METUCHEN, N.J. — Woodmont Properties has broken ground for Woodmont Metro at Metuchen Station, a transit-oriented apartment community located in downtown Metuchen. The 273-unit property will feature an open piazza, 11,500 square feet of retail space and a six-level parking deck with 750 parking spaces. The first phase of construction will consist of the parking deck, which will be built and managed by Nexus Properties.
PLANO, TEXAS — Capital One will begin construction this week on a new office building expected to house between 1,000 and 1,200 employees. The new building is an expansion of Capital One’s corporate campus located at 8058 Dominion Parkway in Plano, and will be the seventh office building on the campus. The four-story building will include six training rooms, a cafeteria, collaboration spaces and a game room. The Capital One Plano campus is located on 75 acres, with six current office buildings, three parking garages and a multi-purpose conference center. The combined space covers 1.3 million square feet and houses 5,900 employees. Construction of the new building is scheduled to be complete in the first quarter of 2017.
DALLAS — After sitting vacant for 25 years, the 22-story Mercantile Commerce building located at 1712 Commerce St. in downtown Dallas, along with the neighboring building 1700 Commerce, are being redeveloped into three new downtown hotels with more than 425 rooms. NewcrestImage is the developer for the project. Phill Geheb of Munsch Hardt arranged financing for the redevelopment project. Construction is slated to begin next week for the hotels, whose brands include Residence Inn and Dallas’ first AC Marriot Hotel. The project received three forms of funding. The financing includes a $35.6 million construction loan, $7.8 million in federal tax credit equity and $8 million in state historic tax credit equity.
HOUSTON — Transwestern has arranged construction financing for the Arabella, a condominium tower being developed on the southeast corner of San Felipe Road and Westcreek Lane in Houston. The 33-story property, which will have a total of 99 residences, is scheduled for completion in fall 2017. Jan Sparks and Michael Snodgrass of Transwestern arranged the financing on behalf of developer Randall Davis of D.C. Partners. The EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program, which was part of the equity, allows foreign nationals to obtain an expedited green card in exchange for stimulating the U.S. economy through job creation. Located next to the River Oaks District, Arabella is expected to break ground this month. The high-rise will have penthouses with private swimming pools on the upper floors and a variety of floorplans, most with private elevator entries. Powers Brown Architecture is the project’s architect, and GT Leach Construction is the general contractor.
AUSTIN, TEXAS — The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has awarded LEED Gold certification to East Austin’s Corazon apartment and retail development. Developed by Austin-based Argyle Residential, the project utilizes high-efficiency heating and cooling systems, and each unit features energy-efficient lighting, appliances and hot water heaters. The project also used recycled materials during the construction process, and took steps to minimize construction waste. The LEED scoring system also recognized the walkability and public transit access provided by Corazon’s central location, the project’s drought-tolerant landscaping and its use of materials and finishes that promote a healthy indoor environment.
YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO — The Opus Group has broken ground on a Gander Mountain retail store in Youngstown, approximately 70 miles southeast of Cleveland. Completion of the property is slated for February 2016. The 61,000-square-foot store is being built at the site of Gander Mountain’s former retail store that has been demolished. Opus Design Build LLC is the general contractor for both projects.
DALLAS — After 12 years with Marcus & Millichap, a team of commercial real estate agents has started its own firm, the Vitorino Group. The team aims to build on its track record of retail investment sales throughout Texas and the Southwest, but will expand its business model to include all facets of a commercial real estate firm. Jason Vitorino leads the company, which opened Sept. 28. Vitorino Group also includes Jared Aubrey, Michael Austry, Adam Gottschalk, Anthony Pucciarello, Bryce Gissler and James Mangum. The Vitorino Group also employs a transaction coordinator, financial analyst, marketing coordinators and research analysts.
THE WOODLANDS, TEXAS — The Howard Hughes Corp. and its wholly-owned subsidiary The Woodlands Development Co. have officially opened Restaurant Row at Hughes Landing, a mixed-use development including restaurants, retailers, multifamily residences, entertainment venues, office buildings and an Embassy Suites by Hilton hotel. California Pizza Kitchen, Del Frisco’s Grille, Escalante’s Fine Tex-Mex & Tequila and Local Pour are now open in Restaurant Row, with Truluck’s and Fogo de Chão under development. Retailers now open include Cadence Bank, CUPS Frozen Yogurt, KB Kasuals, Kriser’s Natural Pet, Pier 1 Imports, Starbucks, Venetian Nail Spa and Whole Foods Market. Other retails, including 18|8 Fine Men’s Salons, Macaron by Patisse and Willa Boutique, will open at Hughes Landing soon.
NEW YORK CITY — Megalith Capital Management and Urban Realty Partners have launched sales for 200 Water Street, a six-story boutique residential building in Brooklyn’s historic DUMBO neighborhood. The property includes 15 gallery-style condominiums featuring two, three or four bedrooms with expansive windows and up to 14-foot high ceilings. Converted from a former 1950s Brillo steel wool factory, 200 Water was designed by Gil Even-Tsur’s Architecture Workshop and Aufgang Architects. The building’s penthouse feature roof decks, terraces and floor-to-ceilings windows. On-site amenities include a fitness center, landscaped garden, bike storage and a doorman.
GRAND JUNCTION, COLO. — Welbrook Senior Living and Embree Healthcare Group have started construction of a new transitional rehabilitation facility in Grand Junction, and have secured final financing for the project from CNL Healthcare Properties, a real estate investment trust (REIT) based in Orlando, Fla. The facility, the name of which was not released, will feature 50 private suites. Texas-based Embree is developing the facility, which California-based Welbrook will operate when complete. The companies expect to admit the first resident in the second half of 2016.