POOLER, GA. — Plastic Express has announced plans to expand its operations at the Port Logistics Center near the Port of Savannah with two new manufacturing facilities. The $172 million investment is expected to create 166 new jobs. Located in Pooler, the 172-acre Port Logistics Center is owned and developed by Capital Development Partners Inc. Plastic Express is based in California and operates trucking terminals, warehouses, docks and packaging plants across the country. Griff Lynch, executive director of the Georgia Ports Authority, said in a statement that the project will help establish the Port of Savannah as a leader in the exportation of plastic resins to the oil and gas industry. Genesee & Wyoming will provide rail service for the facility via its Georgia Central Railway. Plastic Express expects to occupy its new facilities in October.
Southeast
Tri-Land Breaks Ground on Redevelopment of 253,000 SF Shopping Center in Metro Atlanta
by John Nelson
CONYERS, GA. — Tri-Land Properties Inc. has begun construction on the overhaul of Salem Gate Market, a 253,000-square-foot grocery-anchored shopping center in Conyers, about 25 miles southeast of Atlanta. The multimillion-dollar redevelopment will include a 55,000-square-foot Hobby Lobby, 20,000-square-foot Northern Tool + Supply, a 103-room hotel and an Allure Nail & Spa. Tri-Land is rebuilding Salem Gate in a public-private partnership with the City of Conyers. Salem Gate is the first project underway as part of the Conyers Gateway Village District, the product of a new zoning ordinance adopted by the City of Conyers in 2016. In February, the city approved a new Tax Allocation District designation allocating future tax revenues to repay Tri-Land for its infrastructure improvement costs. The metro Chicago-based developer plans to announce additional tenants in the family fashion, sporting goods and value retail segments in the near future. Tri-Land expects to deliver Salem Gate in early summer 2020.
Developer Begins Construction on Retail Project, Parking Garage at $4B Miami Worldcenter
by John Nelson
MIAMI — Miami Worldcenter Associates has broken ground on a 50,000-square-foot retail project and a 922-space parking garage within its namesake development, the $4 billion Miami Worldcenter underway in the city’s downtown area. The street-level retail space and new parking structure will front NE 7th Street and will ultimately be part of Miami Worldcenter’s 300,000 square feet of retail, restaurant and entertainment space. A portion of the parking garage’s rooftop will feature a rooftop amenity deck that will serve the residents of Luma, a planned 43-story multifamily tower next door. The 27-acre development, which will span 10 city blocks at full buildout, will also feature residential, office and hospitality uses.
Grandbridge Provides $26.1M HUD Construction Loan for Little Rock Apartment Community
by John Nelson
LITTLE ROCK, ARK. — Grandbridge Real Estate Capital has provided a $26.1 million construction loan for The Residences at Harbor Town Apartments, a planned 175-unit community in Little Rock. Alan Tapie of Grandbridge’s Atlanta office originated the loan through HUD’s 221(d)(4) program, which is the agency’s flagship loan product for the construction of new market-rate apartments and affordable housing projects. The loan will feature a 40-year term, fixed interest rate and a 40-year amortization schedule. Situated along the Arkansas River, The Residences at Harbor Town will be within walking distance of the Clinton Library and downtown Little Rock. The property will be situated behind the planned Rock City Yacht Club and will add 80 more boat slips to the marina, according to development plans on the yacht club’s website. The borrower/developer and construction timeline were not disclosed.
Woodyard Realty Brokers $13.5M Sale of New Loft Apartment Community in Downtown Memphis
by John Nelson
MEMPHIS, TENN. — Woodyard Realty Corp. has brokered the $13.5 million sale of Phase II of 266 Lofts in downtown Memphis. Pittsburgh-based Alpha Capital Partners purchased the second phase, which was fully occupied at the time of sale. The seller, VS Developments, delivered the 74-unit second phase in late 2018 and the 77-unit first phase in 2017. Lea Heilig of Woodyard Realty represented the seller and procured the buyer. Phase II also added two street-level retail spaces leased to a restaurant/bar and a boutique salon. Situated in the South Main Arts district in Memphis, the three-story multifamily community features units ranging from 790 to 1,300 square feet and amenities such as a fitness center, pool and a poolside restaurant that delivers room-service meals to residents.
