Despite being just south of Philadelphia, Delaware continues to maintain its presence in the New England market and its own identity. After a very active period from 2005 to 2007, office development in Wilmington’s central business district (CBD) is now taking a breather. The last project finished, the Renaissance Center at 4th and King streets, still has significant vacancies. The suburban market has also slowed, and new developers are taking a wait-and-see approach before speculatively breaking ground on new projects. This current slowdown in market activity is attributable partly to the market and partly to the usual summer slump. The slowdown has brought overall vacancy rates to 17.1 percent for Class A and B office product, including sublease space. The Wilmington CBD comes in with the highest rate at 20.5 percent (Class A and B, including subleases), while western New Castle County posts a rate of 6.2 percent, an anomaly compared to the other submarkets that lean more towards the CBD’s rate. Currently, rents for Class A space in the CBD can run from the low $20s to low $30s per square foot. Suburban rents for Class A space are equivalent, ranging from the low to high $20s. Leasing may …
STOWE, VT. — Broomfield, Colo.-based RockResorts International has entered into an agreement with a joint venture between Stonewater Partners and CastleGrace Management for the management of a resort project currently under construction in Stowe. Known as The Mansfield Inn at Stowe, the project will include for-sale residences, as well as luxury tented accommodations. Amenities will include a three-meal restaurant with a fine dining element; a 6,000-square-foot spa with six standalone, spa-themed cabins; a warming hut; and an outdoor pool and hot tubs. The project is scheduled to open in time for the 2010/2011 ski season. RockResorts, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Vail Resorts, will manage all resort operations, provide technical advisory services and provide marketing licensing services to assist in sales for the project.
ORLANDO, FLA. — Orlando-based H.J. High Construction Co. recently completed the 57,000-square-foot Pine Castle United Methodist Church, located at 731 Fairlane Ave. in Orlando. The $9.07 million project, which features a 1,250-seat sanctuary, also includes classrooms, church offices, a lobby, a chapel and a youth auditorium.
JERSEY CITY, N.J., AND NEW CASTLE, DEL. — KeyBank Real Estate Capital has arranged two multifamily loans totaling $47.6 million. The first loan totals $33.8 million and will finance the pre-stabilization of Cliffs at Jersey City, a Class A, mid-rise property located in Jersey City, The loan carries a 5-year term with interest-only payments. The borrower is Brass Works Urban Renewal Co., and the lender is Fannie Mae. The second loan totals $13.8 million and will be used primarily to finance the acquisition of Hampton Walk, a Class B, garden-style property located in New Castle. Loan proceeds will also be used to renovate the units, as well as finance the purchase of an additional property in the area. The borrower is KGL Holdings Hampton Walk LLC, and the lender is Fannie Mae. Terms of the financing were not disclosed.
LEAGUE CITY, TEXAS — Capmark Finance has originated a total of $16.46 million in financing for the acquisition and renovation of two League City multifamily properties. Crows Nest Condominiums is a 176-unit property located at 501 Davis Rd., and Sandcastles Apartments, which was recently renamed Harbor Walk, is a 138-unit community located at 2751 FM 518. The loan proceeds comprised $14.75 million in first mortgage financing and $1.71 million in mezzanine debt. The fixed-rate loans carry 5-year terms with interest-only payments for the first 2 years, followed by a 30-year amortization schedule. Brant Smith and Andy Hill of Capmark’s Houston office originated the financing on behalf of the borrower, Houston-based Mosaic Residential. The primary lender is Fannie Mae, which utilized the company’s CI Mezz-Mod Rehab Program; RCG Longview acted as the mezzanine lender.
BLOOMFIELD, CONN. — The Hartford, Conn., office of Chozick Realty has brokered the sale of Manor House Apartments, a 125-unit multifamily community located at the intersection of Revere Drive and Park Avenue in Bloomfield, for $15.77 million. Situated on 15.33 acres, the community contains a mix of 24 one-bedroom and 101 two-bedroom units in 11 buildings. Rick Chozick of Chozick Realty acted as sole broker in the transaction. The seller was an investment group led by J. Winkler, and the buyer was Windsor Castle LLC.
LONG BEACH, CALIF. — San Francisco-based Newcastle Partners Inc. has partnered with RREEF Alternative Investments to acquire a 54.5-acre land parcel in Long Beach for the first two phases of development at Douglas Park, a 261-acre master-planned mixed-use project. Plans for the entire project comprise 4 million square feet of commercial space, including office, retail, industrial and hospitality, as well as 9.9 acres of parks. Valued at $350 million at final build out, the first two phases will encompass approximately 1 million square feet of commercial space. The first phase consists of a 165,000-square-foot office portion offering nine buildings ranging in size from 7,200 to 40,000 square feet, and a 245,000-square-foot industrial component consisting of 12 one-story buildings ranging in size from 6,140 to 32,258 square feet. The second phase will include an up to 500,000-square-foot office portion with 20 buildings ranging in size from 12,000 to 120,000 square feet, and a 200-room hotel property with 24,000 square feet of retail space. Completion for the first phase is slated for May 2009; construction on the second phase started in July 2008.
CHICAGO — On behalf of Chicago-based Newcastle Limited, Cohen Financial has secured a $13 million acquisition loan for a three-property portfolio in Chicago. Two properties are located within the city’s Lincoln Park neighborhood at 2200 Clark St. and 801 Diversey St., and the third property is located at 4071 Milwaukee St. The portfolio contains 44,310 square feet of retail space, as well as 28 apartment units. The fixed-rate, 70 percent loan-to-value non-recourse loan is based on a 5-year term, with a 30-year amortization schedule priced on the 5-year U.S. Treasury. An undisclosed national life insurance company funded the transaction for the borrower, Newcastle Limited. Steve Roth and Steve Kundert of Cohen Financial arranged the financing.
HARPER WOODS, MICH. — CB Richard Ellis Detroit Multi-Housing Group has completed the sale of Pointe Gardens Apartments, a 92-unit community located off Rockcastle Avenue in Harper Woods. Greater Development LLC has acquired the 3.36-acre property for an undisclosed amount. The community contains six two-story garden-style buildings, which house one- and two-bedroom floor plans ranging in size from 700 to 900 square feet. Rob Stone of CB Richard Ellis Detroit Multi-Housing Group represented the seller, Rockcastle LLP, in the transaction.
GLENDALE, CALIF. — Los Angeles-based Rexford Industrial has purchased a freestanding industrial building in Glendale for $6.2 million. Located at 700 Allen Ave., the 57,117-square-foot property offers 3,840 square feet of office space. The property is currently occupied by Grant Industries on a 21-year lease, with approximately 1 year remaining. The tenant has the option to renew its lease for an 18-month extension. Peter Castleton of Voit Commercial Brokerage’s Anaheim, Calif., metro office represented the buyer and the seller, the Peterson Family Trust, in the transaction.