Top Stories

Vestar Acquires Bowles Crossing Shopping Center Near Denver for $76.1M

by Nellie Day March 7, 2016

LITTLETON, COLO. — Vestar has acquired Bowles Crossing, a 409,457-square-foot regional shopping center in the Denver suburb of Littleton, for $76.1 million. The 53.8-acre Bowles Crossing is one of the area’s top regional shopping destinations in the southwest Denver metro area. Tenants at the center include Trader Joe’s, DSW Warehouse, Ross Dress for Less, Gordmans and a newly renovated AMC Theatre. The center is located at 8055 W. Bowles Ave., at the northeast corner of Wadsworth Boulevard and Bowles Avenue. Vestar plans expand the shopping center, adding new retail, restaurants and a multifamily component. “Over the past 12 months, Vestar has acquired five retail centers valued at $670 million throughout the Western states,” says Clint Marchuk, the firm’s vice president of acquisitions. “Our goal is to continue acquiring strategic centers in key markets with strong demographics.” Vestar also recently acquired the 623,205-square-foot, open-air retail and entertainment portion of The Gateway, a retail, residential and office complex in downtown Salt Lake City. Phoenix-based Vestar is a privately held real estate company that specializes in the acquisition, management and development of commercial real estate, particularly retail. The company owns and manages more than 25 million square feet of retail assets in the …

March 7, 2016

Features Retail Top Stories

Sports Authority Unveils List of 140 Store Closures

by Katie Sloan March 7, 2016

ENGLEWOOD, COLO. — Englewood-based Sports Authority Inc. has made public a list of 140 stores it plans to close in conjunction with the retailer’s move to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Sports Authority has received access to up to $595 million in debtor-in-possession financing in conjunction with the Chapter 11 filing in the District of Delaware. The company has received court approval to begin liquidating stores with a portion of its $595 million bankruptcy loan. The decision to close stores follows a comprehensive review of the Sports Authority portfolio in light of the increasing amount of shopping that is occurring online, the company stated in a March 2 press release. “As a result of these changes in consumer buying patterns, Sports Authority determined that it needs fewer stores as part of its long-term business model,” according to the press release. (For more on what ultimately led the sporting goods retailer to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, click here.) The following store locations are set to close in the coming months based on a review of the court filing by REBusinessonine.com State City Address Arizona Casa Grande 1004 N Promenade Parkway, Ste 159 Arizona Mesa 1812 W Rio …

March 7, 2016

Kansas Midwest Top Stories

AMC Theatres Agrees to Acquire Carmike Cinemas for $1.1B

by Christina Cannon March 4, 2016

LEAWOOD, KAN. — In a blockbuster merger, AMC Theatres (NYSE: AMC) has agreed to purchase all of the outstanding shares of Carmike Cinemas Inc. (NASDAQ: CKEC) for $30 per share in cash. The transaction — valued at approximately $1.1 billion including the assumption of debt — creates the largest chain of movie theaters in the United States and the world. The purchase price per share represents an approximate 19.5 percent premium to Carmike’s closing stock price on Thursday, March 3. The purchase price per screen is approximately $376,000. AMC currently has 5,426 screens at 387 theaters, located primarily in the United Sates, including many in the nation’s top markets. Carmike has 2,954 screens at 276 theaters, primarily located in mid-size, non-urban communities. Together, AMC and Carmike will have well over 600 theater locations in 45 states across the country, including the District of Columbia. The deal, which has been approved by the board of directors at both AMC and Carmike is expected to close by the end of this year. “By broadening AMC’s geographic and demographic base for delivering our groundbreaking guest experience innovations in comfort and convenience — such as plush power-recliners, enhanced food and beverage, premium sight and …

