Focus on the Midwest Amid a global pandemic and its economic repercussions, the American Midwest has remained a place of comparative stability — and opportunity. Wide-open spaces and lower costs of living attract businesses and workers alike. Warehouses, distribution centers and transportation corridors bustle thanks to shifting supply chains and surges in deliveries. Educated workforces and leading universities and research centers nourish hubs in tech and life sciences. In short, there’s a lot in “flyover country” for the multifamily industry to like in 2021. An overview follows of the region stretching from Minnesota to Ohio and from Michigan to Kentucky. Why is the Midwest a good value for multifamily investors today and why is it well positioned for the post-COVID-19 recovery? Read on to learn more. Beneath-the-Radar Metropolitan Areas Blossom Even before COVID-19, Midwestern cities have been attracting people and businesses. Across industries, the Midwest hosts some of America’s largest employers: Kroger (Cincinnati), Salesforce (Indianapolis), Cardinal Health, Nationwide Insurance, Honda of America (Columbus), as well as Target, U.S. Bancorp, General Mills, 3M and Medtronic (all in Minneapolis-St. Paul). Thirteen companies in the Fortune 1000 have set up shop in Milwaukee, and 15 have operations in Columbus. The region has much …
Multifamily
Tower Capital Arranges $28M in Acquisition Financing for Multifamily Property in Glendale, Arizona
by Amy Works
GLENDALE, ARIZ. — Tower Capital has arranged $28 million in acquisition financing for an apartment community located in Glendale. The firm provided a 10-year permanent acquisition loan with a five-year fixed interest rate and one year of interest-only payments. The name of the borrower was not released. The 276-unit property features a residential clubhouse, two swimming pools, a fitness facility and covered parking. The community features 28 one-bedroom/one-bath units, 208 two-bedroom/two-bath units and 40 three-bedroom/three-bath units, with an average size of approximately 858 square feet. The borrower acquired the asset in an off-market transaction and plans to upgrade the property’s exterior and common areas.
Oakmont Finishes 31-Unit Memory Care Expansion at Seniors Housing Community in Las Vegas
by Amy Works
LAS VEGAS — Oakmont Senior Living has completed an expansion and renovation project at Oakmont of Las Vegas, which included the new construction of 31 memory care units. “Memory care is an essential part of continuity of care and important to families who don’t want to uproot their loved ones should they need to transition to this type of care,” says Melon Rivera, executive director at Oakmont of Las Vegas. The community already offered independent living and assisted living. In addition to the new memory care neighborhood, the multi-million-dollar renovation project at Oakmont of Las Vegas included the addition of a movie theater, bistro and wellness center. The on-site beauty salon received its own makeover with upgraded and new equipment. Other community-wide enhancements included new carpeting, tile flooring, fresh paint, a refinished roof and new fire-alarm system.
HOUSTON — Watermark Retirement Communities and Hines have unveiled plans for The Watermark at Houston Heights, a 222-unit independent living, assisted living and memory care community in Houston’s Greater Heights neighborhood. The seven-story property will be the tallest building in the neighborhood and will feature views of the downtown Houston skyline. Two of the floors will be fully dedicated to amenity space. The development is scheduled for completion in January 2022. Project partners include Munoz + Albin Architecture & Planning as the design architect; Looney & Associates as the interior designer of common spaces; TBG Landscape Architects as the landscape architect; and Harvey Builders as the general contractor.
HOUSTON — NorthMarq has provided a $10.6 million Fannie Mae acquisition loan for Coral Island Apartments, a 316-unit multifamily property located on the city’s southwest side. According to Apartments.com, the property offers one- and two-bedroom units and amenities such as a pool, fitness center, tennis court, basketball court, playground and walking trails. Travis Fite of NorthMarq originated the loan, which was structured with a 10-year term and a 30-year amortization schedule. The buyer was an undisclosed 1031 exchange investor. The seller was not disclosed.
