Monday, October 19, 2015

HFF arranges $33.745 million financing for 133 West 52nd Street in Midtown Manhattan


133 West 52nd Sreet condominiums,  Midtown Manhattan, NY

 
Andrew Scandalios
NEW YORK, NY – Oct. 19, 2015 – Holliday Fenoglio Fowler, L.P. (HFF) announced today that it has arranged $33.745 million in financing for 133 West 52nd Street, a six-story commercial condominium in Midtown Manhattan.

Working on behalf of the borrower, MRP Realty and Long Wharf Real Estate Partners LLC, HFF placed the three-year, floating-rate loan with a mid-size bank.  Loan proceeds were used to acquire the property and have been allocated towards leasing available space.

133 West 52nd Street is a newly-completed 55,744-square-foot commercial condominium located at the base of a brand new, 46-story luxury condominium conversion. 

The property, known as a ‘building within a building’ is comprised of six floors, with its ground floor lobby adjacent to the residential lobby for 135 West 52nd Street and a retail condominium soon to be occupied by BLT Steak restaurant. 

This unique property will be marketed to a wide variety of tenants from corporate users to creative technology firms as well as retail, showroom, and medical office, and will feature a baseline design allowing flexibility to accommodate a specific tenant or group of tenant’s desired look and feel. 

The property fronts 6 1/2 Avenue at 133 West 52nd Street and is situated between 6th and 7th Avenues in Midtown close to Rockefeller Center, Central Park and Columbus Circle.

The HFF debt placement team representing the borrower was led by senior managing director Andrew Scandalios and associate director Christopher Peck.

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

Olivia Hennessey
Public Relations Coordinator
HFF | 9 Greenway Plaza Suite 700 | Houston, Texas 77046
tel 713.852.3403 | fax 713.527.8725 | www.hfflp.com


Minor Hotel Group Announces Development of Anantara Desaru Resort in Malaysia


BANGKOK, MALAYSIA, Oct. 19, 2015 -- Minor Hotel Group (MHG), a hotel owner, operator and investor, currently with a portfolio of 135 hotels and resorts in 22 countries across Asia Pacific, the Middle East, Europe, South America, Africa and the Indian Ocean, has announced additional details of its joint venture with Malaysian partner, Themed Attractions Resorts & Hotels Sdn. Bhd. (TAR&H), a subsidiary of Khazanah Nasional Berhad, to develop an Anantara resort in Desaru Coast in south-east Malaysia.

MHG‘s shareholding of the 242 million MYR (USD 58 million) project is 60%, with TAR&H holding 40%.

Scheduled to open in 2018, the new-build Anantara Desaru Resort & Villas will be located in the heart of the new beachfront development in Desaru Coast and will have 123 keys comprising a 103-room resort with deluxe guest rooms and villas and 20 three- and four-bedroom Villas. Facilities in the resort will include restaurants and bars, two swimming pools, a lounge and observation bar, kids and teens clubs, meeting rooms, a gym and an Anantara Spa. Watersports will also be available.

Desaru Beach, Malaysia
Desaru Coast is a resort area located at Malaysia’s south-eastern tip in Johor Bahru and spans over 3,900 acres along a pristine 17 kilometre beachfront facing the South China Sea. 

It is in close proximity to Iskandar Malaysia and is easily accessible, 45-minutes from Senai International Airport and a two-hour drive from Singapore. Additionally visitors from Singapore can travel to Desaru Coast by ferry followed by a short drive.