March 4, 2016

Mixed-Use Northeast Pennsylvania Top Stories

Drexel, Brandywine Realty Trust Partner on Philadelphia’s $3.5B Schuylkill Yards Development

by John Nelson March 3, 2016

PHILADELPHIA — Drexel University and Brandywine Realty Trust (NYSE: BDN) will co-develop the Schuylkill Yards mixed-use community on a 14-acre site in Philadelphia. The development costs weren’t disclosed, but the Philadelphia Business Journal estimates total costs will reach $3.5 billion. Initial phases of the projected 20-year innovation development plan will consist of 5 million square feet of mixed-use real estate on a 10-acre site next to Drexel’s main campus and adjacent to Amtrak’s 30th Street Station. The master-planned neighborhood within Philadelphia’s University City submarket will feature entrepreneurial spaces, educational facilities and research laboratories, corporate offices, residential and retail spaces, hospitality, cultural venues and public open spaces. “Drexel University and Brandywine’s shared vision for the continued renaissance of University City provides a strong foundation for a long-term partnership. Together, we will create a dynamic and world-class innovation hub to attract the brightest minds to our region,” says Gerard Sweeney, president and CEO of Brandywine Realty Trust. “Schuylkill Yards will transform Philadelphia’s skyline as new towers rise on the west side of the Schuylkill River,” he continues. “Brandywine’s existing Cira Centre, EVO and FMC Tower at Cira Centre South projects in University City will provide a synergistic connection to Schuylkill Yards, creating …

March 3, 2016

Conference Coverage Features Top Stories

Flexibility is King in the Future of Healthcare, Say InterFace Panelists

by Jeff Shaw March 3, 2016

LOS ANGELES — Healthcare providers are taking cues from the retail and hospitality industries and keeping an open mind. That’s according to panelists at InterFace Conference Group’s Healthcare Real Estate West conference, held March 2 at the Omni Los Angeles Hotel. The biggest lessons the healthcare industry has internalized, panelists noted, was making the customer king, remaining flexible and embracing technology — even if the future of that technology is uncertain. “The buzzword today is omnichannel,” said Andy Hoover, real estate manager for the California region of Providence Health and Services and a participant in the “Impact of Consolidation and Changing Healthcare Delivery” panel. “It’s more like retail today. It’s a customer-focused delivery model — essentially a retail delivery model. It’s a blend of physical and digital components. It’s really not what you put into it. It’s what the customer gets out of it and what they’ll pay for.” The healthcare system of the future is looking to integrate mobile apps that allow customers to refill prescriptions, make appointments, view test results and potentially even hold virtual visits with their physicians. Healthcare systems are also moving away from hospitals and campuses with long-held, negative stigmas surrounding them. “The medical office …

March 3, 2016

Retail Top Stories

Sports Authority Files for Chapter 11, Plans to Sell or Close About 140 Stores

by Katie Sloan March 2, 2016

ENGLEWOOD, COLO. — Facing stiff competition on the retail playing field, particularly online, Englewood-based Sports Authority Inc. announced today that it has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The company plans to sell or close about 140 stores, or nearly one-third of its locations. The store closing process is expected to take up to three months. “We are taking this action so that we can continue to adapt our business to meet the changing dynamics in the retail industry,” said Michael Foss, CEO of Sports Authority, in a press release. “We intend to use the Chapter 11 process to streamline and strengthen our business, both operationally and financially, so that we have the financial flexibility to continue to make necessary investments in our operations.” The decision follows a comprehensive review of the Sports Authority portfolio in light of the increasing amount of shopping that is occurring online, the company stated. “As a result of these changes in consumer buying patterns, Sports Authority determined that it needs fewer stores as part of its long-term business model,” according to the press release. All Sports Authority stores nationwide remain open at this point and continue to operate on normal schedules, the company emphasized. …

March 2, 2016

Florida Hospitality Mixed-Use Multifamily Office Restaurant Retail Southeast Top Stories

Construction Begins on $1.7B Miami Worldcenter Mixed-Use Development

by Haisten Willis March 2, 2016

MIAMI — Construction has begun on Miami Worldcenter, one of the largest urban mixed-use projects in the country, and its signature residential tower, Paramount Miami Worldcenter. This marks the start of the $1.7 billion, 27-acre development’s retail component. “You are literally going to see six blocks being developed all at the same time. This is basically step one of multiple steps in which you are going to see six buildings going vertical,” says Daniel Kodsi, developer and CEO of Paramount Miami Worldcenter. Miami Worldcenter will include Paramount and six other residential and office buildings, an 1,800-room Marriott Marquis and convention center, an intermodal hub and a retail and restaurant promenade. CoastalTishman, a joint venture between Miami-based Coastal Construction and New York-based Tishman Construction, is close to completing the installation of 400 pilings that will support the glass-clad tower designed by Elkus Manfredi Architects in collaboration with Paramount Miami Worldcenter’s in-house design team. Upon completion of the pilings, CoastalTishman will start building the tower’s foundation. The first phase of construction will focus on Paramount Miami Worldcenter, a 700-foot, 60-story residential skyscraper. The $500 million tower will feature one of the largest amenity decks in the country, spanning 90 feet above downtown …

