CHICAGO — Building revenue and demand for new commercial construction may be rising fast, but so are costs. Profitability for new commercial building projects will be tricky in 2015, as soaring demand may not lead to soaring profits, according to a new JLL report on U.S. non-residential construction activity. “Leasing momentum is boosting construction demand across multiple commercial property sectors — but raw material and labor costs are making it more expensive to get out of the ground than ever before,” says Todd Burns, president of JLL Project and Development Services for the Americas. “Demand is exploding, but demand isn’t everything. You have to consider the bottom line of every project to make sure it makes economic sense short- and long-term.” Affirming rising demand, the consensus forecast of the American Institute of Architects calls for spending on non-residential construction to rise 7.7 percent in every commercial property sector this year. Likewise, the Construction Backlog Indicator, which tracks non-residential construction, hit a post-downturn high of 8.8 months in the third quarter of 2014. The JLL report highlights several trends to watch this year on the construction front: • Recovery Continues, Backlog Builds — The overall value of buildings constructed has continued …
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CHICAGO — Blackstone (NYSE: BX) has announced that Blackstone Real Estate Partners VII has entered into a definitive purchase agreement to acquire Willis Tower in downtown Chicago. According to the Chicago Tribune, Blackstone purchased the 110-story office tower from 233 South Wacker LLC for $1.3 billion. “We are delighted to be acquiring this iconic building on behalf of our limited partners. We are bullish on Chicago as companies expand within and move into the city and look for first-class office space,” says Jacob Werner, managing director of Blackstone’s real estate group. “Moreover, we see great potential in further improving both the building’s retail operations and the tourist experience for one of the most popular destinations for visitors to Chicago.” Formerly known as the Sears Tower, the 3.8 million square-foot office building is the second-tallest office building in the United States and the fifth-tallest office building in the world. The skyscraper opened to tenants, including Sears, in 1973 but construction was formally completed in 1974. Sears Tower was sold to a collective ownership group comprising Joseph Chetrit, Joseph Moinan and American Landmark Properties in 2004 for $841 million. Sears Tower was renamed Willis Tower in 2009 due to the Willis Group …
LAKE FOREST, CALIF. — Levy Acquisition Corp. (NASDAQ: LEVY) has acquired Del Taco Holdings for about $500 million. Del Taco will now become Levy’s sole direct subsidiary. Del Taco has been a popular choice for Mexican-American fast casual fare in Southern California since 1964. It now operates 547 Mexican-American restaurants in 16 states, making it the second-largest Mexican American quick-service restaurant chain in the U.S. The largest concentration of stores is situated in the Pacific Southwest. Del Taco owns more than 300 of these stores. The remaining stores are owned and operated by franchisees. Levy Acquisition Corp. (LAC) plans to change its name to Del Taco Restaurants Inc. once the merger is complete in June. It will continue to trade on the NASDAQ stock exchange. Del Taco will receive a private equity investment of $120 million from restaurateur Larry Levy’s family and other new investors (operating as LLI) prior to the sale’s closing. Levy will become chairman of the Del Taco board of directors after the equity investment is made, before the merger is complete. He will also partner with management to oversee the company’s growth and brand building. The LLI purchase price is based on a $500 million enterprise …
BOSTON — Millennium Partners’ 60-story project, the Millennium Tower Boston, is 70 percent sold. The luxury high-rise residential tower, which is set to open in 2016, has achieved $650 million in condominium sales. Approximately 80 percent of sales have been to local buyers. Construction started in 2013 on the 1.1 million-square-foot project. Designed by Blake Middleton of Handel Architects, the 60-floor Millennium Tower Boston will consist of 442 residences with a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom units ranging in size from 821 to 12,846 square feet. Units will start at $1.2 million and range in price up to $37.5 million for a 12,846-square-foot penthouse occupying the entire 60th floor. Currently under construction at the site of the former Filene’s Department Store and the Burnham Building, Millennium Tower Boston will offer 360-degree views of Boston’s skyline. “We are thrilled with the initial sales momentum of Millennium Tower Boston and how the project has been embraced by the local community,” says Richard Baumert of Millennium Partners. “Millennium Tower Boston promises to be a significant influence, not only in the evolution of luxury living in Boston, but also in the transformation of one of the oldest established neighborhoods in the country to …
PORTSMOUTH, N.H. — The average sales price per room for U.S. hotels in 2014 was $156,002, up a whopping 20.6 percent on a year-over-year basis. According to Lodging Econometrics (LE), the healthy increase stems from record-setting hotel revenues and profits, low interest rates and the availability of attractive financing terms. LE reports that the total investment in the U.S. lodging industry was an estimated $30.8 billion last year. In 2014, of the 1,292 total hotel assets that transacted or transferred ownership, 935 reported a sales price. The Portsmouth, N.H-based firm anticipates that hotel prices will accelerate for the next several years as hotel performance continues to shine in the absence of any significant new supply. A critical part of the equation is that interest rates, although expected to rise, still remain attractive causing competition to intensify for prized single assets and portfolios. Since the market bottomed out in 2009 with 528 total transactions, deal volume over the last five years has ranged between 1,261 and 1,457 transactions. It is a narrow range far distant from the 3,218 transactions and transfers reported in 2007, according to LE. There were 799 single-asset transactions and another 481 hotels that changed ownership as part …
