Monday, January 13, 2014

Greystone Adds Senior Talent to Portfolio Lending Group


Marty Lanigan

NEW YORK, NY, Jan. 13, 2014 – Greystone, a leading national provider of multifamily and healthcare mortgage loans, today announced two senior executive additions to its rapidly growing Portfolio Lending Group, which focuses on bridge, mezzanine and special situations lending.

Jef Elm joins Greystone as Managing Director, Production, based in Austin, TX and reporting to Marty Lanigan, head of the Portfolio Lending Group in Greystone’s New York headquarters.

Elm has spent most of the last 25 years in senior production and origination roles on a national and regional basis, and has extensive lending experience originating bridge and permanent loans while serving at lenders such as Wells Fargo, NationsBank, Prudential and MetLife.

He also spent five years as a Managing Director originating mezzanine loans at Mezz Cap.

Matt Grodd is now a Senior Vice President in the firm’s NY office, and is a member of the investor liaison team to Greystone’s institutional co-investors. 

Grodd, also reporting to Lanigan, was previously at TriLyn Investment Management where he was responsible for originating, underwriting and structuring subordinated commercial real estate debt.

 Before TriLyn, Grodd served in the private equity group at Fortress Investment Group focusing on real estate-related investments, and spent his first eight professional years with Deutsche Bank within its Real Estate Investment Banking and CMBS groups, both in New York and London.

"Having previously worked alongside Jef twice in the past, I am thrilled that he’s joined us at Greystone, where his market expertise and client reach will serve as a terrific complement to our existing production platform," said Lanigan.

 “With the Portfolio Lending Group’s current talent and resources, we look forward to reaching and surpassing $1 billion in bridge loan production for 2014,” he added.

Greystone was the number one FHA lender in 2013 and is ranked as a top-10 Fannie Mae lender. Greystone provides mortgage finance solutions across multiple platforms, including FHA, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, USDA, CMBS, bridge, mezzanine and other proprietary loan programs. For more information about Greystone’s Portfolio Lending Group solutions please visit http://www.greyco.com/bridge.

For a complete copy of the company’s news release, please contact:

Greystone
Karen Marotta
212 896 9149

Cognito
Jessica Kleinman
646 395 6300

NAI Realvest negotiates new Lease for 8,040-SF industrial building on County Road 419 in Winter Springs, FL


Paul Partyka
Orlando, FL -- NAI Realvest recently negotiated a long term lease agreement for the 8,040 square foot building at 3553 County Road 419 in Winter Springs. 

 Paul P. Partyka, partner at NAI Realvest and associate Juan Jimenez negotiated the transaction representing the landlord, JLW Lake Doctors, Inc.   

Juan Jiminez
The new tenant is F3 Fitness Concepts LLC.  

“This is the second location for F3 Fitness which focuses on crossfitness training,” said Partyka.   Wendy Brown of Tizon Commercial represented the tenant. 

For a complete copy of the company’s news release, please contact:
  

Larry Vershel, Larry Vershel Communications Inc. 407-644 4142 lvershelco@aol.com

Stonegate Golf Club at Solivita recently hosts Wish Child and Family for VIP Weekend



 Rose Mary and David Lumm and their three youngsters (above photo) were recently honored with a special VIP treatment at StoneGate Golf Club in Solivita.


KISSIMMEE Fla. -- Stonegate Golf Club recently extended its hospitality to nine-year-old Andrew Lumm and his family for a special V.I.P. treatment weekend.

Arto Rahmani
 Andrew who is a wish child with Give Kids the World along with his twin sister Katelyn and brother Ryan, mom Rose Mary Lumm and dad, David Lumm were all given V.I.P. treatment during their 3-day stay. 

Arto Rahmani, general manager for Stonegate, said Rose Mary Lumm spoke to club members about what Give Kids the World has meant to her family.  The Lumm family was also hosted at The Grille where they received magnificent meals with V.I.P. treatment.

Rose and David Lumm met when Rose was teaching children for the Department of Defense in Germany and David was serving in the Army.

Andrew loves exploring, reading and meeting new people and his twin Katelyn enjoys the outdoors, skating and praise dance. Older brother Ryan loves drama, reading and helping others.

The Lumm family currently resides in Orlando. When asked; “what does Give Kids the World mean to your family?”  Rose Lumm replied: “It is a gift…a slice of heaven on earth”

For a complete copy of the company’s news release, please contact:

Arto Rahmani, General Manager StoneGate Golf Club 863-427-7150

Larry Vershel, Larry Vershel Communications Inc. 407-644 4142 lvershelco@aol.com

NAI Realvest Negotiates Long Term Lease on Hwy 17-92 in Longwood, FL


Matt Cichocki

 ORLANDO, Fla. – NAI Realvest recently negotiated a long-term lease agreement for a 2,100 square foot free-standing retail building at 1000 S. U.S. Hwy 17-92 in Longwood.