March 2, 2016

Hospitality New York Northeast Top Stories

Fortuna Acquires Wyndham Hotel in New York’s Flatiron District for $60M

by Katie Sloan March 1, 2016

NEW YORK CITY — Fortuna Realty Group LLC has acquired a Wyndham-franchised hotel located at 37 W. 24th St. in Manhattan’s Flatiron District for $60 million. Fortuna plans to convert the 124-key hotel — built in 2008 — into a high-end boutique hotel. The investor bought the property out of bankruptcy at auction from an undisclosed seller. The hotel is situated directly off Fifth Avenue, and around the corner from Mario Batali’s acclaimed Italian marketplace Eataly and Madison Square Park. The hotel’s neighborhood has emerged as a popular location for New York’s technology, advertising, marketing and information technology sector, and is a hub for restaurants and nightlife. The new acquisition will join Fortuna’s portfolio of upscale “lifestyle hotels,” including Hotel Hugo and Hotel Indigo Chelsea, both in Manhattan, and The Garden City Hotel, located on Long Island. Wayne Cook and David Glanz of law firm Windels Marx LLP represented Fortuna in the transaction. U.S. Trust provided an undisclosed amount of acquisition financing. Based in New York City, Fortuna Realty Group LLC is a privately held real estate investment and development company with a focus in hospitality. — Katie Sloan

March 1, 2016

Features Multifamily Office Retail Top Stories

Construction Deliveries Increase Across Property Types, Says Reis

by Christina Cannon March 1, 2016

As 2015 came to an end, construction deliveries for the office, retail and apartment sectors were on the rise, according to Reis. That trend is expected to continue through 2016, the New York-based commercial real estate data firm says. For the fourth quarter of 2015, the apartment sector recorded its third consecutive quarter above 50,000 units delivered. Deliveries for office properties were above 9 million square feet for the third consecutive quarter. Retail deliveries increased for the second consecutive quarter. Apartment Sector Ramps Up “2015 was the highest year for apartment construction since 1999,” says Ryan Severino, senior economist and director of research at Reis. “With the pipeline continuing to swell, completion figures for 2016 are expected to exceed those from 2015.” Texas markets led deliveries for new apartment units, with Houston posting 4,330 new units and Dallas delivering 3,178 units in the fourth quarter of 2015. Behind the Lone Star State is Seattle, posting 2,806 newly constructed units. Los Angeles delivered 2,795 units, and Denver added 2,671 units to the multifamily landscape. Office Sector Stays Steady Office construction has slowly increased over the last few quarters. The fourth quarter of 2015 ended with just under 11 million square feet …

March 1, 2016

Hospitality Southeast Top Stories Virginia Western

Hilton to Spin Off Real Estate into 70-Property Hotel REIT

by Nellie Day February 29, 2016

MCLEAN, VA — Hilton Worldwide (NYSE: HLT) has announced plans to spin off the majority of its real estate business into a publicly traded REIT. The company also plans a second spinoff, putting its Hilton Grand Vacations timeshare business into a third publicly traded company. The company hopes the spinoffs will help focus Hilton Worldwide’s model on its core business. “The transactions we announced today will result in three pure-play companies, enabling dedicated management teams to fully activate their respective businesses,” says Christopher Nassetta, president and CEO of Hilton Worldwide. “We intend to have the appropriate leadership, strategies and capital structures in place to set up all three companies for further success.” If approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Hilton’s new REIT will include about 70 properties and 35,000 rooms, comprising one of the largest and most geographically diversified publicly traded lodging REITs. The REIT’s portfolio will contain luxury and upper-upscale assets in high-barrier-to-entry urban and convention markets, top resort destinations, select international regions and strategic airport locations. The new timeshare company will contain nearly 50 club resorts in the United States and Europe. The company will have a long-term license agreement with Hilton Worldwide to market, sell …

February 29, 2016

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