HJ Sims Arranges $201.1M in Construction Financing for Seniors Housing Project in Norfolk
by Alex Tostado
NORFOLK, VA. — HJ Sims has arranged $201.1 million in financing for the construction of a new residential tower at Harbor’s Edge, a continuing care retirement community (CCRC) in Norfolk. The property was originally developed in 2002 in cooperation with the City of Norfolk as part of a master development plan called “Fort Norfolk Neighborhood.” HJ Sims has partnered with Harbor’s Edge since the early 2000s, structuring, placing and underwriting the initial seed capital transaction, first phase of development financing, a refinancing in 2014 that contained predevelopment capital for the River Tower Phase II construction and the development financing for the River Tower. HJ Sims coordinated with two commercial banks, including SunTrust Bank and TD Bank, with the former providing $65 million in financing.
BOCA RATON, FLA. — MSD Partners LP, an investment firm with offices in New York, Santa Monica and West Palm Beach, has acquired Boca Raton Resort & Club, a 337-acre hospitality property. The seller was an affiliate of real estate giant Blackstone, which invested more than $300 million in the property during its ownership period. Originally built in 1926, Boca Raton Resort & Club comprises 1,047 hotel rooms, two 18-hole golf courses, a 50,000-square-foot spa, seven pools, 32 tennis courts, a 32-slip marina, 13 restaurants and bars and 200,000 square feet of meeting space. The property fronts both the Intracoastal Waterway and the Atlantic Ocean, where its beach extends for a half-mile. Jeffrey Davis and Gregory Rumpel of JLL led the marketing efforts on behalf of the seller.
HFF Closes Two Freddie Mac Loans Totaling $37.9M for Apartment Properties in Orlando, Savannah
by Alex Tostado
ORLANDO, FLA. AND SAVANNAH, GA. — HFF has originated two separate Freddie Mac loans totaling $37.9 million on behalf of the borrower, Beachwold Residential. The New York-based multifamily investment firm will use the proceeds of the two loans to refinance The Place at Alafaya, a 400-unit multifamily community in Orlando, and to acquire Litchfield Place, a 76-unit apartment community in Savannah. Mona Carlton, Elliott Throne and Jesse Wright of HFF led the debt placement effort for both loans, which featured 10-year terms and fixed interest rates. The Place at Alafaya in east Orlando offers one- and two-bedroom units and amenities such as a pool, tennis courts, basketball court, fitness center and a resident clubhouse. Completed in two phases between 2008 and 2014, Litchfield Place in southwest Savannah features units averaging 1,119 square feet. The seller and sales price of Litchfield Place were not disclosed.
PointOne Holdings, Biscayne Atlantic Sell Two Office Buildings in Birmingham for $34.5M
by Alex Tostado
BIRMINGHAM, ALA. — PointOne Holdings LLC and Biscayne Atlantic have sold two office buildings in Birmingham for $34.5 million. The Class A office buildings total 153,000 square feet and are situated at 1800 and 1900 International Park, about 11 miles south of downtown Birmingham. The joint venture originally acquired the property as part of a three-building portfolio that also included Blue Lake, which PointOne Holdings and Biscayne Atlantic will retain. Kevin Markwordt of Transwestern represented the sellers in the transaction. Shamrock Investments acquired the buildings.
GADSDEN, ALA. — Marcus & Millichap has arranged the $7.8 million sale of Riverview Plaza, a 148,860-square-foot shopping center in Gadsden. Bargain Hunt, Harbor Freight Tools, Tuesday Morning and Dollar Tree anchor the center. Zach Taylor of Marcus & Millichap’s Taylor McMinn Retail Group represented the seller, EIG Riverview Plaza LLC, in the transaction. Louise Jennings of Real Estate Southeast represented the buyer, MR Stealth LLC, which is a private investor.