NAI Realvest Principals Matt Cichocki and Kevin O'Connor negotiated the lease representing the landlord Lee Chip Ith & Samneang Ith Chang of Lamont, Calif. 

Kevin O'Connor
TMX Finance of Savannah, Ga. is the new tenant operating an InstaLoan at the site.  InstaLoan provides quick personal loans and they have locations throughout Florida and Georgia.     


For a complete copy of the company’s news release, please contact:


Larry Vershel, Larry Vershel Communications Inc. 407-644 4142 lvershelco@aol.com

Realvest Development Chairman George Livingston sees advantages ahead as Spec Industrial Boom unfolds in 2014; Cites Co-Star Forecast


George Livingston
 Orlando, FL--- Co-Star Group’s latest forecast sees big gains in speculative warehouse development in 2014 and that’s good news for George Livingston, chairman of Realvest Development in Orlando.

Ranked as one of Central Florida’s most active developers of commercial warehouse facilities in Central Florida, Realvest Development has liquidated much of its assets and is actively seeking specialized development opportunities.

“Co-Star Group forecasts that demand for quality warehouse and distribution space will outstrip supply in 2014,” Livingston said, especially Class A distribution space.

“Speculative development accounts for almost two-thirds of the 59 million square feet of warehouse and distribution space under way in the U.S. right now,” Livingston said.

“Warehouse vacancies dropped almost a full percent nationwide last year and should drop below the 8 percent mark by summer,” Livingston said. “At the same time fully stabilized properties are selling at about the same low cap rates we saw at the top of the cycle,” he added.

Among the economic forces spurring new warehouse development is obsolescence.

“Tenants want modern, efficient space and much of the vacant space on the market today is older, poorly designed by today’s standards and ill-equipped to adequately accommodate modern, technology-proficient operations,” Livingston said.

“Investors are seeking to buy well designed space in markets that have job and population growth and many areas are turning to new cluster designs that attract job creators. Those programs also accelerate demand for new space,” Livingston said.

For a complete copy of the company’s news release, please contact:

George Livingston, Chairman Emeritus, NAI Realvest. 407-875-9989 glivingston@realvest.com
 Larry Vershel, Larry Vershel Communications Inc. 407-644 4142 lvershelco@aol.com

HFF closes sale of eight-property industrial portfolio in the Meadowlands in New Jersey


Meadowlands Industrial Portfolio
  
Jose Cruz

FLORHAM PARK, NJ – HFF announced it has closed the sale of an eight-property, fully leased industrial portfolio totaling 420,244 square feet in the Meadowlands submarket of New Jersey.

               HFF marketed the portfolio exclusively on behalf of the seller, Wilson Associates.          

The portfolio is located at 325, 425, 521 and 599 Gotham Parkway; 193, 194 and 320 Veterans Boulevard; and 300 Chubb Avenue in Carlstadt, close to the New Jersey Turnpike/Interstate 95, the Newark Liberty Airport, Port Newark/Elizabeth and Midtown Manhattan, which is less than 10 minutes away. 

Michael Nachamkin
Each warehouse/distribution facility is fully leased to a single tenant.  Tenants include H Mart, Glasscrafters, EMR Graphics and Tribeca Oven. 

               The HFF investment sales team representing the seller was led by senior managing directors Jose Cruz, managing directors Michael Nachamkin and Kevin O’Hearn and real estate analyst Marc Duval.

               “The Meadowlands industrial submarket, one of New Jersey’s top industrial submarkets, has experienced a very active leasing environment as of late with rental rates trending upward, boding well for properties such as this portfolio of well-located quality assets,” said Nachamkin. 

Michael O'Hearn
A full service real estate organization, Wilson Associates is a developer and owner/manager of industrial, retail and office projects in northern New Jersey.  

The company is one of the largest developers of Meadowlands commercial projects and is an investment builder that retains ownership of its properties and directs all operations in connection with development, financing, construction, leasing, property management, maintenance and engineering activities.

For a complete copy of the company’s news release, please contact:

Kristen M. Murphy
Associate Director
HFF | One Post Office Square, Suite 3500 | Boston, MA 02109
Main: 617-338-0990 | Direct: 617-848-1572 | Cell: 617-543-4873 | www.hfflp.com


HFF arranges $14.8 million financing for Madison Place in Shrewsbury, MA

    
Riaz Cassum

BOSTON, MA – HFF announced it has arranged $14.8 million in financing for Madison Place, a 96-unit, recently-completed multi-housing community in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts.

               HFF worked on behalf of Westborough, MA-based Madison Place, LLC., Robert Moss, Manager  to secure the seven-year, fixed-rate loan through Boston Private Bank & Trust.  The proceeds were used to pay off the original construction financing. 

