Top Stories

NEW YORK — The Orbach Group, an owner, developer, and manager of multifamily properties on the East Coast, has completed a large, two-part transaction in the Columbia South neighborhood of Manhattan’s Upper West Side, further positioning the firm as one of New York City’s single largest landlords. In the first transaction, The Orbach Group acquired a 33-building apartment portfolio in the Columbia South neighborhood of Manhattan’s Upper West Side, totaling 1,031 high-end rental units, for approximately $250 million. The seller was a joint venture between Heritage Real Estate Partners and Dune Capital. The Orbach Group then sold off 11 of those buildings totaling 499 units to two private buyers for approximately $100 million. The Orbach Group now owns and manages more than 1,500 apartment units in New York City and more than 5,500 units throughout its entire East Coast portfolio. Having netted 22 buildings totaling 532 units from this latest transaction and adding them to the firm’s existing portfolio, The Orbach Group now owns and manages 54 buildings in Columbia South between 101st Street and 114th Street alone, with plans to acquire additional properties. The newly acquired buildings include a mix of one-bedroom, two-bedroom, and three-bedroom units. Market rents will …

LOS ANGELES — The Yucaipa Cos., the investment firm founded by supermarket mogul Ron Burkle, has agreed to purchase the El Segundo, Calif.-based grocery chain Fresh & Easy. While the purchase price was undisclosed, the assets included in the transaction — more than 150 stores, located mostly in Southern California, and a distribution and production facility in Riverside — were valued at $362.2 million (£229.3 million) at the end of fiscal 2012. United Kingdom retailer Tesco (LSE: TSCO) is selling Fresh & Easy just six years after launching the brand. Of the 200 stores currently operating, 50 will close in the coming weeks, the remainder being acquired and run as a new business under Yucaipa. Tesco will lend approximately $126.4 million to the new business as part of the deal. “The decision we are announcing represents the best outcome for Tesco shareholders and Fresh & Easy’s stakeholders,” says Philip Clarke, CEO of Tesco. “It offers us an orderly and efficient exit from the U.S. market while protecting the jobs of more than 4,000 colleagues at Fresh & Easy.” Even with those 4,000 employees being transferred to the new business, approximately 400 will lose their jobs as a result of the …

OAKLAND, CALIF. — Thailand-based Land & Houses PCL has purchased Domain, a 264-unit luxury, transit-oriented apartment community in Oakland, for $103.2 million. The sales price equates to approximately $391,000 per unit. Institutional Property Advisors (IPA), the multifamily brokerage division of Calabasas, Calif.-based Marcus & Millichap that represents institutional and major private investors, arranged the sale on behalf of the seller, an affiliate of Berkshire Property Advisors. Stanford Jones, executive vice president of investments, and Philip Saglimbeni and Salvatore Saglimbeni, both vice presidents of investments at IPA, represented the seller in the transaction. Domain, which was completed in 2011, is the only luxury rental community in Oakland’s City Center neighborhood, according to Philip Saglimbeni. He also says that Oakland’s rental rates are on the rise. According to Marcus & Millichap’s most recent market report on Oakland’s multifamily market, effective rents will settle at $1,575 per month by the end of 2013, an annual increase of 3.3 percent. “In addition to the continually improving local employment fundamentals, various competing properties are now converting to for-sale condominiums. The combination of these factors suggests rental rates will continue to climb throughout the Oakland market,” says Saglimbeni. The community is located at 1389 Jefferson St., …

LAS VEGAS — A joint venture between Tristar Capital LLC and RFR Holding LLC has received $580 million in refinancing for the Miracle Mile Shops, a 501,522-square-foot mall located on the Las Vegas Strip. A lender group led by Cantor Commercial Real Estate provided the 10-year CMBS loan. JPMorgan and Citigroup were the other lenders in the financing, which was arranged by HFF. “HFF evaluated numerous financing alternatives to secure the optimal recapitalization terms, keeping in mind the significant value creation opportunities ahead for the mall,” says Michael Fuchs, co-founder of RFR Holding. “In the end, the financing provided us the desired flexibility and returns.” The New York City-based firms are using the loan to refinance existing debt and provide funds for additional improvements, including the renovation of the retail area surrounding the PH Live Theatre. In 2004, the joint venture acquired Miracle Mile Shops and immediately embarked on a $130 million renovation and rebranding program. The mall is currently 95 percent leased to more than 180 tenants, including many with sales exceeding $1,000 per square foot annually. Notable tenants include H&M, Urban Outfitters, GUESS, Gap, Cabo Wabo, Tommy Bahama and Quicksilver. “We have positioned Miracle Mile Shops as one …

LOS ANGELES AND ORLANDO, FLA. — Parkway Properties (NYSE: PKY) and Thomas Properties Group Inc. (NYSE: TPGI) have signed a definitive merger agreement whereby Thomas Properties will merge into Parkway in a stock-for-stock transaction valued at $1.2 billion. The board of directors of each company unanimously approved the merger, which is expected to close by the end of the fourth quarter. Upon completion of the transaction, Parkway will assume Thomas Properties’ ownership interest in two office properties in Houston and five office properties in Austin. In addition, Parkway may take ownership of three assets in Northern Virginia that secure debt. “Parkway will be adding a portfolio of seven, high-quality assets totaling 4.9 million square feet, each located in one of Parkway’s targeted submarkets. This transaction will significantly expand and upgrade our presence in Houston and simultaneously will allow us to fulfill our stated strategy of expanding into the Austin market,” says James Heistand, president and CEO of Orlando-based Parkway. “We continue to believe that our markets are in the early stages of recovery, and this transaction will give us an attractive basis with potential opportunity to create additional value through occupancy gains and rental rate growth.” Upon consummation of the …

