Top Stories

Boston Properties Completes $511.1M Acquisition of Stake in Colorado Center in Santa Monica

by John Nelson July 7, 2016

SANTA MONICA, CALIF. — Boston Properties Inc. (NYSE: BXP) has completed the previously announced acquisition of a 49.8 percent interest in Colorado Center, a 1.2 million-square-foot office campus in Santa Monica. The Boston-based REIT purchased the minority stake from Blackstone (NYSE: BX) for approximately $511.1 million. Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association (TIAA) owns the remaining 50.2 percent interest in Colorado Center. Boston Properties will be the managing partner of the TIAA-Boston Properties joint venture. Situated in Los Angeles County, Colorado Center comprises six office buildings and a three-level, 3,100-space underground parking garage. There is currently no debt on the property, according to Boston Properties. The asset was 68 percent leased at the time of sale. The acquisition marks the entry to metro Los Angeles for Boston Properties, which has previously focused on four other gateway markets: Boston, New York, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. “We are very pleased to enter the Los Angeles market through our acquisition of Colorado Center,” says Owen Thomas, CEO of Boston Properties. “Colorado Center is a proven and premier office campus, which provides us the opportunity to use our real estate skills to enhance and lease the property and realize the substantial upside potential we …

July 7, 2016

Features Multifamily Seniors Housing Top Stories

NIC: Seniors Housing Occupancy, New Construction Sag Slightly in Second Quarter

by Jeff Shaw July 7, 2016

ANNAPOLIS, Md. — The average occupancy rate for independent living and assisted living properties in the second quarter of 2016 dropped to 89.7 percent, as new inventory outpaced absorption of units, according to a quarterly report from the National Investment Center for Seniors Housing & Care (NIC). The occupancy rate represents a decrease of 30 basis points from the prior quarter, and brings average occupancy back down to where it was a year ago. During the past three years, occupancy has averaged 89.8 percent. As of the second quarter of 2016, occupancy was 2.8 percentage points above its cyclical low of 86.9 percent during the first quarter of 2010. The skilled nursing sector saw the same drop of 30 basis points to 87.1 percent. Despite the lower occupancy rate the second quarter, annual asking rents for independent living and assisted living continued to grow, increasing 3.2 percent. This is an increase of 10 basis points over the first-quarter growth rate and 80 basis points over the previous year. It’s the highest rate since the second quarter of 2008, NIC reports. In skilled nursing, the asking rent growth stayed flat at 2.8 percent. Annual absorption for independent living and assisted living …

July 7, 2016

Bio Tech Place, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, N.C.

Healthcare Life Sciences Top Stories

Ventas to Acquire Entire Wexford Life Science, Medical Portfolio for $1.5B

by Jeff Shaw July 6, 2016

CHICAGO — Giant healthcare REIT Ventas (NYSE: VTR) has agreed to acquire all the life sciences and medical real estate assets of Wexford Science & Technology for $1.5 billion. Wexford will continue to operate the portfolio, which includes 25 Class A properties totaling 4.5 million square feet. Blackstone Real Estate Partners VIII LP is the current owner of the properties, which are largely leased to universities, academic medical centers and research companies. Tenants include Yale University, the University of Pennsylvania Health System, Washington University in St. Louis, Wake Forest University and Alexion Pharmaceuticals. Of the 25 properties, 23 are currently in operation and are 97 percent leased. The remaining two properties are currently under development and are nearly 60 percent pre-leased to Duke University and Wake Forest University. Chicago-based Ventas also plans to acquire nine development sites contiguous to the existing assets for $50 million. The purchase will significantly diversify Ventas’ portfolio, as the company’s previous focus was almost exclusively on seniors housing and healthcare properties. Ventas has the second-largest portfolio of seniors housing in the United States with 785 properties totaling 69,708 units, according to the American Seniors Housing Association’s most recent numbers. The transaction includes a long-term management …