KENNESAW, GA. — Marcus & Millichap has brokered the sale of Lewis House at Kennesaw, a 132-unit apartment property located in the Atlanta suburb of Kennesaw. The property sold for $31.8 million, which equates to approximately $240,530 per unit. Walt Gill of True North Cos. built the Lewis House at Kennesaw. The Class A property was less than 30 percent occupied when it was brought to market. The community is located adjacent to several recreational and entertainment venues, including a new $10 million recreation center, a new 4,400-seat amphitheater and a 33-acre community park. The Lewis House is approximately 2.2 miles from Kennesaw State University. The property features a unique “big house” design concept that is single-family-home-like in appearance while providing apartment amenities and services to its residents. John Brigel of Marcus & Millichap had the exclusive listing to market the property on behalf of the seller and procured the buyer, an undisclosed limited liability company. John Leonard of Marcus & Millichap assisted in closing the transaction.
DECATUR, GA. — Decatur-based Tapestry Development Group and Atlanta-based Columbia Residential have opened Stride Senior Residences, a $19 million mixed-income seniors housing community in Decatur. The property offers income-restricted and market-rate units, with 80 percent of the residences affordable to seniors at 60 percent of area median income. Currently, 88 of the 90 units are leased, including all the affordable units. The property is located at 651 Decatur Village Drive, about 2.2 miles north of downtown Decatur. The community is also close to stores, restaurants, professional services options, DeKalb Medical Center, MARTA bus lines and the MARTA Decatur station. Amenities include a shared community park, fenced community garden, movie theater room, fitness center, computer center, community room with a kitchen and free Wi-Fi in common areas. The new community is situated at Scott Boulevard and North Decatur Road within Decatur Crossing, a 26-acre mixed-use development by Atlanta-based Fuqua Development. Decatur Crossing’s three phases contain approximately 94,000 square feet of commercial space, including three grocery stores, 14,000 square feet of office space and over 950 apartments. Tapestry Development Group and Columbia Residential assembled the land in December 2017 and broke ground in May 2019. The developers had the Stride project certified …
SHREWSBURY, MASS. — Cornerstone Realty Capital has arranged a $53.3 million construction loan for Edgemere Crossing, a 250-unit multifamily project in Shrewsbury, located outside of Worcester. The property will consist of 116 one-bedroom units and 134 two-bedroom units that will be furnished with stainless steel appliances, granite countertops and vinyl plank flooring. Amenities will include a conference center, kitchen room, fitness center, dog park, pool and a resident clubhouse. The borrower, a joint venture between The Dolben Co. Inc. and Belmont Capital, expects to complete construction by the first quarter of 2023. The loan was structured with a floating interest rate, 36 months of interest-only payments and a 30-year amortization schedule.
MILWAUKEE — Hunt Capital Partners has arranged $13.1 million in Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) equity for the rehabilitation and adaptive reuse of an old school in Milwaukee dating back to 1902. Developer Royal Capital Group plans to create 82 multifamily units known as the Phillis Wheatley Apartments. Of the units, 67 will be set aside for households earning up to 60 percent of the area median income. Amenities will include a business center, community room, fitness center, theater room and onsite management. Supportive service providers will include the Milwaukee County Veterans’ Services Office and Lutheran Social Services. Chase Bank is the primary lender on the project, providing a $15.4 million construction loan and a $3.6 million permanent loan. Chase is also extending a tax-increment financing loan for $1 million. Other financing mechanisms include HOME funds and the Federal Home Loan Bank’s Affordable Housing Program. Hunt Capital Partners syndicated the tax credits through its proprietary fund, Hunt Capital Fund Tax Credit Fund 26. The former Phillis Wheatley Elementary School, located in the Lindley Heights neighborhood of Central Milwaukee, has sat vacant since 2005.
CHICAGO — SVN Chicago Commercial has negotiated the sale of a 44-unit multifamily building in Chicago’s Kenwood neighborhood for $4.9 million. The property is located at 4611 S. Drexel Blvd. Jeff Baasch of SVN brokered the sale. ShainRealty Capital, a Los Angeles-based privately owned real estate investment firm, purchased the property from the undisclosed seller. The acquisition marks ShainRealty’s ninth purchase on Chicago’s South Side.