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

Hwee Peng Yeo
Vice President, Asia Markets
Glodow Nead Communications
San Francisco • New York • Singapore • Shanghai
Level 21, Centennial Tower, 3 Temasek Avenue • Singapore 039190
Level 15, One Corporate Avenue, 222 Hubin Road, Shanghai China, 200021
1700 Montgomery Street, Suite 203 • San Francisco, CA • 94111
Asia: 65.9768.6087  US:415.394.6500 • E: hweepeng@glodownead.com


杨慧萍
总裁
博德纳公关咨询公司

Centennial Tower 21层,Temasek Avenue 3号, 新加坡邮区039190
上海湖滨路222号企业天地一号15层,中国邮编20021

Belinda Sime sells $3.5 Million Coral Gables Estate Home for Owner of Buchwald Jewelers



Belinda Sime
CORAL GABLES, FL – Belinda Sime, president of the residential real estate division of  Sime Realty Corp., listed and sold a Coral Gables Estate Home valued at $3.5 million, $450 per square foot.  

The home is located at 2420 Granada Blvd. in the central Coral Gables area near the Biltmore Hotel.

The seller was Bobby Buchwald, owner of Buchwald Jewelers in Downtown Miami. The buyers were Kevin Lee Simmons and Tirza Elizabeth Simmons.

The beautifully landscaped 7,775-square-foot, seven-bedroom, six-and-a-half-bathroom home was built in 2007 and is situated on a large 20,250-square-foot lot.  

Features included high ceilings, premium hardwood and marble floors, spacious high-end kitchen and appliances, three-car garage, maid’s quarters, saltwater pool, elaborate security system and other estate-quality amenities.

“Estate homes in the Gables, Coconut Grove and Pinecrest areas have been selling very well,” said Belinda Sime.  “We implemented a customized marketing plan for this property and sold it in just a few months.”


2420 Granada Boulevard, Coral Gables, FL
She and her team specialize in listing and marketing luxury homes in these submarkets.  They closed a total of 65 sales in 2014.

Belinda Sime Realtors™, PA, a/k/a Real Estate by Belinda, is a division of Sime Realty Corporation representing residential real estate buyers and sellers in Coral Gables, Pinecrest, Coconut Grove, Brickell and South Miami. 

Belinda Sime and her team have extensive experience and success marketing luxury homes.  She can be reached at (786) 344-9579 or via email at belindasgables@aol.com
 and seen on the web at http://realestatebybelinda.com.

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

Don Silver, BoardroomPR
(954) 370-8999


Dan Phelan Presented with MBA Education Rosser Lifetime Achievement Award


Dan Phelan
SAN DIEGO, CA – The Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA)  today presented Dan Phelan, CMB, CRI, CCMS, with its E. Michael Rosser, CMB, MBA Education Lifetime Achievement Award.

“Dan is one of the industry’s strongest advocates for MBA’s School of Mortgage Banking,” said Bill Emerson, MBA Chairman.

 “He believes that enhanced industry education is the path to restoring faith and confidence among consumers and policymakers in our industry and those individuals who practice it.

“He has put this belief into action as a frequent instructor for the School of Mortgage Banking, a teacher in the Commercial Real Estate Finance Program at the University of San Diego and serving as a guest lecturer for many of the undergraduate and graduate courses offered there. ”

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

Ali Ahmad
(202) 557-2727


Mortgage Bankers Association Announces New Directors, Governors, and Committee Chairs for 2016

  
Teresa Bryce Bazemore
SAN DIEGO, CA  – The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) announced its new Board of Directors, members of the Residential Board of Governors (RESBOG), members of the Commercial Real Estate/Multifamily Finance Board of Governors (COMBOG), and Residential Committee Chairs for 2016.

“MBA is the unparalleled leader in real estate finance and one of the top trade associations in the country because it is led by its active, diverse, and passionate membership,” said Bill Emerson, newly elected MBA Chairman and CEO of Quicken Loans, Inc. “I look forward to working with the team this year.”

MBA's Board of Directors consists of 26 elected members and one ex-officio member, MBA President and CEO David H. Stevens. MBA directors represent its commercial/multifamily, residential and associate membership. The Board of Directors sets the strategic direction for MBA and also oversees management of the affairs of the association.

