Top Stories

CBRE Global Investment Partners Acquires Minority Stake in $1.5B West Coast Retail Portfolio

by John Nelson November 22, 2016

LOS ANGELES AND SAN FRANCISCO — CBRE Global Investment Partners has acquired a 45 percent stake in a $1.5 billion portfolio of 55 retail assets located on the West Coast. The investment was made on behalf of the company’s flagship Global Alpha Fund and various separate account clients and totals roughly $450 million, according to reports by The Wall Street Journal. San Francisco-based Merlone Geier Partners (MGP) is the majority owner in the portfolio, which totals nearly 7 million square feet, and will maintain its position as operating partner. The properties are largely anchored by grocery and necessity-based retailers, and are concentrated in Southern California, Seattle, Sacramento, the San Francisco Bay Area and Portland. “This joint venture gives us a rare opportunity to access for our clients a large diversified portfolio of high-quality retail centers that would be challenging to acquire in scale,” says Ian Gleeson, CIO for CBRE Global Investment Partners. “We are pleased to partner with Merlone Geier because it is a leading operator that has significant experience in the retail sector.” Eastdil Secured advised MGP in the transaction. MGP is a private real estate investment company focused on the acquisition, development and redevelopment of retail and mixed-use …

November 22, 2016

Features Retail Top Stories

How Owners Can Drive Revenue for Retail Centers Through Innovative Landscape Design

by Katie Sloan November 22, 2016

The retail experience has and continues to evolve. Online sales are projected to reach $523 billion by 2020, increasing at an annual average rate of 9.32 percent, according to reports by Forrester Research Inc. While brick-and-mortar shopping still remains a dominant channel for American consumers, e-commerce growth continues to increase at a rapid rate, indicating a fundamental shift in the way today’s consumers approach retail. In order to remain competitive in this ever changing landscape, retail owners must adapt their strategies to create retail centers that cater to the evolving demands of today’s shoppers. The majority of consumers that still prefer to make purchases in stores are no longer simply searching for places to shop, but are rather seeking multi-sensory environments and experiences that cannot be replicated through online channels. The question is, how do retail owners create these experiential centers that extend beyond the traditional retail experience? The short answer: innovative landscape design. Landscape design can play an integral, if not essential, role in cultivating these experiences and transforming a center from a cookie-cutter mall to an upscale destination of choice. In fact, the presence of physical beauty has been proven to build and establish an emotional connection with …

November 22, 2016

Hawaii Hospitality Top Stories Western

Ares Management, SMW Hospitality, Trinity Investments Buy Ritz-Carlton Kapalua in Maui

by Jeff Shaw November 21, 2016

LAHAINA, HAWAII — A joint venture between funds managed by Ares Management LP (NYSE: ARES), SMW Hospitality LLC and Trinity Investments LLC has acquired The Ritz-Carlton Kapalua in Lahaina on the Hawaiian island of Maui. The JV acquired the property from a partnership between Woodridge Capital Partners LLC and Colony Capital Inc. The price was not disclosed. The Ritz-Carlton Kapalua is an oceanfront property located on 49 acres of Maui’s northwest shore. The hotel is part of the 23,000-acre master planned Kapalua resort, home to the Kapalua Wine and Food Festival and the PGA Tour’s Tournament of Champions. The resort is renowned for its golf courses, tennis facilities, beaches, restaurants and shops. The Ritz-Carlton Kapalua features 297 guestrooms, as well as 107 condos within a dedicated wing of the hotel. Known as The Residences, the one- and two-bedroom condos were recently renovated. The joint venture plans to renovate the hotel’s common areas and guest rooms following the acquisition. The hotel’s amenities include a 17,500-square-foot spa with 15 treatment rooms, three-tiered swimming pool, fitness center, 4,844-square-foot retail arcade, access to two championship golf courses (The Bay Course and The Plantation Course) and instruction at Kapalua Golf Academy. In addition, guests can …

