Top Stories

Blackstone to Acquire Majority Stake in 6 MSF Texas Industrial Portfolio for $718M

by Hayden Spiess April 10, 2025

DALLAS AND HOUSTON — Blackstone Real Estate (NYSE: BX), the largest owner of commercial real estate globally, has agreed for its Core+ funds business affiliate to acquire a 95 percent stake in an industrial portfolio in Texas totaling 6 million square feet. The purchase price is $718 million. Crow Holdings, the Dallas-based real estate and development firm that developed the properties, is the seller and will retain a 5 percent ownership stake. The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2025. The portfolio comprises 25 Class A buildings located predominantly in submarkets of Dallas and Houston. According to Blackstone, the metros are two of the top-performing logistics markets in the country. “We are thrilled to acquire this high-quality portfolio located in some of the best performing U.S. industrial markets,” says David Levine, co-head of Americas acquisitions for Blackstone. “With limited vacancy and new construction starts down over 80 percent from the 2022 peak, logistics remains a high conviction theme for us; we are proud owners of more than $90 billion of warehouses in North America and nearly $170 billion in total around the world.” Founded in 1991, Blackstone currently has $315 billion of investor capital under management …

April 10, 2025

Development Florida Hospitality Restaurant Retail Southeast Top Stories

Universal Orlando Resort to Open 750-Acre Epic Universe Theme Park on May 22

by John Nelson April 9, 2025

ORLANDO, FLA. — Universal Orlando Resort’s newest theme park, Epic Universe, is officially opening on May 22, marking the first major theme park to open in Central Florida in 26 years, according to CNN. The new park will include five distinct components: Celestial Park, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter’s Ministry of Magic, Super Nintendo World, How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk and Dark Universe. According to multiple media outlets, Epic Universe is estimated to have cost roughly $7.7 billion to build, although Universal Orlando Resort hasn’t commented on the new park’s price tag. At 750 acres, including both guest areas and backstage space for employees, Epic Universe is also reported to be the largest singular theme park in the world. The main hub of Epic Universe will be Celestial Park, which offers guests two rides — a dual-track roller coaster and a carousel — as well as shops, restaurants and bars. From this hub, guests can choose to enter four other portals, with each leading to a different themed land. Dark Universe brings the famous “Universal Pictures Monsters,” including Dracula, the Wolf Man and the Invisible Man, to life, along with its anchor attraction, “Monsters Unchained: …

April 9, 2025

California Development Mixed-Use Top Stories Western

Kroenke Organization Unveils Plans for 52-Acre Mixed-Use Development for Los Angeles Rams Headquarters, Training Facility

by John Nelson April 8, 2025

LOS ANGELES — The Kroenke Organization, a Denver-based real estate and development firm founded by Stan Kroenke in 1983, has unveiled plans for the development of Rams Village at Warner Center, a 52-acre mixed-use development in Woodland Hills, a Los Angeles neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley. Stan Kroenke is the owner of the NFL’s Los Angeles Rams, which will occupy the development with both its new permanent headquarters and a state-of-the-art training facility. Rams Village is part of an 100-acre tract within the master-planned community of Warner Center that the Kroenke Organization purchased in 2022. That land currently includes the Rams’ temporary practice facility that opened last August and which the team will use during the construction of Rams Village at Warner Center. Kroenke and the Rams organization did not disclose construction costs, but the Los Angeles Times reports that the development could cost upwards of $10 billion to build. “Los Angeles is extremely proud to have the Rams announce their new home in the Valley along with new major plans and commitments that will benefit not only the San Fernando Valley, but our entire city,” says Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. “This proposed project will be transformative — …

April 8, 2025

California Loans Multifamily Northeast Pennsylvania Seniors Housing Top Stories Western

