Top Stories

Ares Management Acquires Capital Automotive for $3.8B, Including 250 Net-Leased Car Dealerships

by John Nelson February 18, 2022

NEW YORK CITY AND MCLEAN, VA. — Ares Management Corp. (NYSE: ARES) has acquired Capital Automotive LLC, a McLean-based firm that specializes in the sale-leaseback of car dealerships under new triple-net leases. Ares purchased the company through its alternative credit strategy division and real estate group for $3.8 billion. The seller was a private real estate fund managed by Brookfield Asset Management (NYSE: BAM). Capital Automotive owns more than 250 real estate assets in the United States and Canada that are structured under long-term, triple-net leases to various car dealers. The names and locations of the properties were not disclosed. Ares purchased Capital to expand and diversify its net-lease investment strategy. Including the recent investment in Capital Automotive, Ares’ funds have invested in over 1,200 real estate assets totaling approximately $7.2 billion of gross asset value in North America and Europe over the past 15 months. These net lease investments include retail, industrial and office properties leased to tenants with varying credit profiles. Ares’ real estate group had approximately $41.2 billion of assets under management as of year-end 2021. Ares Management’s stock price closed on Thursday, Feb. 17 at $79.01 per share, up from $52.02 a year ago, a nearly …

February 18, 2022

Acquisitions Arizona Multifamily Top Stories Western

IPA Arranges $193.5M Sale of Roadrunner on McDowell Multifamily Community in Scottsdale, Arizona

by Katie Sloan February 17, 2022

SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. — Institutional Property Advisors (IPA) has arranged the $193.5 million sale of Roadrunner on McDowell, a 356-unit multifamily property in Scottsdale, roughly 12 miles outside Phoenix. The transaction marks the second-largest single-asset multifamily sale in Arizona history, according to IPA. The community was completed in 2022 by developer JLB Partners and is located within a 10-mile radius of major employers, including General Dynamics, HonorHealth, Vitalant, Yelp, Indeed, Banner Health and Opendoor. The buyer in the transaction was undisclosed. The property offers a mix of studio, one- and two-bedroom units with bed-to-bath parity. Shared amenities include a resort-style swimming pool and spa with private poolside cabanas; an outdoor entertainment area with seating, flatscreen televisions, a misting system and grilling stations; a zen garden; fitness center and yoga room; pet park; entertainment lounge; and co-working space with individual offices and a conference room. “The property was built to attract a top-tier resident profile of high-wage-earning professionals supported by 15,500-plus businesses within a 10-mile radius and Scottsdale’s outstanding citywide demographics,” says Steve Gebing, executive managing director with IPA. “Renter demand for South Scottsdale apartments has led to strong operational fundamentals and the imbalance of supply and demand is driving outsized forecasted rent growth.” …

February 17, 2022

Acquisitions Georgia Multifamily New York Northeast Southeast Top Stories

Blackstone Agrees to Acquire Preferred Apartment Communities for $5.8B

by Kristin Harlow February 16, 2022

ATLANTA AND NEW YORK CITY — Blackstone Real Estate Income Trust Inc. (BREIT) has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Preferred Apartment Communities Inc. (PAC) for approximately $5.8 billion. Under the terms of the agreement, BREIT will acquire all outstanding shares of PAC’s common stock for $25 per share in an all-cash transaction. PAC’s portfolio includes 44 multifamily communities totaling approximately 12,000 units concentrated largely in Atlanta, Orlando, Tampa, Jacksonville, Charlotte and Nashville, as well as 54 grocery-anchored retail assets comprising roughly 6 million square feet in Atlanta, Orlando, Nashville and Raleigh. BREIT will also acquire PAC’s two Sun Belt office properties and 10 mezzanine/preferred equity investments collateralized by new or under-construction multifamily assets. “Investing using BREIT’s perpetual capital will enable us to be long-term owners of these vibrant communities,” says Jacob Werner, co-head of Americas acquisitions for BREIT. “The company’s grocery-anchored retail portfolio performance has also been strong and resilient, and we believe these types of necessity-oriented assets located in areas with growing populations are well positioned for continued growth.” Joel Murphy, PAC’s chairman and CEO, says the transaction is an excellent outcome for shareholders and the culmination of efforts over the past few years to simplify and …