The new members of MBA's Board of Directors are:



Debra W. Still

  • Teresa Bryce Bazemore, Radian Guaranty Inc.
  • D. Steve Boland, Bank of America
  • Franklin Codel, Wells Fargo Home Mortgage
  • Tari L. Flannery, CMB, M&T Realty Capital Corporation
  • Kevin Pezzani, CMB, First American Title Insurance Company
  • Christopher LaBianca, UBS Investment Bank
  • T. Anthony Premer, Pacific Life Insurance Company
  • Dorinda Smith, SunTrust Mortgage, Inc.                                         
  • Debra W. Still, CMB, Pulte Mortgage LLC
  • Thomas L. Wind, EverBank  


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

Ali Ahmad
(202) 557-2727

Quicken Loans’ Bill Emerson Sworn in as 2016 MBA Chairman; Rodrigo López, CMB sworn in as Chairman-Elect; David Motley, CMB, sworn in as Vice Chairman.


Bill Emerson
San Diego, CA --  Bill Emerson, Chief Executive Officer of Quicken Loans, Inc., was sworn in as Chairman of the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) during the Association’s 102nd Annual Convention & Expo in San Diego, California.

Emerson, served as the 2015 Chair of the MBA's Diversity Committee, and is the the former Vice-Chairman of the MBA’s Residential Board of Governors. He also is a member of the MBA’s GSE Single Family Task Force and serves on the MBA’s Board of Directors.

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

Rob Van Raaphorst
(202) 557-2799

MBA Honors U.S. Bank Home Mortgage’s Dan Arrigoni with Distinguished Service Award

  
Daniel Arrigoni

SAN DIEGO, CA (Oct. 19, 2015) – Today, the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) honored Dan Arrigoni, formerly president of U.S. Bank Home Mortgage, with its Andrew D. Woodward Distinguished Service Award. 

The award is presented in recognition of dedication and prominent service to MBA and the mortgage lending industry in a variety of capacities involving both legislative and regulatory activities.  Arrigoni was presented the award in a ceremony held at MBA's Annual Convention & Expo in San Diego, CA. 

“Dan Arrigoni has been an active member of MBA for more than 20 years," said Bill Emerson, Chairman of the MBA.  “Personally, I know him as my friend and colleague.

He’s taken the lead in tackling some of the hottest issues for our industry by serving on MBA’s Board of Directors, RESBOG, Executive Roundtable, FHA Executive Task Force, RESPA at the Ready Working Group, and so much more,”
  
For a complete copy of the company’s news release, please contact:

Ali Ahmad
(202) 557-2727

Wyndham Hotel Group Joins the TripAdvisor Instant Booking Marketplace


PARSIPPANY, NJ and NEEDHAM, MA, Oct. 19, 2015 – Building on a longstanding relationship, Wyndham Hotel Group, the world’s largest hotel company, and TripAdvisor, the world’s largest travel site*, today announced they have extended their partnership to add the hotel group’s inventory to the TripAdvisor instant booking platform.

Starting this fall, travelers shopping for hotels on TripAdvisor can conveniently book Wyndham Hotel Group properties.

“With a shared focus on mobile growth and providing a better way to engage guests who are looking for a fast, convenient way to book their hotel stay, TripAdvisor’s instant booking platform complements our overall distribution strategy,” said Josh Lesnick, executive vice president and chief marketing officer at Wyndham Hotel Group.

“This additional, cost-effective distribution channel not only puts our 15 iconic brands in front of the right guests, but allows us to create a direct relationship with them before and after their stay.”

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

Gabriella Chiera
Wyndham Hotel Group
22 Sylvan Way
Parsippany, NJ  07054
(973) 753-6590

Lincoln Property Company Southeast Hires Kim Steward as Senior Property Manager

  
 
Kim Steward
ATLANTA, GA (Oct. 19, 2015) – Lincoln Property Company Southeast (Lincoln) is pleased to announce the addition of Kim Steward as senior real estate manager.