BWE Arranges $308M Refinancing of Two Seniors Housing Properties in Metro Los Angeles, Philadelphia

by Taylor Williams April 7, 2025

WOODLAND HILLS, CALIF AND AMBLER, PA. — BWE, a Cleveland-based commercial real estate financial services firm, has arranged the $308 million refinancing for a pair of seniors housing properties in the Los Angeles and Philadelphia metro areas. The financing was structured as a single transaction on behalf of a joint venture between Columbia Pacific Advisors, LAMB Properties and Harbert South Bay Partners. Momentum Senior Living operates both properties. Located in the northwest Los Angeles neighborhood of Woodland Hills, The Variel is a 336-unit community that offers independent living, assisted living and memory care services, as well as a range of amenities and wellness programs. The 270,000-square-foot (net rentable) community opened in July 2022 and was more than 90 percent occupied at the time of the loan closing. Located in the northern Philadelphia suburb of Ambler, Pa., The 501 at Mattison Estate is a 250-unit community that also offers independent living, assisted living and memory care services. Spanning approximately 200,000 net rentable square feet, the property opened in June 2022 and was 95 percent occupied at the time of loan closing. Amenities at The 501 at Mattison Estate include an art studio, courtyards with lounges and grills, a dog park, fitness …

April 7, 2025

Residences at The Streets of St. Charles

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Morgan Properties Acquires 11-Property Midwest Multifamily Portfolio for $501M

by Channing Hamilton April 4, 2025

CONSHOHOCKEN, PA. — Morgan Properties has acquired a portfolio of 3,054 apartment units across 11 communities in eight states. Chicago-based Trilogy Real Estate Group was the seller in the deal, which was valued at $501 million. The communities — which are located in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma and Tennessee — were built between 1989 and 2018. Adam Doneger and Josh King of Newmark brokered the sale of 10 of the communities in the portfolio, while Walker & Dunlop brokered the sale of one property. Morgan Properties states that the firm plans to implement a value-add strategy to increase the marketability and comfort of the properties. Interior upgrades will include the installation of new flooring, appliances, cabinets and countertops, as well as smart home features. The new owner will also expand and refresh the onsite amenities. The acquisition expands Morgan Properties’ apartment holdings to more than 100,000 units across the nation. The Conshohocken-based development and investment firm now owns and operates roughly 360 communities in 22 states. “As we continue to strategically expand our national portfolio, we remain selective and opportunistic in this environment,” said Jonathan Morgan and Jason Morgan, co-presidents of Morgan Properties. “Morgan Properties has a proven …

April 4, 2025

Acquisitions Healthcare North Carolina Southeast Top Stories

Duke Health Acquires Lake Norman Regional Medical Center in Metro Charlotte for $284M

by John Nelson April 3, 2025

MOORESVILLE, N.C. — Duke University Health System (Duke Health), a Durham, N.C.-based healthcare affiliate of Duke University, has acquired Lake Norman Regional Medical Center, an acute-care hospital in the Charlotte suburb of Mooresville, for $284 million. Formerly owned by subsidiaries of Tennessee-based Community Health Systems Inc., the 123-bed facility will now operate as Duke Health Lake Norman Hospital. “We have a bright future ahead and look forward to bringing the excellence and innovation of Duke Health to enhance the care offered at Duke Health Lake Norman Hospital and clinics,” says Craig Albanese, CEO of Duke Health. Duke Health Lake Norman Hospital offers 24-hour emergency care, labor and delivery services, cardiology, surgical and orthopedic care and an outpatient imaging center. The hospital has been operating since 1926 when it opened as Lowrance Hospital. The property comprises a main 171,000-square-foot hospital building and a separate 6,200-square-foot outpatient facility. Over the next several months, the hospital’s electronic medical records will be integrated into Duke Health’s system for patients to receive full access to the provider’s specialty care. Employees and providers at the hospital were also offered jobs with Duke Health to “enable a seamless transition for patients to have continued access to the providers, …

April 3, 2025

Affordable Housing Development Florida Mixed-Use Multifamily Southeast Top Stories

Miami-Dade County Commission Approves $3B Little River District Mixed-Use Development

by Kristin Harlow April 2, 2025

MIAMI — The Miami-Dade County Commission has granted final approval for Little River District, a $3 billion mixed-use development in Miami’s Little River and Little Haiti neighborhoods. SG Holdings, a joint venture between Swerdlow Group, SJM Partners and Alben Duffie, is the developer. Spanning 63 acres, the project is slated to include more than 5,700 affordable and workforce housing units alongside big box retail stores, small businesses, a major grocery operator, green public space and transit infrastructure with the addition of a new train station. Construction is expected to begin in 2026, with a projected development timeline of eight years. Little River District is considered the largest affordable housing development in Miami-Dade County’s history, according to a news release. Plans call for 2,284 affordable housing units for residents earning up to 60 percent of the area median income (AMI), 1,398 workforce rental units for those making 120 percent of AMI and 2,048 potential workforce condo units, which would allow the buyers to obtain significant subsidies to meet the purchase price at up to 140 percent AMI. Current residents of existing public housing complexes situated within the development site are guaranteed the right to return to new units at Little River …

