Top Stories

Gantry Arranges $180M in Construction Financing for VA Medical Clinic Near Raleigh

by Jeff Shaw November 22, 2022

GARNER, N.C. — Gantry has arranged $180 million in construction financing for the development of a 250,000-square-foot medical office facility in Garner, a suburb just south of Raleigh. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has fully pre-leased the property as a community-based outpatient clinic (CBOC) in a long-term agreement. Construction at the 17-acre site is scheduled to begin early next year. Gantry’s George Mitsanas, Peter Hillakas and Austin Ridge secured the construction-to-permanent loan on behalf of a private real estate investment company. One of Gantry’s correspondent life company lenders provided the 22-year loan, which features a fixed rate for the entirety of the loan. The rate was locked earlier this year at time of application. Gantry will act as the loan servicer throughout the loan term. The loan is the fifth in a series of financings this year that Gantry secured on behalf of a sponsor specializing in the construction of VA medical centers, with new loans totaling nearly $500 million in 2022. During the past three years, Gantry has completed over $1.1 billion of project financings for VA medical facilities with various borrowers. “The VA facilities program is part of a strategic effort to expand access to and …

November 22, 2022

Development Maryland Mixed-Use Office Southeast Top Stories

Federal Realty Tops Out Pike & Rose Office Tower in North Bethesda, Maryland

by John Nelson November 21, 2022

NORTH BETHESDA, MD. — Federal Realty Investment Trust (NYSE: FRT), a real estate investment trust based in Rockville, has topped out 915 Meeting Street, an office tower underway within the company’s Pike & Rose mixed-use development in North Bethesda. The building rises 16 stories and will comprise 250,000 square feet of office space upon completion, as well as 545 parking spaces and 6,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space. Choice Hotels International Inc. signed a lease last year to occupy nearly half of the office tower for its new corporate headquarters. Sodexo, a food services and facilities management company based in Paris, is another notable tenant that has preleased office space at 915 Meeting Street. General contractor Clark Construction Group and architectural firm Gensler lead the development team, which is targeting LEED Gold certification for the tower. “915 Meeting Street is our newest trophy building offering to the market,” says Jay Brinson, vice president of development at Federal Realty. “This collaborative effort with our partners at Clark and Gensler has resulted in a building that is 60 percent [preleased].” Clark Construction broke ground last December on 915 Meeting Street. With vertical construction complete, the firm is focused on building out …

November 21, 2022

Development Georgia Hospitality Multifamily Southeast Top Stories

Centennial Yards Breaks Ground on Two High-Rise Buildings in Downtown Atlanta as Part of $5B Project

by Jeff Shaw November 18, 2022

ATLANTA — Centennial Yards Co. has broken ground on two high-rise towers in downtown Atlanta as the next phase of the development plan that will turn the city’s Gulch district into a $5 billion multi-phase area known as Centennial Yards. One tower will be an 18-story, full-service, boutique hotel called Anthem, which will feature guest rooms averaging over 400 square feet, a pool deck with a bar and event room, an 8,000-square-foot ballroom and a rooftop restaurant and bar. The second tower, also rising 18 stories, will be an apartment building. The multifamily community will offer studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom floor plans and include features such a pool with an event lawn and grilling stations, on-site co-working space, a dog run, a fitness center and multiple lounges for residents. Individual units will feature interior design by Atlanta-based design firm TVS Architecture + Design. The two towers are adjacent to Mercedes-Benz Stadium and State Farm Arena, the sports venues that are home to the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks, NFL’s Atlanta Falcons and MLS’ Atlanta United. Atlanta-based architecture firm Goode Van Slyke Architects designed both buildings. The towers are slated for completion in 2025, ahead of the recently announced 2026 FIFA World …