               Completed in early 2012, Madison Place features one- and two-bedroom units ranging from 857 square feet to 1,118 square feet with modern finishes such as granite countertops, GE Energy Star stainless steel appliances, 9 ft. ceilings throughout and in-unit washer/dryers. 

The three-story building offers residents an outdoor picnic and grill area, and playground.  The property is located directly off Route 9 at 900 Madison Place, close to Interstate 290 about 30 miles west of downtown Boston. 

The HFF team representing the borrower was led by senior managing director Riaz Cassum, director Porter Terry and senior real estate analyst Martha Henderson.

Porter Terry
“Moss had the vision to acquire the site and begin construction in 2010.  Further, the thoughtful design and quality execution by Moss has resulted in Madison Place staying effectively full since its opening along with a robust level of lender interest in the permanent financing,” said Cassum.

   Madison Place, LLC is currently completing a 168-unit luxury apartment community called Madison Place Southborough  located off of Routes 9 and 495 in Southborough MA.

For a complete copy of the company’s news release, please contact:

Kristen M. Murphy
Associate Director
HFF | One Post Office Square, Suite 3500 | Boston, MA 02109
Main: 617-338-0990 | Direct: 617-848-1572 | Cell: 617-543-4873 | www.hfflp.com


HFF closes sale of two Central Florida Publix-anchored retail properties




ORLANDO, FL - HFF announced it has closed the sale of two Central Florida Publix-anchored retail properties totaling 167,400 square feet in Orlando and suburban Tampa.

Brad Peterson
HFF marketed the properties on behalf of the seller.  Global Fund Investments purchased the offering free and clear of existing debt.

The first property in the portfolio, Lake Cay Commons, was built in 2008 and is located at 9930 Universal Boulevard in Orlando.  Lake Cay Commons, which is 56 percent leased, is located less than one mile from the 2.1 million-square-foot Orange County Convention Center, the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort and the University of Central Florida School of Hospitality.

The second property, The Shoppes at Glen Lakes, is located at 9595 Commercial Way in Weeki Wachee, a northern suburb of Tampa.  Also completed in 2008, the property is 76 percent leased.

The HFF team representing the seller was led by senior managing director Brad Peterson along with director Luis Castillo.  

“With the scarcity of Publix-anchored retail properties for sale, it was no surprise that close to 25 offers were received on the properties.  This portfolio presented a rare opportunity to acquire two high-quality Publix grocery-anchored centers with significant upside in a single transaction,” Peterson commented.

Luis Castillo
Global Fund Investments, LLC, is a real estate investment company headquartered in South Florida. The company acquires, develops, redevelops, manages, leases and finances retail shopping centers across the Southeastern United States, with a core focus on Florida and Texas.

  Global owns and self manages 35 shopping centers, totaling 4.5 million square feet of leasable retail space.

 To learn more about Global, please visit the company’s website at www.gfinvestments.com or contact Nikolas Kozy at 305-535-6305.

 For a complete copy of the company’s news release, please contact:

Kristen M. Murphy
Associate Director
HFF | One Post Office Square, Suite 3500 | Boston, MA 02109
Main: 617-338-0990 | Direct: 617-848-1572 | Cell: 617-543-4873 | www.hfflp.com


HFF closes $42 million sale of Class A office building in Bristol, CT


383 Middle Street, Bristol, CT
Jose Cruz
FLORHAM PARK, NJ – HFF announced it has closed the sale of 383 Middle Street, a 410,174-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility located in Bristol, Connecticut.

               HFF marketed the property on behalf of the seller, Winstanley Enterprises, LLC.  Inland Real Estate Acquisitions, Inc. purchased the asset for $42 million. 

               383 Middle Street is situated on 36.9 acres in the Southeast Bristol Business Park, about 14 miles southwest of downtown Hartford via Interstate 84.

Andrew Scandalios
 The property is fully leased to a leading sports entertainment company that is headquartered nearby and includes an outparcel fully leased to a credit union.  Extensively renovated in 2004, the property features a new cafeteria (2009), new building systems and a data center. 

               The HFF investment sales team representing the seller was led by senior managing directors Jose Cruz and Andrew Scandalios, managing directors Kevin O’Hearn and Jeffrey Julien and associate director Steve Simonelli.

Kevin O'Hearn
               According to Cruz, “Matt Tice, vice president of Inland Real Estate Acquisitions, has successfully completed another transaction with both the seller and with HFF.” 

“Inland’s ability to perform on these types of transactions is one of the reasons why they are a preferred national buyer,” added Cruz.

