

District of Columbia Office Southeast Top Stories

UNIZO Acquires Two Office Buildings in Washington, D.C. for $259M

by Kristin Harlow April 28, 2017

WASHINGTON, D.C. — UNIZO Holdings Co. Ltd. has acquired two Class A office buildings in Washington for $259 million. The buildings, 1325 and 1341 G St., total 440,419 square feet and are located two blocks from the White House. Built in 1969 and renovated in 2017, 1325 G. St. consists of 307,705 square feet. Originally built in 1903 and also known as The Colorado Building, 1341 G. St. consists of 132,714 square feet of office and retail space. Andrew Weir, Stephen Conley, Jim Meisel, Dek Potts and Matt Nicholson of HFF arranged the sale on behalf of the sellers, Westbrook Partners LLC and TIER REIT Inc. HFF also procured the buyer. In June 2015, HFF arranged the joint venture between Westbrook and TIER REIT. The partners repositioned the properties with a lobby renovation. Westbrook is a real estate investment management company with more than $14 billion of equity in over $50 billion of real estate transactions. TIER REIT (NYSE: TIER) is a real estate investment trust based in Dallas with a focus on owning quality office properties. With this sale, TIER REIT has announced its exit from the Washington, D.C. market. UNIZO is a real estate company based in Tokyo. …

April 28, 2017

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