April 2, 2025

Development Leasing Activity Oregon Restaurant Retail Top Stories Western

Dutch Bros Coffee Aims to Double Store Count to 2,029 Locations by 2029

by John Nelson April 1, 2025

GRANTS PASS, ORE. — A little over a month after unveiling its 1,000th retail location, drive-thru coffee chain Dutch Bros Inc. (NYSE: BROS) is expanding its operations with goals to reach 2,029 shops by 2029. Originating in 1992 as a pushcart by the railroad tracks in downtown Grants Pass, Dutch Bros opened its first franchise in 2000. Dutch Bros Coffee now has a significant presence in the Pacific Northwest and is expanding with more locations across the United States, moving eastward to Florida, Texas, Oklahoma and Georgia. Looking further out, Dutch Bros sees potential for 7,000-plus locations nationwide, up from its original estimate of 4,000 shops. In 2025 alone, the company expects to open “at least” 160 new stores. The company recently hired former YUM! Brands executive Brian Cahoe as chief development officer to oversee the expansion strategy. The Dutch Bros management team recently provided updates on the business and its long-term growth goals at its Investor Day meeting last week. “We are pleased to deliver quarter-to-date first-quarter same-shop sales above our expectations, supported by positive traffic and strong business momentum,” says Christine Barone, CEO and president of Dutch Bros. Through March 24, same-store sales increased 4.6 percent in the …

April 1, 2025

Industrial Loans Top Stories

Clarion Provides Financing for 2.3 MSF National Industrial Outdoor Storage Portfolio

by Taylor Williams March 31, 2025

NEW YORK CITY — A fund backed by New York City-based Clarion Partners has provided an undisclosed amount of financing for a national portfolio of eight industrial outdoor storage (IOS) properties totaling 2.3 million square feet. Eastdil Secured arranged the debt and acted as an advisor on the deal. The debt is a first mortgage loan for the refinancing of the national portfolio, and the borrower is a partnership between Outour Storage Investments and affiliates of Cerberus Capital Management. The portfolio encompasses properties in Chicago, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Houston, California’s Inland Empire, Dallas-Fort Worth and Atlanta with an aggregate size in excess of 50 acres. The Clarion fund also acquired a 7.6-acre IOS facility at 15550 Export Plaza Drive in Houston. The Houston property was recently upgraded, includes a 24,000-square-foot structure and was fully leased at the time of sale to a waste management services company. “This portfolio is a relatively rare assembly of IOS properties with best-in-class specifications, terrific market locations and a strong roster of national and regional credit tenants,” says Brent Jenkins, portfolio manager at Clarion Partners. “This financing provides an ideal opportunity to expose our investors to this high-demand subsector within the larger industrial and logistics …

March 31, 2025

Development Loans Mixed-Use Multifamily Retail Top Stories

S3 Capital Provides $210M Construction Loan for Mixed-Use Development in Brooklyn

by Channing Hamilton March 28, 2025

NEW YORK CITY — S3 Capital has provided a $210 million construction loan for a 28-story mixed-use project located at 6208 Eighth Ave. in the Sunset Park neighborhood of Brooklyn. Chicago-based Watermark Capital is the project’s sponsor. The company obtained the financing alongside its joint venture partner, Rubin Equities. Once completed, the development will consist of 497 apartment units and 100,000 square feet of retail space. Residents will have access to shared amenities such as a fitness center, rooftop terrace, bike storage, a yoga room, sauna, screening room and coworking spaces. The project is situated directly above the Eighth Avenue subway station. Prestige Construction will serve as the general contractor. An estimated completion date for the development was not disclosed. “We are thrilled to collaborate with Watermark Capital on this exciting project,” said Robert Schwartz, co-founder and partner at S3 Capital. “The Sunset Park housing market is significantly under-supplied, and this development will bring a substantial amount of in-demand, transit-oriented housing units to the community.” Morris Betesh, Alex Bailkin, Matt O’Hanlon and Israel Mermelstein of Arrow Real Estate Advisors arranged the loan on behalf of Watermark Capital. S3 Capital is wholly owned by Spruce Capital Partners, a New York City-based developer, owner, lender and investor. Since …

March 28, 2025

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