November 18, 2022

Alabama Development Industrial Southeast Top Stories

First Solar Plans $1.1B Solar Module Manufacturing Facility in Northern Alabama

by Katie Sloan November 17, 2022

DECATUR, ALA. — First Solar Inc. (NASDAQ: FSLR) has announced plans to develop a $1.1 billion solar module manufacturing facility within Mallard Fox Industrial Park in Decatur, located near the Tennessee River southwest of Huntsville. The factory will contribute 3.5 gigawatts (GWDC) of renewable power each year and create over 700 new jobs for the state of Alabama upon its completion in 2025, according to the developer. First Solar hopes to expand its American manufacturing footprint to over 10 GWDC and a total investment of $4 billion in the coming years. The company currently has two factories operating in the state of Ohio with a third scheduled for completion during the first half of 2023, and several research and development (R&D) centers in California and Ohio. First Solar recently said it would expand its operations in the United States following passage of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which provides tax credits for domestically produced clean energy equipment. “The passage of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 has firmly placed America on the path to a sustainable energy future,” says Mark Widmar, CEO of First Solar. “Our Alabama facility, along with its sister factories in Ohio, will form part of the …

November 17, 2022

Acquisitions California Hospitality Top Stories Western

Tilman Fertitta Acquires Luxury Montage Laguna Beach Resort Hotel for $650M

by Kristin Harlow November 16, 2022

LAGUNA BEACH, CALIF. — Houston billionaire Tilman Fertitta has acquired the Montage Laguna Beach Resort Hotel overlooking the Pacific Ocean along the California coastline. China-based Dajia Insurance Group Co. sold the asset for $650 million, according to the Los Angeles Times. The luxury hotel, which opened in 2003, features 260 rooms. The 30-acre resort includes a 20,000-square-foot spa; outdoor recreation areas including two pools and direct beach access; a fine art collection; and more than 20,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting space. The Spa Montage offers eucalyptus steam rooms, dry redwood saunas, ocean air whirlpools, fireplace lounges, a fitness center, movement studio and lap pool. All of the guestrooms, including 60 suites, beach bungalow-style rooms and multi-bedroom villas, feature views of the Pacific Ocean. The hotel’s website shows that the nightly rate for a room with a king-sized bed and sitting area with sofa is $1,180. Fertitta, who purchased the NBA’s Houston Rockets for $2.2 billion in 2017, is no stranger to luxury hotels. In 2018, he built the Post Oak Hotel at Uptown Houston. He also owns 14 other hotels around the country, including the San Luis Resort in Galveston, Texas; five Golden Nugget casinos and hotels; …

November 16, 2022

Development Multifamily Texas Top Stories

Wilson Capital Proposes 80-Story Apartment Tower in Austin, Texas

by Jeff Shaw November 15, 2022

AUSTIN, TEXAS — Wilson Capital, an Austin-based real estate development firm, has unveiled plans for Wilson Towers, an 80-story apartment building in Austin. Totaling 450 residential units and rising 1,035 feet, the development would become the tallest building in Texas upon completion. The property is located at 410 E. Fifth St. in the heart of Austin’s downtown. It is less than a block from the MetroRail Downtown station, three blocks from the Congress Avenue retail and restaurant district, and six blocks from the Texas State Capitol building. Construction is scheduled to begin this summer. According to local real estate publication Towers, the project is a massive expansion upon previously released redevelopment plans for the site of Avenue Lofts, a 38-unit condominium property. Wilson Capital acquired the property via a negotiated buyout of the condos early this year. The record-breaking redevelopment plan would position Wilson Tower to rise 13 feet taller than the Waterline project located just a few blocks away, reports Towers. The property will feature residences ranging from studios to four-bedroom penthouses. Wilson Tower will also offer four floors of amenities for residents such as a cocktail lounge, movie theater, pool deck and an entire floor dedicated to pet …

November 15, 2022

Development Georgia Industrial Southeast Top Stories

FREYR Battery to Open $2.6B Manufacturing Plant in Metro Atlanta, Create 700 Jobs

by Taylor Williams November 14, 2022

COWETA COUNTY, GA. — FREYR Battery (NYSE: FREY), a Luxembourg-based battery manufacturer focused on sustainability, has announced plans to open a new plant in Coweta County, about 40 miles south of Atlanta. The project represents a total capital investment of approximately $2.6 billion. The exact location of the manufacturing facility, which will be known as Giga America, was not disclosed. However, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that the site will span 368 acres and will be situated near distribution centers for Amazon and Shopify. All of these facilities offer proximity to I-85, which connects Atlanta with Coweta County. Community and company leaders expect to create more than 700 new jobs over the next seven years. A timeline for completion was not disclosed. The local newspaper also reported that FREYR Battery considered more than 150 sites across 25 different states before settling on this specific location. The company’s products are designed to decarbonize transportation and energy systems, including as components of electric vehicles. “As we advance our U.S. expansion plan in cooperation with our key stakeholders, we expect to make meaningful investments to spur job creation and the eventual development of localized, decarbonized supply chains in the U.S. to enhance energy security …