July 6, 2016

Illinois Midwest Office Top Stories

American Realty Advisors Acquires Chicago’s 1K Fulton Property for $257M

by Christina Cannon July 5, 2016

CHICAGO — American Realty Advisors has acquired 1K Fulton, a Class A office property in Chicago, for $257 million. The complex consists of a 10-story building, formerly a cold storage facility that was built in 1923, and a six-story building that was added in 2015. Sterling Bay was the seller of the 550,000-square-foot property, which is currently 97 percent leased. Hartshorne Plunkard Architects designed the complex. Google’s Midwest headquarters currently occupies roughly two-thirds of the office space. “We were attracted to this asset because it has long-term leases with quality tenants, such as Google,” says Martha Shelley, senior portfolio manager for American Realty Advisors. “We anticipate that this property will remain a key driver of the continued growth of the River West Fulton Marketplace over time given the abundance of street level amenities, immediate proximity of public transportation, new hotels and housing adjacent to this asset.” Floor plates at 1K Fulton range from 38,500 square feet to 71,000 square feet. Amenities at the property include indoor parking, a rooftop deck, shuttle service, Pressbox dry cleaning, ZipCar, bicycle detailing and repair station, a fitness center and ground-floor retail and restaurants. “This acquisition fulfills all of our criteria: superior location, great tenants, …

July 5, 2016

Features Multifamily Top Stories

Wanted: Tech-Savvy Apartment Managers to Boost Revenue

by Jeff Shaw July 5, 2016

Today’s apartment property managers wear a lot of hats. In addition to being responsible for leasing up residential buildings or knowing how to calculate a property’s return on investment, they must also maintain healthy relationships with their workers, owners and residents. Figuring out how to leverage technology is key to achieving this delicate balancing act. According to a 2015 survey by the National Multifamily Housing Council (NMHC), 37 percent of households within the United States rent versus own. That’s up from 32 percent in 2010. Approximately 26 percent of those who rent are under the age of 30. This shift from owning to renting by younger residents has changed the way the industry reacts to them. “It’s one of the interesting dynamics of the 21st century and has changed the way we and other management firms do business,” says Mark Zettl, chief operating officer of Chicago-based Waterton, an owner and operator of multifamily and hospitality assets across the United States. “While customer service and satisfaction have always been priorities, today’s managers are constantly being held to a higher standard — one that measures response times in minutes and hours rather than days,” says Zettl. “We’ve embraced the change because the …

July 5, 2016

Office Texas Top Stories

Hines REIT Sells Seven West Coast Office Properties to Blackstone for $1.1B as Part of Liquidation Plan

by Christina Cannon July 1, 2016

HOUSTON — Hines REIT Inc., one of three public non-listed REITs sponsored by investment firm Hines, has approved a liquidation plan in which Hines REIT will sell seven West Coast office assets to an affiliate of Blackstone Real Estate Partners VIII — a transaction valued at $1.1 billion. The portfolio totals approximately 3 million square feet, and includes Howard Hughes Center Los Angeles; Daytona Buildings in Redmond, Wash.; Laguna Buildings in Redmond, Wash.; 5th and Bell in Seattle; 2100 Powell in Emeryville, Calif.; 2851 Junction Ave. in San Jose, Calif.; and 1900 and 2000 Alameda in San Mateo, Calif. Hines REIT is currently in the process of liquidating the remaining assets that comprise its portfolio that includes the Chase Tower in Dallas and 321 North Clark in Chicago, along with a grocery-anchored retail portfolio located primarily in the Southeast. “When we first launched Hines REIT in 2003, it was structured as a perpetual life vehicle, much like many institutional funds,” says Sherri Schugart, president and CEO of Hines REIT. “Impacts from the Great Recession caused us to close the fund to new investors in 2009, so we began considering other options that could provide the best opportunities for enhancing stockholder …

July 1, 2016

Connecticut Multifamily Northeast Texas Top Stories

Cornerstone Real Estate Advisers to Acquire ACRE Capital Holdings for $93M

by John Nelson June 30, 2016

HARTFORD, CONN. AND PLANO, TEXAS — Cornerstone Real Estate Advisers has agreed to acquire ACRE Capital Holdings LLC, the agency lending subsidiary of Ares Commercial Real Estate Corp. (NYSE: ACRE). The $93 million transaction could close as early as the third quarter of this year. The acquisition of ACRE Capital expands Cornerstone’s commercial loan origination platform, nearly doubling the size of the company’s multifamily loan portfolio from approximately $5 billion to $10 billion. Cornerstone traditionally originates larger balance loans, while ACRE Capital typically focuses on smaller balance loans on behalf of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and HUD. In addition to being complementary firms, the acquisition will allow Cornerstone to address the need for affordable housing financing in the marketplace, according to Scott Brown, global president and CEO of Cornerstone. “The affordable housing segment of the marketplace is underserved, and acquiring ACRE Capital will allow us to meaningfully address the current and looming scarcity in affordable residential housing and increase lending to communities nationwide,” says Brown. “We look forward to joining forces with the professionals at ACRE Capital to expand opportunities for their borrowers.” ACRE Capital originates and services multifamily mortgages and seniors housing and healthcare facility loans. The company is …