November 21, 2016

Loans Top Stories

Clarion Partners Receives $200M Loan for Nine-Property Mixed-Use Portfolio

by Kristin Harlow November 18, 2016

NEW YORK CITY — Clarion Partners has received $200 million in acquisition financing for a nine-property portfolio comprising multifamily, industrial and retail properties in six states throughout the U.S. Included in the financing are: Three multifamily properties totaling 761 units in Minneapolis and metro Dallas. Four industrial properties totaling 1.7 million square feet in Hanover, Md., Denver, Pompano Beach, Fla., and Redlands, Calif. Two retail properties totaling 275,859 square feet in Delray Beach and Celebration, Fla. Riaz Cassum, Lauren O’Neil and Robyn King of HFF represented the borrower in the transaction. The firm arranged the loan through one of its correspondent lenders. Clarion Partners is a New York-based real estate investment manager with $43.1 billion in total assets under management. — Kristin Hiller

November 18, 2016

District of Columbia Mixed-Use Southeast Top Stories

National Law Firm, New Hilton Hotel to Anchor $2B Wharf Waterfront Development in D.C.

by John Nelson November 17, 2016

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Hoffman-Madison Waterfront (HMW), the developer of The Wharf, a $2 billion, mile-long neighborhood under construction along Washington, D.C.’s Southwest waterfront, has announced that the development will feature a new Hilton hotel and a new anchor office tenant, global law firm Fish & Richardson. HMW is a partnership between master developers PN Hoffman and Madison Marquette. Situated adjacent to 7th Street Park, Hilton Worldwide will open a 175-room Canopy by Hilton, the first North American hotel for the international brand. The Canopy will join a 238-room Hyatt House at The Wharf. When complete, The Wharf will feature more than 3 million square feet of new residential, office, hotel, retail, marina, and public uses, including waterfront parks, promenades, piers and docks. The development will encompass 24 acres of land and 50 acres of water on the Washington Channel. Phase I is slated to open in October 2017, and Phase II is expected to open between 2020 and 2021. “The Wharf is a truly ideal neighborhood for our Canopy by Hilton brand and we are thrilled to be a part of this amazing project,” says Gary Steffen, global head of Canopy by Hilton. Fish & Richardson, which specializes in global …

November 17, 2016

InterFace Seniors Housing Northeast Conference, Philadelphia

Features Multifamily Seniors Housing Top Stories

Will Trump’s Stance on Immigration Reform Exacerbate Worker Shortage Problem in Seniors Housing?

by Jeff Shaw November 17, 2016

Already facing a labor shortage, the U.S. seniors housing industry could be dealt a “devastating” blow if president-elect Donald Trump were to limit the number of lower-wage immigrants coming into the country in order to accommodate an increased number of high-wage skilled immigrants, says Jeff Sands, managing principal and general counsel for HJ Sims. “It’s a real issue this industry is grappling with,” especially given the growing number of facilities. Sands’ comments came during a “State of the Industry and 2017 Outlook” panel at the InterFace Seniors Housing Northeast conference in Philadelphia on Tuesday, Nov. 15. The U.S. seniors housing market will need to recruit 1.2 million new employees by 2025, Argentum reported in a research report released earlier this year. Because about 70 percent of the 65-plus population — including many people with cognitive impairment — requires some form of long-term care, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the nation’s aging population will create unprecedented demand for the services of the senior living industry in the coming decades. According to donaldjtrump.com, the president-elect’s campaign website, his immigration controls will result in the selection of immigrants based on their likelihood of success in the United States …

November 17, 2016

Multifamily Student Housing Texas Top Stories

American Campus Communities Sells 19 Student Housing Properties to Saban, Campus Advantage for $508M

by Nellie Day November 16, 2016

AUSTIN, TEXAS — American Campus Communities Inc. (ACC) has sold 19 student housing assets totaling more than 12,000 beds to a partnership between Saban Real Estate and Campus Advantage for $508 million. The transaction included a $197.3 million prepayment of secured mortgage debt. “With the sale of these non-core assets, which were all previously acquired as part of larger portfolio acquisitions, we have transformed our portfolio into one consisting almost entirely of core assets,” says Bill Bayless, ACC’s CEO. “Our overall proximity to campus improves to a median distance to campus of only one-tenth of a mile, and our portfolio now contains only two remaining assets located more than one mile from campus.” The 12,083-bed portfolio includes:  Abbott Place, a 654-bed community located near Michigan State University in East Lansing.  Burbank Commons, a 532-bed community located near Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge.  The Cottages of Baton Rouge, a 1,290-bed community located near Louisiana State University.  U Club Cottages, a 308-bed community located near Louisiana State University.  University Crescent, a 612-bed community located near Louisiana State University.  Campus Corner, a 796-bed community located near Indiana University in Bloomington.  Campus Way, a 680-bed community …

