ATHENS, ALA. — U-Haul plans to build a new retail, moving and self-storage property on a 5.3-acre site at 16298 Athens-Limestone Blvd. in Athens, about 27 miles east of Huntsville, Ala. Set to open in 2026 along I-65, the three-story property will feature 1,100 indoor self-storage units, more than half of which will be climate-controlled. Amenities will include access to moving trucks, trailers, towing devices, U-Box containers, professional hitch installation, propane refills and propane exchange. The property will also feature a retail showroom that will sell boxes and moving supplies, bike racks, towing accessories and locks. Additionally, U-Haul Moving & Storage in Athens will feature a U-Box warehouse that will hold up to 1,000 portable moving and storage containers. The new facility will represent the first location in Athens for U-Haul.
BIRMINGHAM, ALA. — Audubon has purchased Scholar Birmingham, a 198-unit student housing high-rise in Birmingham’s Five Points neighborhood. The tower was developed as an off-campus student housing property in 2020 due to its proximity to University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). The seller and sales price were not disclosed. Audubon plans to transition the property to market-rate housing in a retrofit that includes modernizing the interiors and enhancing community amenities. According to the Scholar Birmingham property website, the community offers fully furnished, pet-friendly studio, one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom apartments. Amenities include package lockers, a fitness center, sauna, gaming room, theater and a rooftop amenity deck with a pool, covered lounge and barbecue grills.
RESTON AND FALLS CHURCH, VA. — The Fresh Market plans to anchor two mixed-use developments in the Northern Virginia region of metropolitan Washington, D.C. The Greensboro, N.C.-based grocer has committed to approximately 27,000 square feet of space at Reston Station, a mixed-use development in Reston by Comstock Cos., and 29,000 square feet at West Falls, a 10-acre mixed-use development in Falls Church by Hoffman & Associates. The Reston Station grocery store will be situated within Midline at Reston Station, and the West Falls store will be located at the ground level of an upcoming residential development. Both new stores are expected to open within the next three years, with the West Falls store set to open by mid-2026. The Fresh Market has two existing locations in nearby Alexandria and Vienna, Va.
PORT ST. LUCIE, FLA. — SRS Real Estate Partners has arranged the $10.3 million sale of Tradition Retail Center, a 28,820-square-foot shopping center located at 10190-10218 SW Village Parkway in Port St. Lucie. The multi-tenant property is situated within Tradition, an 800-acre master-planned community in southeast Florida. Built in 2020, Tradition Retail Center was fully leased at the time of sale to 10 tenants, including Faith Animal Hospital, Farmers Insurance, Scott’s Golf Carts and the Little Gym. Patrick Nutt, William Wamble and Daniel Becker of SRS represented the seller, an undisclosed development firm based in New York. A private investor based in Florida purchased the retail center in an all-cash 1031 exchange at a 6.75 percent cap rate, according to SRS.
NORTH BETHESDA, MD. — Fivesquares Development and Apartment Investment and Management Co. (Aimco) have opened two multifamily residential buildings in North Bethesda, roughly 13 miles outside downtown Washington, D.C. Dubbed Ravel and Royale, the properties are located at 10511 Strathmore Hall St., adjacent to the Strathmore Music Center, Rock Creek Park and a Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Metro) station. Ravel and Royale mark the first residential buildings to be delivered at Strathmore Square, a master-planned transit-oriented development that will total 2.2 million square feet upon completion. Ravel, named for French composer and pianist Maurice Ravel, comprises 49 units across nine stories, with two- and three-bedroom layouts. Amenities at the property include 24-hour concierge service. Royale spans 10 stories and features 171 units in one-, two- and three-bedroom layouts. Amenities at the building include workspaces, a fitness center, yoga studio, pool, rooftop deck and a pet spa. The two buildings are also connected by a central courtyard with lounge areas and a firepit. Residents will also have access to bike storage, commercial washers and dryers, high-speed elevators and an onsite property management team.
SAVANNAH, GA. — Peach Hill Capital and RK2 Property Group have acquired Georgetown Crossing, an apartment community located in Savannah, for $25.6 million. Built in 1994 at 1015 King George Blvd., the property features 168 units in one- and two-bedroom layouts across seven three-story buildings. Amenities at the community include a clubhouse, pool, picnic areas, barbecues and a dog park. Mark Boyce and Blake Coffey of Berkadia represented the undisclosed seller in the transaction.
ROSWELL, GA. — JLL Capital Markets has arranged the sale of Roswell Market Center, an 82,029-square-foot retail center located in the northern Atlanta suburb of Roswell. Tenants at the property, which was built in 1990, include AutoZone, Dollar Tree, Subway and AT&T. Jim Hamilton, Brad Buchanan and Andrew Kahn of JLL represented the seller, Sterling Organization, in the transaction. The buyer and sales price were not disclosed.
INDIALANTIC, FLA. — Matthews Real Estate Investment Services has brokered the $6.8 million sale of The Shoppes at Paradise Beach, a retail center located in the Space Coast beachside town of Indialantic. Originally built in 1981 and renovated in 2005, the property totals 29,650 square feet at 2324 N. Highway A1A, roughly three miles from Melbourne, Fla. The Shoppes at Paradise Beach was fully leased to 12 tenants at the time of sale to users including a nail salon, local restaurants, a sporting goods store and a florist. A Miami-based private investor acquired the property from the original developer. Brandon Senia and Robert Goldberg of Matthews represented the seller in the transaction.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Reps. Mike Carey (R-Ohio) and Jimmy Gomez (D-Calif.) have proposed a bill to address the housing crisis in the United States. Dubbed the Revitalizing Downtowns and Main Streets Act, the bill would include a 20 percent tax credit for expenses attendant upon converting certain underutilized or vacant commercial property older than 20 years for residential use. Additionally, the legislation includes a stipulation that 20 percent of the converted residential units be designated for residents earning at or below 80 percent of the area median income (AMI), as well as incentives for rural and economically distressed areas and the ability to combine existing historic tax credits and other state and municipality incentives. NAIOP (National Association for Industrial and Office Parks) commended the proposed legislation, with president and CEO Marc Selvitelli stating that it “will spur the conversion of vacant spaces that can stimulate local economies and begin to address the housing crisis in communities across the United States.”
NOLENSVILLE, TENN. — CBRE has secured $38.6 million in construction financing for the development of Village Green, a 90,525-square-foot shopping center currently underway in Nolensville, roughly 20 miles outside Nashville. Upon completion, the development will comprise nine buildings situated on a 17-acre site at the intersection of Nolensville and Rocky Fork roads. Publix will anchor the center. Other tenants at the property will include Heartland Dental, Club Pilates, Jersey Mike’s, Waxing the City, Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa and Physicians Urgent Care. Richard Henry, Mike Ryan, Brian Linnihan and Taylor Crowder of CBRE arranged the loan through ServisFirst Bank on behalf of the borrower, Watkins Real Estate Group. Construction is scheduled for completion in summer 2025.