Top Stories

Workspace Property Trust Buys Suburban Office Portfolio from Griffin Realty Trust for $1.1B

by Taylor Williams August 29, 2022

BOCA RATON, FLA. AND EL SEGUNDO, CALIF. — A consortium of investors led by South Florida-based Workspace Property Trust has purchased a majority interest in a national portfolio of suburban buildings for approximately $1.1 billion. The seller was Griffin Realty Trust, a nontraded REIT based in El Segundo, Calif., that will retain a minority stake in the portfolio. The percentage of the stake was not disclosed. The portfolio comprises 41 individual properties across eight states that house 53 buildings, the majority of which are single-tenant, net-leased properties. The assets span roughly 8 million square feet of leasable space. In discussing the decision to invest in suburban office properties, Roger Thomas, co-founder and COO of Workspace Property Trust, cited the demographic migratory patterns that emerged in recent years that favor suburban markets. “We know that in the last five years, millions of Americans have moved from the cities to the suburbs, and nearly one-third of all Americans today are considering moving away from cities,” says Thomas. “This important demographic shift is led by millennials, the largest workforce cohort in history, who appreciate the benefits of the suburbs and suburban offices.” Thomas identified several attributes — shorter commutes, lower crime, less need …

August 29, 2022

Acquisitions Hospitality Maryland Southeast Top Stories

VICI Properties, Century Casinos Agree to Acquire Rocky Gap Casino Resort in Flintstone, Maryland for $260M

by Jeff Shaw August 26, 2022

FLINTSTONE, MD. — New York City-based VICI Properties Inc. (NYSE: VICI) and Century Casinos Inc. (NASDAQ: CNTY) have entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the operations of Rocky Gap Casino Resort from Golden Entertainment Inc. for approximately $260 million. Rocky Gap is situated along Lake Habeeb in Flintstone, located in the western panhandle of Maryland between Pennsylvania and West Virginia. It offers a casino, hotel, conference center, comedy club, five food-and-beverage venues, 5,000 square-foot events center, 18-hole golf course designed by Jack Nicklaus, spa, indoor pool, fitness center, pro shop and multiple outdoor recreational activities. The casino comprises more than 25,000 square feet of gaming floor, 630 slot machines, 16 table games and two casino bars. The hotel offers 198 rooms. The seller recently invested $10 million in renovations to its hotel, slot machines, restaurants and sports lounge. “We are looking forward to working with the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency to obtain gaming approvals and with the casino leadership and team members to effect a smooth transition and great future for Rocky Gap,” say Erwin Haitzmann and Peter Hoetzinger, Co-chief executive officers of Century Casinos. VICI Properties will acquire an interest in the land and buildings associated with Rocky Gap for …

August 26, 2022

Acquisitions California Retail Top Stories Western

Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield Sells 1.5 MSF Regional Mall Near Los Angeles for $537.5M

by Katie Sloan August 25, 2022

ARCADIA, CALIF. — Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (URW) has sold Westfield Santa Anita, a 1.5 million-square-foot regional mall located roughly 15 miles northeast of Los Angeles in Arcadia, for $537.5 million. The transaction represents the largest price paid for a regional mall in the U.S. since 2018, according to Eastdil Secured, which acted as financial advisor to the seller. The buyer is an undisclosed real estate investor that owns other retail assets in Southern California. The acquisition was funded through a combination of equity and new debt, and reflects a sub-6 percent net initial yield and a 10.7 percent discount to the property’s latest appraisal price. The Class A regional mall was 96 percent leased at the time of sale to tenants including J.C. Penney, Macy’s, Nordstrom, Sephora, Free People, Kate Spade, Fabletics, Coach, lululemon, Michael Kors, Steve Madden, Victoria’s Secret, Zara and Abercrombie & Fitch, among others. The property is also home to AMC Theatres; entertainment concepts such as Bowlero, Luxy Karaoke and Dave & Buster’s; and restaurants including The Cheesecake Factory, Benihana, California Pizza Kitchen and Din Tai Fung. URW made headlines earlier this week with the announcement of redevelopment plans for Westfield Garden State Plaza, a 2.1 million-square-foot regional mall …