SAN FRANCISCO — Berkeley Point Capital LLC and Freddie Mac have arranged $325 million in refinancing for The Gateway, a 1,254-unit multifamily property with more than 62,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space in San Francisco’s central business district. The interest-only loan includes a 10-year term at a fixed rate of 3.38 percent. The property, built on nearly eight acres between 1965 and 1967, offers residents both city and San Francisco Bay views. Among the retail tenants are Safeway, Starbucks and Bank of America. The Gateway has been in the portfolios of Berkeley Point and Freddie Mac since 1997. The organizations previously refinanced the property in 1997 and 2005, and second mortgages were placed in 2001 and 2007. “This is a one-of-a-kind asset, and we wanted it to remain in our portfolio for at least another 10 years,” says Mitch Clarfield, originator of the loan and senior managing director at Berkeley Point. Due to their familiarity with the borrower and the asset, Berkeley Point and Freddie Mac were able to lock in the interest rate within 15 days of beginning negotiations. Berkeley Point was also able to extend the rate lock at minimal cost to the buyer, allowing for long-term …

HOUSTON — Inland American Lodging Group Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Inland American Real Estate, has acquired two Houston-area Westin hotels for approximately $220 million. The 24-story Westin Galleria sports 487 rooms and 71,000 square feet of meeting space, while the 21-floor Westin Oaks Houston offers 406 rooms and 23,500 square feet of meeting space, including a 4,500-square-foot banquet space that overlooks the downtown Houston skyline. Both properties are located in close proximity to the Galleria development, which offers more than 3 million square feet of retail. “The acquisition of these outstanding properties, the only hotels connected to the acclaimed Galleria mall complex, is an exciting step in our ongoing strategy to enhance our portfolio of upper-upscale hotels,” says Marcel Verbaas, president and CEO of Inland American Lodging Advisor Inc. “The Houston lodging market has continued to outperform the majority of the country, positioning these recently renovated properties for strong returns going forward.” Features of the Westin Galleria include an outdoor rooftop pool and Daily Grill restaurant, and the Westin Oaks Houston boasts the White Oak Kitchen + Drinks and Street Level Lobby Bar. Among the amenities found at either location are a business center, fitness center and concierge …

SAVANNAH, GA. — Premier Outlets, a division of Ben Carter Enterprises, has broken ground on the Outlet Mall of Georgia, a $200 million outlet development on Interstate 95 in Pooler, approximately 10 miles west of Savannah. The outlet mall will feature 500,000 square feet of restaurants, children's play areas and retail outlet stores. The project is expected to open in spring 2015. Savannah, located along the east coast of south Georgia, has more than 12 million visitors per year, according to Ben Carter, founder of Atlanta-based Ben Carter Enterprises. The site for the outlet mall has more than 25 million passing vehicles annually and its regional trade area encompasses more than 860,000 people. The new outlet center will contain more than 80 outlet stores and is projected to create approximately 800 to 900 permanent jobs for the Savannah area. In addition to the main retail venue, The Outlet Mall of Georgia is also offering about 45 acres of adjacent land for retail, restaurant and hotel development. Upon completion, the overall project will consist of approximately 1 million square feet. The groundbreaking ceremony, which was held on Tuesday, Sept. 3, included dignitaries Edna Branch Jackson, the mayor of Savannah; Mike Lamb, …

CHATTANOOGA, TENN. — CBL & Associates Properties Inc. (NYSE: CBL), a Chattanooga, Tenn.-based shopping center owner and developer, has sold three malls and related associated centers in a deal worth $176 million in cash. An offshore investor purchased the properties with an Atlanta-based partner, Hendon Properties, which will also oversee management and leasing at the malls. The properties include Georgia Square Mall and Georgia Square Plaza in Athens, Ga.; Panama City Mall and The Shoppes at Panama City in Panama City, Fla.; and Rivergate Mall and Village at Rivergate in Nashville. “We are pleased to complete the disposition of these assets, generating substantial equity and demonstrating our continued ability to effectively execute our capital plan,” says Stephen Lebovitz, president and CEO of CBL. Lebovitz says when combined with the $209 million in at-the-market proceeds generated through mid-year, as well as $44 million from the sale of office buildings completed earlier this year, CBL has raised more than $425 million in equity year-to-date. “This deliberate approach has allowed us to significantly reduce debt while minimizing dilution and strengthening our core portfolio.” Rivergate Mall and Village at Rivergate are located in Goodlettsville, Tenn., along Interstate 65 just north of Nashville. The 1.1 …

ALCOA, TENN. — Alcoa (NYSE: AA), a leading producer of fabricated and primary aluminum, has broken ground on a $275 million expansion to its Tennessee Operations, a 2,000-acre complex in the city of Alcoa, Tenn., approximately 15 miles south of Knoxville. The company states the expansion will create 200 permanent full-time jobs when completed in mid-2015. In addition, construction will create approximately 400 temporary jobs. Physical specifications of the expansion have not been disclosed, but new facilities for the production of high-strength automotive aluminum have been confirmed, as well as conversion of some existing can sheet capacity to automotive capacity. “This investment will help auto manufacturers make safe, fuel-efficient vehicles that consumers want,” says Klaus Kleinfeld, Alcoa chairman and CEO. “At the same time, we’re bringing jobs to Tennessee and growing our value-added businesses. It’s a great day all around.” Previously, the Tennessee Operations site has been devoted to the production of can sheet aluminum for beverage cans. The complex currently includes a can reclamation plant and smelter for production of ingots (large solid aluminum bars); hot rolling facilities that reduce ingots to 1/8-inch thick coil; and a continuous cold mill which reduces the aluminum to the width used for …