               Winstanley Enterprises, LLC is a real estate investment and development firm that currently owns and operates 43 buildings totaling approximately 5.5 million square feet throughout the Northeast.  Since the early 1990s,

Jeffrey Julien
Winstanley has acquired in excess of 80 properties exceeding 10 million square feet of real estate throughout the eastern United States.  The portfolio currently consists of a wide variety of commercial properties, including industrial/warehouse, R&D, office, biotechnology lab and retail properties.

For a complete copy of the company’s news release, please contact:

Kristen M. Murphy
Associate Director
HFF | One Post Office Square, Suite 3500 | Boston, MA 02109
Main: 617-338-0990 | Direct: 617-848-1572 | Cell: 617-543-4873 | www.hfflp.com

HFF closes sale of Potrero Business Center in San Francisco


Potrero Business Center, San Francisco, CA
 
Steven Golubchik

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – HFF announced it has closed the sale of Potrero Business Center, a three-building, 135,000-square-foot office and industrial/flex business park in San Francisco, California.

HFF marketed the property on behalf of Morrison Street Capital, LLC.  SF Industrial 1, LLC, which was advised by Zurich Alternative Asset Management, LLC (“ZAAM”), purchased the property free and clear of existing debt. 

The property is located on Cesar Chavez Street between Interstate 280 and Highway 101, adjacent to Mission Bay and in close proximity to the 22nd Street Caltrain station.  Situated on 4.57 acres, the property is 94 percent leased to a wide spectrum of tenants. 

The HFF investment sales team representing the seller was led by managing director Steven Golubchik and director John Simerlein.


John Simerlein
The ZAAM team representing the buyer was led by managing director Sean Bannon and director Jesse Faneuil.

“San Francisco represents one of the highest barriers-to-entry markets in the country, with industrial and flex space being particularly scarce,” commented Golubchik.

Founded in 2002, Morrison Street Capital, LLC places investment capital on behalf of the Morrison Street series of private equity funds.  As a buyer of commercial real estate, the firm invests with precision and a hands-on management approach. 

As a secondary lender providing preferred equity, B notes, bridge loans and mezzanine debt, the firm possesses extensive knowledge of local real estate markets throughout the western United States and has a commitment to integrity, flexibility and ingenuity.

 Zurich Alternative Asset Management, LLC is the alternative investment advisor to Zurich North America and (“Zurich”) its affiliates, responsible for the group’s hedge fund, private equity and US real estate investments. 

Dating back to 1997, Zurich, advised by ZAAM and predecessor entities, acquired more than $2 billion of assets directly with a focus on high quality commercial properties with high grade tenancy. 

ZAAM currently manages approximately $2.5 billion of commercial real estate exposure in the Unites States for its various affiliated balance sheets.

For a complete copy of the company’s news release, please contact:

Kristen M. Murphy
Associate Director
HFF | One Post Office Square, Suite 3500 | Boston, MA 02109
Main: 617-338-0990 | Direct: 617-848-1572 | Cell: 617-543-4873 | www.hfflp.com


HFF secures $6.4 million refinancing for three-building Columbus, OH office portfolio


Port Columbus Executive Park, Columbus, OH

Michael Klein

FLORHAM PARK, NJ – HFF announced it has secured a $6.4 million refinancing for Port Columbus Executive Park, a three-building, 124,922-square-foot office portfolio in Columbus, Ohio.

               HFF worked on behalf of the borrower, Bergman Real Estate Group, to secure the 10-year, fixed-rate loan through Natixis Real Estate Capital, Inc.  Loan proceeds were used to replace existing financing on the property.  HFF will also service the securitized loan.

               Port Columbus Executive Park is comprised of 2720, 2740 and 2760 Airport Drive, three office buildings that are 89 percent leased overall to 13 tenants including Lockheed Martin, AFLAC, Quest Diagnostics and Ohio State University.  

The properties are situated on nearly 10 acres at the entrance of the Port Columbus International Airport, close to Interstate 670 about five miles northeast of downtown Columbus.

               The HFF team representing the borrower was led by director Michael Klein.

               “The borrower was seeking a fixed-rate loan that would enable them to maximize proceeds and to take interest rate risk off the table for as long as possible,” said Klein. 

 “Natixis was able to provide a structure that allowed Bergman Real Estate Group to meet their goals while minimizing the amount of structure required for future tenant roll.”

               Bergman Real Estate Group is a 25-year old, privately-owned real estate investment and management firm that specializes in the acquisition, ownership, management, leasing and construction supervision of commercial office properties throughout New Jersey and other select markets, including Columbus, Ohio.

For a complete copy of the company’s news release, please contact:

Kristen M. Murphy
Associate Director
HFF | One Post Office Square, Suite 3500 | Boston, MA 02109
Main: 617-338-0990 | Direct: 617-848-1572 | Cell: 617-543-4873 | www.hfflp.com