August 25, 2022

Leasing Activity New York Northeast Office Top Stories

KPMG to Relocate Headquarters to Two Manhattan West in 2025

by Kristin Harlow August 24, 2022

NEW YORK CITY — U.S. audit, tax and advisory firm KPMG has unveiled plans to relocate its headquarters to Two Manhattan West, a new office building under construction in Midtown Manhattan’s West Side neighborhood. The 58-story tower is part of Brookfield Properties’ 7 million-square-foot Manhattan West mixed-use development. KPMG’s new space at Two Manhattan West is slated for completion in late 2025. The firm will relocate its roughly 5,500 New York-based employees and lease approximately 450,000 square feet. The new lease signing represents a more than 40 percent decrease in KPMG’s existing New York office space, according to The Wall Street Journal. The newspaper reports that KPMG is pursuing a hybrid work strategy where employees are expected to gather at company or client offices on some days. The firm is following suit of a number of companies that have downsized office footprints in exchange for nicer space following the pandemic. KPMG currently occupies space at 345 Park Ave., its headquarters, as well as 560 Lexington Ave. and 1350 Sixth Ave. The firm has been based in New York City since its inception in 1897. “As we celebrate our 125th anniversary and think about our firm’s future, this is an incredible …

August 24, 2022

Arizona Development Industrial Top Stories Western

Intel, Brookfield to Jointly Invest $30B for Expansion of Semiconductor Manufacturing Plants in Chandler, Arizona

by John Nelson August 23, 2022

CHANDLER, ARIZ. — Tech giant Intel Corp. (NASDAQ: INTC) has signed a definitive agreement with the infrastructure affiliate of Brookfield Asset Management (NYSE: BAM), a global alternative asset management firm, to fund the expansion of its Ocotillo semiconductor manufacturing campus in Chandler. Under terms of the agreement, the companies will jointly invest up to $30 billion in the buildout, with Intel providing 51 percent and Brookfield Infrastructure Partners providing 49 percent of the total project costs. Dubbed the “Semiconductor Co-Investment Program,” the partnership will create two new production facilities on the 700-acre campus, which Intel established in 1980. Santa Clara, Calif-based Intel will retain majority ownership and operating control of the two new chip factories. No construction details or timeline were disclosed. Semiconductors, or chips, are an essential element of most all electronic and computing devices, including electric vehicles, phones, tablets, TVs, home appliances, solar panels and gaming consoles. “Semiconductor manufacturing is among the most capital-intensive industries in the world,” says David Zinsner, Intel’s chief financial officer. “Our agreement with Brookfield is a first for our industry, and we expect it will allow us to increase flexibility while maintaining capacity on our balance sheet to create a more distributed and …

August 23, 2022

Development Multifamily New Jersey Northeast Retail Top Stories

Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield Plans Redevelopment of 2.1 MSF Regional Mall in Northern New Jersey

by Taylor Williams August 22, 2022

PARAMUS, N.J. — Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (URW), a shopping center owner-operator based in France, has unveiled plans to redevelop Westfield Garden State Plaza, a 2.1 million-square-foot regional mall in the Northern New Jersey community of Paramus. According to Forbes, Westfield Garden State Plaza remains one of the best-performing regional malls in the country. But about 10 years ago, URW began planning a long-term redevelopment to distinguish the property from and compete with American Dream, Triple Five Group’s entertainment-heavy mega-mall that is located within the Meadowlands sports complex in nearby East Rutherford. To that end, URW executive vice president Geoff Mason says that the redevelopment is about transitioning the mall into a mixed-use destination where living, working and leisure all come together. The first phase of the redevelopment will center on the construction of 550 luxury apartments that will be integrated with the existing shopping and dining establishments via open green space. Phase I will also introduce a “main street’ outdoor district featuring restaurants and everyday convenience- and services-oriented retailers. Ownership also plans to upgrade the existing infrastructure that connects to public transit services. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2024, with the first residential units becoming available for occupancy in 2026. The …

August 22, 2022

Development Illinois Loans Midwest Office Top Stories

JLL Arranges $215.1M Financing for Canal Station Office Redevelopment in Chicago’s West Loop

by Jeff Shaw August 19, 2022

CHICAGO — JLL has arranged $215.1 million in financing for the redevelopment of 801 S. Canal St., a 684,000-square-foot office building in Chicago’s West Loop neighborhood. The borrower is New York City-based 601W Cos. Once completed, the creative office space will be rebranded as Canal Station. The redeveloped property will feature open floorplates and continuous glass windows on its exterior. Amenities will include a fitness center, tenant lounge, conference center, outdoor terraces and lobby. The building will offer 376 parking spaces. JLL represented the borrower in securing the senior loan through Bank OZK and a mezzanine loan and preferred equity through Lionheart Strategic Management LLC on behalf of Milestone Asset Management. 601W Companies’ development portfolio in Chicago consists of The Old Post Office, Prudential Plaza and Aon Center. Keith Largay, Lucas Borges and Ryan Sullivan led the JLL Capital Markets team representing the borrower. Other office tenants in Chicago’s West Loop neighborhood include Uber, Walgreens and Home Chef. The property is further benefited by Chicago’s vast transportation network with access to interstates 90, 94, 290 and 55 and four L Train lines. The redevelopment of Canal Station will continue the transformation of the West Loop and will be a sister property …