June 30, 2016

Conference Coverage Features Top Stories

Seniors Housing Operators Share Their Secrets to Smart Growth at InterFace Conference in Chicago

by Katie Sloan June 30, 2016

CHICAGO — The U.S. economy may be stuck in low gear, but tactical and targeted growth strategies can produce outsized returns in the seniors housing space, according to a panel of property owners and operators who spoke during France Media’s InterFace Seniors Housing Midwest conference. The event, which took place June 21 at The Westin Chicago River North hotel, attracted 265 attendees from the seniors housing industry. Close attention to rental rates and occupancies boosts top-line revenue growth, said panelist Joe Solari, vice president of corporate development at Capital Senior Living. The Dallas-based company owns and operates 126 independent and assisted living properties. “We focus on buildings that are less than 90 percent occupied,” said Solari. Other successful growth strategies at Capital Senior Living include converting independent living units to those designed for a higher level of care, and the acquisition of stabilized communities in locales where the company already operates. “We can absorb these properties without almost any increase in corporate overhead,” said Solari. Moderated by Adam Heavenrich, managing director of Chicago-based Heavenrich & Co., the panel shared other effective corporate growth strategies. Participants included Bob Karn, executive vice president and CFO, Allegro Senior Living; Isaac Scott, principal, Anthem …

June 30, 2016

California Multifamily Top Stories Western

City of Anaheim Approves $364M, 1,079-Unit Luxury Apartment Building Near Angel Stadium

by Jeff Shaw June 29, 2016

ANAHEIM, CALIF. — The mayor and city council of Anaheim have unanimously approved construction of Jefferson Stadium Park, a 17.9-acre development adjacent to Angel Stadium of Anaheim, home of Major League Baseball’s Los Angeles Angels. Multifamily developer JPI is building the $364 million project, which centers around a 1,079-unit luxury apartment community. The development also includes a 1.1-acre public park and 14,600 square feet of retail space. The company plans to break ground in December. Residents of Jefferson Stadium Park will have access to Anaheim’s Regional Transportation Intermodal Center (ARTIC). The development is one mile from the Downtown Disney Shopping District, Disneyland and California Adventure theme parks. Also nearby is the public marketplace of the Anaheim Packing District. This is the second project for JPI in Anaheim’s Platinum Triangle neighborhood. Currently under construction is the $120 million Jefferson Platinum Triangle, a 400-unit luxury apartment community scheduled for occupancy in the fall of 2017. “Anaheim’s Platinum Triangle is a model for development efforts that encourage new projects, enhancing quality living experiences for the community,” says Heidi Mather, senior vice president and development partner for JPI. “This new project only strengthens our commitment to be a part of the revitalization of this …

June 29, 2016

Hospitality Maryland Restaurant Retail Southeast Top Stories

Cordish Companies Unveils Plans for $200M Expansion at Maryland Live! Casino

by Katie Sloan June 28, 2016

HANOVER, MD. — The Cordish Companies has unveiled plans for a $200 million expansion at Maryland Live! Casino in Hanover. The expansion will include a 17-story, flagship Live! Hotel tower; an event center; meeting spaces; new dining options; a Live! Retail store; approximately 1,000 additional parking spaces; and a day spa and fitness center. The hotel will offer 310 luxury guest rooms, 52 of which will be suites. The Grand Event Center will feature a 1,500-seat concert venue with a built-in performance stage. The development’s event center will also offer flexible pre-function and meeting space, an executive boardroom and banquet seating capable of hosting up to 800 guests. New dining options will include a 24-hour café, a gelato bar and a signature lobby bar with more than 50 seats. Contractors, project architects and designers tapped by The Cordish Cos. for the project include Klai Juba Wald Architects, McLaren Engineering Group, Laurence Lee Associates, Cleo Design Corp., Selbert Perkins, Corsi & Associates, Lynne Curry Spa Consulting, Giovanetti Schulman Assoc. and EDSA. Tutor Perini Corp. will be the project’s general contractor. The project is expected to create approximately 400 new jobs and 550 construction jobs for the region, according to the developers. …

June 28, 2016

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