JESSUP BOROUGH AND WILKES-BARRE, PA. — An affiliate of Endurance Real Estate Group LLC has acquired a three-building bulk warehouse/distribution portfolio totaling 544,640 square feet in Northeastern Pennsylvania. The purchase price was not disclosed. The portfolio includes a 166,500-square-foot property at 7 Alberigi Drive and a 129,500-square-foot property located at 15 Alberigi Drive, both in Jessup Borough; and a 248,640-square foot building located at 32 S. Preston Drive in Wilkes-Barre. “This deal represented a rare opportunity to acquire Class-A quality assets below replacement cost in a tightening submarket in one of the strongest warehouse/distribution corridors in the country,” says Benjamin Cohen, president of Endurance. “Two of the buildings suffered from persistent vacancy largely due to the time frame in which they were delivered (2006-2008),” says Cohen. “[But] with leasing market conditions tightening and the inherent appeal of these assets combined with a fresh approach to property leasing and management (with suites in move-in condition), we feel confident that we can step in and stabilize the portfolio quickly.” The portfolio is currently 50 percent occupied. The buildings were constructed in the late 2000s and feature Class A warehouse/distribution specifications, including 30-foot ceiling heights, ESFR sprinkler systems and expandable loading capacity with …
INDIANAPOLIS — Simon Property Group Inc. (NYSE: SPG), the largest mall owner in the United States, has proposed purchasing Santa Monica, California-based real estate investment trust The Macerich Company (NYSE: MAC) by acquiring all of Macerich’s outstanding stock for $91 per share in cash and Simon shares, in a bid valued at more than $22.4 billion. The proposed transaction includes the assumption of Macerich’s approximately $6.4 billion of debt outstanding. Macerich shareholders would receive consideration in the form of 50 percent cash and 50 percent Simon common stock, utilizing a fixed exchange ratio. Indianapolis-based Simon also has reached an agreement in principle to sell selected Macerich assets to General Growth Properties Inc. in connection with the closing of the acquisition. Neither transaction financing nor the sale of assets to General Growth will be a condition to closing the proposed transaction. “We believe Simon’s cash and stock offer would bring compelling value to shareholders of both companies,” said David Simon, Simon’s chairman and CEO. “Macerich shareholders would receive a significant current cash premium as well as the long-term upside potential of an investment in Simon, which is widely recognized for its high-quality portfolio and industry-leading operating performance. “Simon has consistently delivered …
By Nellie Day LOS ANGELES — The days of large hospitals and medical campuses may be numbered, according to panelists at InterFace’s Healthcare Real Estate West 2015, which was held Feb. 25 at the Omni Hotel in downtown Los Angeles. The sixth-annual event drew more than 220 attendees. The panel discussion topics ranged from the Affordable Care Act to cutting-edge technologies to the next big plays for healthcare REITs. While the topics were varied and expansive, all roads led to a central issue: the decentralization of patient care. “The days of providers or healthcare systems thinking they can control patient movement are gone,” said Dr. Setul Patel, CEO of Texas-based Neighbors Health System and a “Hospital and Healthcare System Perspective” panelist. “It’s absurd. Patients nowadays can go where they get good care at a good price. The biggest frustration is how inefficient big healthcare systems are. They need to provide a better quality of care at a cheaper rate and in a better fashion.” That’s what Patel and his healthcare system are attempting to do. Neighbors Health System is a regional emergency medicine healthcare delivery model that provides care through free-standing emergency facilities. Most of its centers are located in …
NEW YORK AND DALLAS — MCR Development LLC, the seventh-largest hotel owner/operator in the United States, has acquired a portfolio of 18 Marriott and Hilton hotels for approximately $206 million. Collectively, the portfolio spans 1,787 rooms across 11 states in cities including Charlotte, N.C.; Savannah, Ga.; Cincinnati; Tulsa, Okla.; and San Antonio. The properties in the portfolio have an average age of less than 10 years and are unencumbered by management agreements. “This acquisition significantly enhances the size and scale of our premium branded select-service hotel portfolio in the United States. Adding this collection of high-quality assets further strengthens our relationship with Marriott and Hilton as our portfolio will now include 50 Marriott and 31 Hilton hotels,” says Tyler Morse, CEO and managing partner of MCR Development. “This investment meets our strict underwriting criteria of selectively acquiring high-yielding premium-branded hotels in high-growth business and leisure markets with multiple demand generators. Given the properties’ attractive locations and unencumbered management agreements, the hotels are well positioned to deliver strong returns.” MCR will own and manage the portfolio. The properties will continue to operate under their respective Marriott or Hilton brand affiliations, with long-term franchise agreements in place. The portfolio comprises multiple brands, …
ISSAQUAH, WASH. — Life Care Services (LCS) has commenced construction on Phase II of Timber Ridge at Talus in Issaquah. The 10-acre retirement community is located at 100 Timber Ridge Way N.W., at the base of Cougar Mountain. It is situated within the 630-acre, master-planned community of Talus. Phase I of the project contains a 184-residence retirement community. Existing units feature large windows that promote natural light, wrap-around terraces and large stone fireplaces. Timber Ridge also contains the Briarwood Health Center, which provides a continuum of care that includes routine wellness checks, short- and long-term skilled nursing, memory care and recuperative care services. Phase II of the project will add 145 independent living apartment homes to the community. The new supply will feature 15 different floor plans ranging in size from 700 square feet to 2,273 square feet in a variety of one-bedroom and two-bedroom units. All residences will also feature patios or balconies. Briarwood Health Center will also be expanded to include 26 assisted living/memory care apartments and nine private transitional care suites. The Medicare-certified center also offers physical and occupational therapies. The Type A LifeCare senior living community provides unlimited days of long-term healthcare services. The community will …