February 16, 2022

Development Illinois Midwest Multifamily Top Stories

Habitat to Build 33-Story Apartment Tower in Downtown Chicago

by John Nelson February 15, 2022

CHICAGO — The Habitat Co., a Chicago-based multifamily developer and operator, plans to build a 33-story apartment high-rise in its hometown. The firm closed on the site acquisition at 344 N. Canal St. in Chicago’s Fulton River District that is currently home to the five-story Cassidy Tire brick building. Designed by Solomon Cordwell Buenz, the new tower will rise 375 feet and feature a glass façade. Habitat’s joint venture partner on the project is Diversified Real Estate Capital LLC, a private equity investment firm based in Chicago. The land seller was not disclosed. “As we know from experience, there will always be a demand for Class A rentals in prime city locations like 344 N. Canal, so the fact that a highly experienced and successful developer like The Habitat Co. was behind the building only made it that much more attractive for us to be part of the project,” says Jeff Cherner, executive vice president of Diversified Real Estate Capital. Habitat Co. will begin demolition and break ground on the 343-unit property this spring, though a target delivery date was not disclosed. Upon completion, the unnamed community will feature a mix of studio, one- and two-bedroom units, as well as …

February 15, 2022

Development Indiana Midwest Mixed-Use Top Stories

New City Development Unveils Plans for $300M Mixed-Use Project in Plainfield, Indiana

by Taylor Williams February 14, 2022

PLAINFIELD, IND. — A partnership led by Indianapolis-based New City Development has unveiled plans for Hobbs Station, a $300 million mixed-use project in Plainfield, about 19 miles southwest of Indianapolis. Hobbs Station will be located on a 125-acre site just off U.S. Highway 40. Phase I of the project will consist of 300 apartments with 30,000 square feet of street-level commercial space, 99 single-family homes and 500,000 square feet of logistics space. The industrial component will be known as Terminus at Hobbs Station. Phase I’s residential amenities will include a pool, fitness center, remote workspaces, a pet washing facility and various open green spaces. As part of the project, the development team is investing in local infrastructure, including a two-mile extension of the Vandalia Trail across the southern boundary of the site. The trail network will connect to a public park with pickleball courts, a playground and space for festivals and events. Additional planned infrastructure improvements include new sidewalks, landscaping, hardscaping, utilities, stormwater facilities roads and parking. Construction of Phase I is slated to begin this summer. At full build-out, Hobbs Station will feature 240 single-family homes, 650 multifamily units, 120 seniors housing residences, 70,000 square feet of retail and …

February 14, 2022

Development Florida Industrial North Carolina South Carolina Top Stories

Crescent Communities Breaks Ground on Three Industrial Projects Totaling 1.7 MSF

by Julia Sanders February 11, 2022

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte-based Crescent Communities has broken ground on three industrial properties totaling 1.7 million square feet. The company plans to build eight buildings across three markets known as AXIAL Crosspoint in Greenville, S.C.; AXIAL Bonds Farm in Concord, N.C.; and AXIAL 301 Manatee in Bradenton, Fla. The firm bought the project land for an undisclosed price, and the seller of the land was not disclosed. Along with the three land transactions, Crescent Communities announced a new brand name for its industrial platform, AXIAL Industrial. The brand will first be executed through the AXIAL Bonds Farm, AXIAL Crosspoint and AXIAL 301 Manatee projects, which are all set to begin construction soon this year and are slated for completion in 2023. “With the debut of AXIAL Industrial, we will provide our clients with a one-stop platform featuring a thoughtful and diligent process for each industrial development, from land acquisition to product development for each specific location and every stage in between,” says Bryan Blythe, managing director of AXIAL Industrial at Crescent Communities’ Commercial business unit. AXIAL Bonds Farm will feature three rear-load buildings totaling 809,720 square feet. The property will also offer various-sized buildings with ample employee parking. The property …

February 11, 2022

Development Life Sciences North Carolina Southeast Top Stories

Crescent Communities, Nuveen to Expand $500M Life Sciences Project Near North Carolina’s Research Triangle

by Katie Sloan February 10, 2022

HOLLY SPRINGS, N.C. — A joint venture between Crescent Communities and Nuveen Real Estate has acquired a 120-acre development site to expand The Yield, a $500 million life sciences development currently underway in Holly Springs, roughly 23 miles south of North Carolina’s Research Triangle. Crescent Communities broke ground on the project’s first phase of development in December 2021, which will include two 105,000-square-foot biomanufacturing buildings, 52,000 square feet of lab and office space and retail. Phase I is scheduled for delivery this summer. Crescent and Nuveen are set to break ground on the second phase of development later this year, which will expand the development through the addition of 2 million square feet of lab, office and manufacturing space. Further details on Phase II of the project were undisclosed. The Research Triangle remains a top life sciences market in the U.S., with recently announced projects including the development of a $1 billion life sciences campus in Morrisville; the acquisition and expansion of Research Commons, a life sciences campus within Research Triangle Park in Durham; and the redevelopment of a 110,500-square-foot life sciences property in Raleigh. John Brewer, Brian Carr and Ann-Stewart Patterson of CBRE are in charge of leasing for …