In her role, Steward will manage 2.4 million square feet of office, medical, industrial and retail space for 15 properties across Atlanta.

 She is also the Senior Real Estate Manager for 1117 Perimeter Center West, a 390,000-square-foot, Class A building in the heart of the Perimeter area of Atlanta.

“With more than 21 years of experience in the Atlanta market, Kim brings a wealth of experience to Lincoln,” said Shane Froman, vice president of management services for Lincoln.

 “Her rich background and expertise ensures that the owner is receiving the maximum return on their investment, from preparing and implementing owner-required reports to regular property inspections and tenant visits.”

Previously, Steward was a senior real estate manager with CBRE in Atlanta where she was responsible for the management of 2 million square feet of data center, industrial, office and retail buildings.

 Throughout her career, she has managed a full-spectrum of products, including Class A office, medical, industrial and retail. Steward is currently a member of the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) and is a licensed salesperson with the Georgia Real Estate Commission.


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

Savannah Duncan
The Wilbert Group
404-343-0870

Sonia Abdulbaki Joins Daly Gray Public Relations as Vice President: Adds B-to-B, International and Consumer PR Depth



Sonia Abdulbaki
HERNDON, VA (Oct. 19, 2015) - Daly Gray Public Relations, a full-service public relations, investor relations, marketing and crisis communications firm specializing in the hospitality industry, today announced that Sonia Abdulbaki has joined the firm as vice president.

 In her new role, she will oversee the day-to-day management and long-term strategic growth of a number of Daly Gray’s hotel accounts.

            Abdulbaki has a broad background in domestic and international hospitality public relations and marketing experience.  She spent a number of years abroad in the Middle East, working for such prestigious agencies as Rawaj International and Havas Public Relations Middle East.

 Her clients included Sofitel and Pullman Hotels & Resorts, as well as such recognized retail brands as Chloe, Marc Jacobs and Calvin Klein.  An experienced journalist, Abdulbaki’s work has appeared in such outlets as Business Traveler US and DC EcoWomen.     She received her Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and minored in Journalism at George Mason University.

Chris Daly
            “Sonia adds immediate bench depth to our team, bringing a fresh, creative perspective and international hotel public relations experience,” said Chris Daly, president.  “Her familiarity with hospitality will allow her to hit the ground running and expand our expertise as the only PR firm that specializes in the business of hotels.”

            “Daly Gray provides a wonderful opportunity to expand my skill set while using the knowledge I’ve already gained as a hospitality public relations professional,” Abdulbaki noted.

 “The firm is in the midst of an impressive growth period, and I look forward to playing a role in creating and executing communications strategies that help our clients achieve and exceed their business goals.”

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

Chris Daly
(703) 435-6296


Taylor Johnson Announces New Client Sedgwick Properties in Chicago, IL

                                                        
 
Emily Johnson
CHICAGO, IL – Taylor Johnson President Emily Johnson announced Taylor now represents Sedgwick Properties Development Corporation, one of Chicago’s premier development companies for nearly 20 years.

Founded in 1996 by Marty Paris, Chicago-based Sedgwick Properties is a full-service real estate company specializing in both residential and commercial development, with a particular focus on the multifamily market.

In addition to his role as president of Sedgwick Properties, Mr. Paris also currently serves as president of the Homebuilders Association of Greater Chicago and is the former regional president of the Homebuilders Association.

Unlike most traditional real estate developers, Sedgwick Properties has an in-house team of development, design and construction professionals, allowing them to bring a unique perspective to each project, from inception to completion.

From constructing retail centers and mid- and high-rise condominiums in the city to enhancing suburban communities with housing and retail experiences, Sedgwick’s team of developers, designers and construction engineers has developed more than one million square feet of residential and commercial real estate across Chicagoland and in Denver, Colorado.

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


Cara Mooses at (312) 267-4523 or cmooses@taylorjohnson.com.