November 16, 2016

Florida Retail Southeast Top Stories

Regency Centers to Purchase Equity One in $5B Shopping Center REIT Merger

by Katie Sloan November 15, 2016

JACKSONVILLE, FLA. — Jacksonville-based Regency Centers Corp. (NYSE: REG) has agreed to acquire Equity One Inc. (NYSE: EQY), creating one of the largest shopping center REITs in the U.S. The all-stock merger will convert each share of Equity One stock into 0.45 shares of Regency stock. Based on Regency’s closing stock price on Monday, Nov. 14, that equates to $31.44 per share, for a total acquisition price of nearly $5 billion, according to the Wall Street Journal. At the close of the deal, Regency shareholders are expected to own approximately 62 percent of the combined company’s equity, and former Equity One shareholders are expected to own approximately 38 percent. The company will retain the Regency name and will continue to trade under the ticker symbol REG. The headquarters will also remain in Jacksonville. The combined company is expected to have a total market capitalization of $15.6 billion, making it the largest REIT by equity value in the shopping center index. The merger will create a national portfolio of 429 properties encompassing more than 57 million square feet. Regency’s Board of Directors will be increased from nine to 12 members, including two directors designated by Equity One and one director designated …

November 15, 2016

Features Heartland Feature Archive Multifamily Top Stories

Renovation of Older Apartment Buildings in Suburbs is a Win-Win Strategy

by Jeff Shaw November 15, 2016

Strong renter demand for affordable apartments in affluent suburbs easily outstrips the available inventory of such properties. This supply and demand imbalance creates a big gap in the market that renovated older buildings can fill. These undervalued multifamily buildings also provide a healthy investment opportunity. Cranes dot the skylines of many American cities today, and much of the development is new luxury multifamily communities. For the last 10 years, the majority of the new apartments built have been high-end apartments, often in downtown areas. Underlying reasons Two main factors are driving developers’ preference for luxury urban apartments. First, developers are turning to urban areas because many suburbs are using zoning density restrictions to prevent multifamily construction. Developers may want to build in the suburbs, but suburban communities want to maintain the relatively small class sizes in their schools and the low crime rates associated with low-density areas, so they are not granting permits for new construction. Cities, on the other hand, are eager to welcome new residents to grow their tax bases, so they’re quick to provide permits for new multifamily construction. The second factor is rising construction costs. Excluding land costs, construction costs have risen 23 percent since 2010, …

November 15, 2016

Multifamily Seniors Housing Top Stories

Ventas to Sell 36 Skilled Nursing Facilities to Kindred for $700M

by Jeff Shaw November 14, 2016

LOUISVILLE, KY. — Kindred Healthcare Inc. (NYSE: KND) plans to buy the 36 skilled nursing facilities it currently operates for Ventas for $700 million. The move is the latest step in Kindred’s plan to fully exit the skilled nursing business. The company will presumably try to sell the facilities that it will now both own and operate. Kindred announced its plan to leave skilled nursing last week on its third-quarter earnings call, which revealed a quarterly loss of $671.3 million. The company will focus instead on home healthcare and post-acute care hospitals. Ventas (NYSE: VTR), one of the largest healthcare REITs in the country, sent out its own statement the next day, noting that Kindred could not sell or lease the 36 Ventas-owned facilities without Ventas’ consent. By buying those 36 facilities, Kindred is now free to sell or lease the properties. As part of the deal, Ventas has extended its lease with Kindred for all the Ventas-owned acute-care hospitals in Kindred’s operational portfolio. The leases were set to expire between 2018 and 2020, but have all been extended to 2025. Ventas itself is attempting to exit the skilled nursing business as well. The company created a separate spinoff company …

November 14, 2016

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