HENRICO, VA. — Amazon plans to build a new robotics fulfillment center on 119 acres in Henrico, about 11 miles from Richmond. The Seattle-based company expects to create 1,000 new jobs at the facility, which is set to open in 2022. The multi-story, 650,000-square-foot property will be situated next to Richmond Raceway. In 2006, Amazon launched its first Virginia fulfillment operations in Sterling. Last year, Amazon started plans on a robotics fulfillment center in Suffolk and a processing center in Chesapeake, which are both expected to launch later this year. Since 2010, Amazon’s investments have contributed an additional $17.5 billion to Virginia’s economy, according to the company. The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with the Henrico Economic Development Authority, The Port of Virginia and the Greater Richmond Partnership to secure the new Amazon facility.
CHICAGO — EQ Office has reopened Skydeck Chicago at Willis Tower to the public after completing an extensive redevelopment. The attraction’s lower level features an interactive museum that celebrates the history of Chicago’s neighborhoods and sites. The observation deck, situated on the 103rd floor, features The Ledge, four glass floor balconies extending from the tower. The attraction uses a timed ticketing system with capacity limits and safety guidelines in accordance with Chicago’s latest COVID-19 regulations. EQ Office, operator of Willis Tower, developed the project. Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, Thinc Design, Clark Construction Group and Chicago Scenic Studios made up the project team.
MORRISVILLE, N.C. — CBRE | Raleigh has arranged a full-building lease for Invitae Corp. at The Stitch, the former Morrisville Outlet Mall that was converted into a life sciences campus. San Francisco-based Invitae Corp., a medical genetics company, will occupy 245,159 square feet of Class A creative office, research and lab space. The company is expected to create 374 jobs over the next five years for the Raleigh area. The Stitch, owned and developed by Equator Capital Management and OCS Holdings, features a 18,000-square-foot indoor amenity center with a fitness center, onsite healthcare provider, coffee bar with food offerings, prep kitchen, private phone booths and quiet gathering areas. Outdoor amenities include a yoga lawn, outdoor conference rooms, bocce ball court and walking paths. Architecture firm Gensler led the project design, and Atlanta-based Choate Construction led the base building construction. John Brewer and Hastings Crockard Jones of CBRE | Raleigh represented the landlord in the lease transaction, and Newmark represented Invitae.
HOUSTON — A subsidiary of Kentucky-based Charah Solutions has purchased and will redevelop the 6,166-acre Gibbons Creek Steam Electric Station & Reservoir in Grimes County, located northwest of Houston. The new ownership plans to redevelop the property to support solar, battery, and energy storage uses and will work with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to complete all environmental remediation required for the property. Richard Shields, Richard Hanson, Marissa Rose and Tommy Leblanc of Avison Young advised Charah Solutions on the deal.
WOODBRIDGE, VA. — The IDI Group Cos., a multifamily developer based in Washington, D.C., and PTM Partners, a real estate development and investment firm, have formed a joint venture to acquire 1000 Annapolis Way in Woodbridge for a future multifamily project totaling 318 units. The $16.6 million land acquisition represents the start of the second phase of IDI’s 720-unit riverfront development. The transaction is the second deal for PTM Partners Opportunity Zone Fund II, which launched in September 2020. IDI and PTM secured a $63.8 million loan from United Bank for the project. Situated along the Occoquan River, 1000 Annapolis Way will have a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments. Community amenities will include a health and fitness center, club lounges, roof terrace, outdoor pool with sundeck and resident activities. The project will provide more housing options for those working at a nearby growing Army base less than eight miles north of the project. Leasing is expected to begin in 2022. The property has immediate access to Interstate 95 and the Virginia Railway Express and is close to Fort Belvoir, which employs more than 50,000 military, civilian, contractor and Department of Defense personnel.
DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA. — JLL has arranged a 25,000-square-foot lease expansion and relocation in South Florida on behalf of DNA Labs International, a private forensic DNA lab. The lab company’s new corporate headquarters will take up the entirety of Building 3 at Hillsboro Center located at 700 W. Hillsboro Blvd. in Deerfield Beach. Ryan Nunes of JLL represented DNA Labs in the office expansion. Joe Freitas and John Criddle of Cushman & Wakefield represented the Boca Raton, Fla.-based landlord, Grover Corlew, in the lease negotiations. DNA Labs International was founded in 2004 in Deerfield Beach and is a family-run business, specializing in forensic DNA analysis for law enforcement agencies, government forensic labs and attorneys involved in the criminal law practice. Hillsboro Center includes more than 216,000 square feet of space and offers immediate access to Interstate 95. The building features an onsite cafe and restaurant options, banks, hotels and other amenities in the surrounding area.
MIAMI — Centennial Bank has provided a $12.5 million construction loan to Prestige Cos. and Florida Value Partners for Trails, a workforce housing project located on the Ludlam Trail at 1040 SW 70th Ave. in Miami. The project’s first phase will consist of two- to three-story garden-style buildings with 84 residential units ranging from one- to two-bedroom units listed from $1,600 to $1,800 per month. The second phase of the project, which will be initiated within six months, will deliver five three-story buildings and a total of 230 units ranging from one- to two-bedroom units listed from $1,700 to $1,900 per month. The workforce housing property will be developed with no government funding. Community amenities will include an outdoor workout area and a dog park. In addition, the property will have access to the Ludlam Trail, a 6.2-mile linear park. Renovations for the Ludlam Trail will turn the former Florida East Coast railway corridor into a park, as well as a running and cycling trail that will connect to The Underline, a 10-mile linear park under the Metrotrail.
HOFFMAN ESTATES, ILL. — Somerset Development has opened coLab at Bell Works Chicagoland in Hoffman Estates. The 15,000-square-foot coworking facility offers flexible lease terms and workspaces, including access to dedicated conference and meeting rooms, lounges and amenities. It was designed as a turnkey solution for enabling companies to flexibly lease ready-to-use office space, according to Somerset. NPZ Style & Décor designed the space. Membership plans range from a $25 day pass to private team suites, which start at $2,000 per month. Bell Works Chicagoland is the transformation of the former AT&T campus. Somerset is developing the project in a similar fashion to its Bell Labs development in Holmdel, N.J.
GRAPEVINE, TEXAS — Dallas-based hospitality owner-operator NewcrestImage has opened a 152-room Hilton Garden Inn hotel that is located about two miles from DFW International Airport in Grapevine. The property joins a 181-room Courtyard by Marriott and a 120-room TownSuites by Marriott as the third hotel within the 52-acre SilverLake Crossings mixed-use development. The Hilton Garden Inn offers amenities such as a 24-hour business center, fitness center, a grab-and-go mart and multiple dining options.
SUNRISE, FLA. — Norwich Partners has opened the eight-story, 174-room AC Hotel Fort Lauderdale Sawgrass Mills/Sunrise in Sunrise. The hotel is located on the grounds of Sawgrass Mills, an outlet and value-oriented shopping mall. Global design firm Stantec served as the project’s architect and structural mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineer of record, working alongside interior design firm Group One Partners. The AC Hotel Fort Lauderdale Sawgrass Mills/Sunrise is located at 1870 Sawgrass Mills Circle. The hotel property is 36 miles from Miami Beach and 17 miles from Fort Lauderdale. The hotel lobby includes an AC Lounge featuring a communal space with a bar serving local beers and cocktails, as well as an outside terrace. The hotel’s amenities also include a rooftop deck with bar, lounge, cascading water fountain and 24-hour fitness center. Other hotel amenities include an art gallery featuring the works of local artists, a digital library, the AC Kitchen restaurant and 1,675 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting space.