February 10, 2022

Development Mixed-Use Southeast Tennessee Top Stories

SomeraRoad Begins Construction of First Ground-Up Tower at Paseo South Gulch Mixed-Use Project in Nashville

by Kristin Harlow February 9, 2022

NASHVILLE, TENN. — SomeraRoad has started construction of the first ground-up tower within its Paseo South Gulch mixed-use project in Nashville. Known as Prima, the building will include 278 apartment units, 18,000 square feet of Class A office space and 8,000 square feet of retail space. ESa designed the project, which is slated for completion by the third quarter of 2023. Clark Construction is the general contractor. Safehold Inc. and S3 Capital provided financing. The tower will complement the recently completed adaptive reuse of two historic buildings within the project featuring office and retail space. SomeraRoad has planned future ground-up projects within Paseo South Gulch, with construction of a second tower scheduled to begin by early 2023. “Paseo South Gulch will be a premier live-work-play destination in Nashville, and the start of Prima is a significant step toward our transformational vision becoming a reality,” says Andrew Donchez, principal and head of development at SomeraRoad. “We’ve worked tirelessly to craft every detail of Paseo South Gulch, to tie new towers into the adaptive reuse of historic structures and future phases, to ultimately create a district that feels authentic and vibrant.” The name Paseo speaks to the district’s interconnected walkways and terraces …

February 9, 2022

Development Healthcare Maryland Mixed-Use Multifamily Office Southeast Top Stories

Howard Hughes Corp. Plans to Invest $325M in Medical Office, Residential Projects in Columbia, Maryland

by John Nelson February 8, 2022

COLUMBIA, MD. — The Howard Hughes Corp. (NYSE: HHC) has unveiled plans to invest $325 million to densify Downtown Columbia, the REIT’s 391-acre mixed-use development within the master-planned community of Columbia. Founded by James Rouse in 1967, Columbia is situated within the Baltimore-Washington, D.C. corridor in Maryland and is one of the first master-planned communities in the United States. The first new HHC project within Downtown Columbia’s Lakefront District is a four-story, 86,000-square-foot medical office building representing about $45.8 million in investment. Studio Red Architects is designing the property to achieve LEED Platinum and Fitwel certifications. Orthopaedic Associates of Central Maryland (OACM), a division of The Centers for Advanced Orthopaedics, will move its Columbia office into the new building upon completion in 2024, occupying approximately 20 percent of the asset. The property will be situated near a Whole Foods Market and Lake Kittamaqundi. Several health and wellness tenants signed on at Downtown Columbia to capitalize on the halo effect from the nearby Howard County General Hospital, which is part of Johns Hopkins Medicine. Other tenants at the Lakefront District include The Pearl spa, medtech firm NuVasive, MedStar Health’s headquarters, Healthcare Management Solutions, Welldoc, Sharecare, Consortium Health Plans, Vaya Pharma, Medisolv …

February 8, 2022

Acquisitions Hospitality Massachusetts Northeast Top Stories

Värde Partners, Hawkins Way Capital Buy Sheraton Boston Hotel for $233M

by Taylor Williams February 7, 2022

BOSTON — A joint venture between global asset manager Värde Partners and California-based Hawkins Way Capital has purchased the 1,220-room Sheraton Boston Hotel, located at 39 Dalton St. in the city’s Back Bay neighborhood. The hotel sold for $233 million, or roughly $191,000 per room, according to multiple local news outlets including The Boston Globe and WCBV. The partnership purchased the 29-story, 1.1 million-square-foot property from Maryland-based REIT Host Hotels & Resorts Inc. (NASDAQ: HST). The luxury hotel offers amenities such as a pool, business center, fitness center, meeting space, spa and wellness center, convenience store and an onsite restaurant. The Sheraton is Boston’s largest hotel, and the sales price is below that of comparable hotel deals that traded in Boston’s downtown area prior to the pandemic, according to the Globe. Citing data from Pinnacle Advisory Group, the local newspaper puts the downtown Boston hotel market’s average nightly occupancy rate for 2021 at approximately 45 percent. The deal marks the sixth acquisition between Värde Partners and Hawkins Way Capital as part of a larger plan to acquire $1 billion in value-add and distressed hospitality and housing assets in major U.S. cities. The joint venture’s portfolio also includes the DoubleTree by …

February 7, 2022

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