August 19, 2022

Development Office Texas Top Stories

Generational Commercial, Fairway Real Estate Receive $124M Construction Financing for Office Project in Austin’s Central Business District

by Katie Sloan August 18, 2022

AUSTIN, TEXAS — A joint venture between Generational Commercial Properties and Fairway Real Estate has received $124 million in construction financing for Zilker Point, a 207,000-square-foot office development in Austin. The project, which is located at 218 South Lamar Blvd. in the city’s Central Business District South, will offer 192,000 square feet of office space across the building’s top six floors upon completion. The development will also feature 15,000 square feet of ground-floor retail and amenity space and 635 parking spaces. Building amenities are set to include a 3,600-square-foot rooftop deck with views of the downtown Austin skyline; a 1,240-square-foot fitness center with men’s and women’s showers and lockers; an art gallery with exhibitions by local artists; bike storage; and a courtyard with shaded seating, an outdoor bar and a live music stage. Zilker Point is located across from Lady Bird Lake and adjacent to hiking and biking trails including the Barton Springs Road Bike Trail, Barton Creek Greenbelt Trail and West Bouldin Creek Preserve Trail. The development was designed to meet the WELL Building Standard and will include open floor plans with expansive window walls, an advanced hybrid HVAC system, a clean air system with hospital-grade filtration and touch-less technology. …

August 18, 2022

Acquisitions Hospitality Massachusetts Northeast Top Stories

Electra America Hospitality Group Acquires Historic 225-Room Loews Boston Hotel

by Kristin Harlow August 17, 2022

BOSTON — Electra America Hospitality Group (EAHG) has acquired the 225-room Loews Boston Hotel in the heart of Boston’s Back Bay neighborhood. The purchase price was undisclosed. The buyer plans to rebrand the upscale asset as Hotel AKA Back Bay, marking hospitality operator AKA’s debut in the city. Built in 1925 and located at 154 Berkeley St., the historic stone and masonry building served as the headquarters of the Boston Police Department from 1926 to 1990. The property is situated near many of Boston’s cultural attractions as well as its colleges and universities. The new owner plans to invest roughly $20 million in design upgrades and renovations, which will be undertaken while the hotel remains open. The 222 guestrooms, two suites and penthouse suite will undergo a soft design update. The lobby will feature a library with an intimate seating area. Additional enhancements include a second-floor fitness center, spa, theater and a newly imagined rooftop. Renovations will also be made to the hotel’s restaurant, Precinct Kitchen+Bar, which serves classic American dishes and New England seafood. The restaurant will feature a whiskey cellar, wine tasting room and a new private dining room with a spiral staircase. The acquisition marks EAHG’s sixth …

August 17, 2022

Civic District of Columbia Loans Office Southeast Top Stories

Mesirow Provides $275M Refinancing for NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C.

by John Nelson August 16, 2022

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Mesirow, a financial services firm based in Chicago, has provided the $275 million refinancing for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) headquarters offices in Washington, D.C. Located at 300 E St. SW, the nine-story office building spans more than 600,000 square feet and was built in 1991, according to LoopNet Inc. The borrower is a partnership between Hana Alternative Asset Management and Ocean West Capital Partners. Proceeds from the financing provided the partnership with fixed-rate debt that is interest-only for the full term. The loan has a 2028 maturity date, which is coterminous with NASA’s lease. With the funds, the Hana and Ocean West partnership is recapitalizing its equity interest at the property, which is subject to the sixth-largest lease by the General Services Administration (GSA), the federal government’s independent agency that oversees certain operations like office and research space. (The GSA is the leaseholder for NASA.) Mesirow served as placement agent and administrative agent on the financing. Cushman & Wakefield arranged the financing on behalf of the borrower and negotiated terms between the borrower and Mesirow. Mesirow was founded in 1937 and offers credit tenant lease and structured debt products to borrowers. The company’s services …

August 16, 2022

Newer Posts

Older Posts