November 14, 2022

Acquisitions New York Northeast Retail Top Stories

Kimco Realty Acquires Shopping Center Portfolio on Long Island for $375.8M

by John Nelson November 11, 2022

JERICHO, N.Y. — Kimco Realty (NYSE: KIM), a retail and mixed-use real estate REIT based in Jericho, has acquired a portfolio of eight shopping centers on Long Island. Kabro Associates, a privately held owner based in Woodbury, N.Y., sold the portfolio to Kimco for $375.8 million. Each of the eight retail centers, five of which are grocery-anchored, are located within a 15-minute drive of the Kimco corporate headquarters in Jericho. The centers in the sold portfolio include: • The Gardens at Great Neck • Woodbury Common • The Market Place • Stop & Shop Shopping Center • Southgate Shopping Center • Green Cove Plaza • Syosset Corners and • Sequams Shopping Center The portfolio was 94.4 percent leased at the time of sale. Tenants at the centers include TJ Maxx, GoHealth Urgent Care, Rite Aid, Starbucks, Dunkin’ and Chipotle Mexican Grill, among others. Jose Cruz, Christopher Munley, Andrew Scandalios, James Galbally, Steve Simonelli, Colin Behr and J.B. Bruno of JLL represented Kabro Associates in the transaction. “This acquisition was a rare chance to expand our presence in one of Kimco’s most highly desired markets, with a portfolio of irreplaceable real estate located in one of the most heavily trafficked, densely …

November 11, 2022

Development Florida Hospitality Mixed-Use Multifamily Restaurant Retail Southeast Top Stories

LD&D Plans $200M Mixed-Use Development in Downtown Tampa

by Jeff Shaw November 10, 2022

TAMPA, FLA. — Miami-based investment, development and design firm LD&D has announced plans for the development of a $200 million mixed-use project in downtown Tampa. The project site, located at 1101 E. Harrison St., comprises two acres within the 40-acre master-planned development district known as ENCORE. LD&D acquired the property from the Tampa Housing Authority (THA). Plans for the project include the construction of a 28-story multifamily building, a 178-room hotel, 32,500 square feet of ground-floor retail space and a 586-space parking podium. Baker Barrios Architects is the designer for the project. Construction is scheduled to commence in the second half of 2023. The residential tower, which the developers say will be the tallest building in the area, will feature 365 units and more than 45,000 square feet of amenity space. Amenities will include a 4,500-square-foot wellness area, 10,000-square-foot coworking space and a 26th-floor sky lounge with views of the city. Hotel and residential uses at the development are to be separated by a pedestrian alleyway, which will be lined with restaurant and retail tenants. Situated blocks from the site of the Amtrak station and potential new Brightline train station that would connect other major cities in the state, the …

November 10, 2022

Acquisitions California Multifamily Top Stories Western

Northland Acquires THEA at Metropolis Luxury Apartment Tower in Los Angeles for $504M

by Kristin Harlow November 9, 2022

LOS ANGELES — Northland has entered the California market with the acquisition of THEA at Metropolis, a 59-story luxury apartment tower in downtown Los Angeles. The U.S. subsidiary of China’s Greenland Holding Group sold the asset for $504 million, according to The Wall Street Journal. Northland says the purchase price represents a 40 to 45 percent discount to today’s replacement costs. The newspaper reports that the original asking price 18 months ago was $695 million, which was still less than the original development costs. High interest rates and falling rents have affected the apartment market nationally. Additionally, The Wall Street Journal cites California rent regulations and the ability of renters to move away from downtown Los Angeles due to remote work for contributing to suppressed property values. THEA was designed and built as for-sale condominiums before being converted into apartment units after construction. Completed in 2020, the 685-unit property is currently 91 percent occupied. THEA is part of a master-planned community named Metropolis. Residents are situated two blocks away from L.A. LIVE, a 5.6 million-square-foot sports and entertainment complex that encompasses numerous restaurants and bars, the 7,100-seat Microsoft Theater and Crypto.com Arena, home of the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers and Los …

November 9, 2022

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