Sunday, December 9, 2012

Berger Commercial Brokers $2.2 Million Land Sale in Fort Lauderdale, FL



2001 South Andrews Ave., Fort Lauderdale, FL
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Berger Commercial Realty, a full service commercial real estate firm based in Fort Lauderdale and serving clients around the state, announced a deal from brokers Keith Graves and Lloyd Berger, president of Berger Commercial Reality.

Keith Graves
Graves and Berger represented HD Supply Holdings in the sale of a 31,212 square-foot property located on 2.67 acres at 2001 S. Andrews Ave. in Fort Lauderdale, to Dino Properties, LLC for $2.2 million.

Dino Properties will invest an additional $2.4 million for renovations to accommodate a medical administration company, which is relocating to Fort Lauderdale and will employ a staff of 85.

Contact:

Marielle Sologuren
Pierson Grant Public Relations
6301 Northwest 5th Way, Suite 2600
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309
Phone: (954) 776-1999, ext. 226
Fax: (954) 776-0290




Saturday, December 8, 2012

KW Property Management & Consulting Goes International with New Client – Bimini Bay in the Bahamas


  
 Miami, FL and Bimini, Bahamas --- KW Property Management & Consulting, , a statewide leader in turnkey property management, has been selected to handle property management services for Bimini Bay in the Bahamas, a residential development with 384 private residences.

“The addition of Bimini Bay in the Bahamas strengthens the depth and breadth of our residential property management services on an international basis, in addition to our well known expertise in Florida and recent expansion into New York City and Nashville.” said Robert White, Co-Managing Director, KW Property Management & Consulting.

KW’s role includes managing the 384 private residences.

Miami-based Capo Group and real estate developer Gerardo Capo developed Bimini Bay after purchasing the land in 1998. The property’s other upscale amenities includes a 374-unit resort hotel with rooms, suites and luxury villas and a casino under construction.

 The 230-slip marinas form the centerpiece of the resort, and with two separate marinas - Fisherman's Village Marina (136 slips) and the Mega-Yacht Marina (96 slips), both equipped with concrete floating docks.

One of the largest onsite management companies in Florida, KW currently manages numerous premier properties in South Florida including the Atlantis Condominium on Brickell Avenue, Turnberry Village in Aventura and 900 Biscayne Bay Condominiums in Downtown Miami.

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

 Brittany Nguyen
Becker Public Relations
2506 Ponce de Leon Blvd.
Coral Gables, FL 33134
Telephone 305/444-2181 X 221

Marcus & Millichap Capital Corp. Arranges Two Retail Center Refinancing Loans in California Totaling $17.9 Million



Anita Paryani Rice
LOS ANGELES, CA – Marcus & Millichap Capital Corporation (MMCC) has arranged two retail strip center refinancing loans totaling $17.9 million. One loan is for $10.4 million and the other is for $7.5 million.

Anita Paryani Rice, a vice president capital markets in MMCC’s West Los Angeles office, arranged the loans with Jake Roberts, a vice president capital markets, and Jerry Wise, a first vice president investments, both in the same office.

Jake Roberts
 The loans were arranged to refinance two retail strip centers; one in Santa Clarita, Calif. and the other in Simi Valley, Calif.

The Santa Clarita loan was structured with a five-year term and will amortize over 30 years. The LTV is 65 percent.

The loan for the Simi Valley asset was structured with a 10-year term and will amortize over 25 years at an interest rate of Libor plus 2.75 percent. The LTV is 65 percent.

Jerry Wise
“The 1966-built Santa Clarita property is anchored by a grocery store that could not provide a sales history,” says Paryani Rice, “along with another, smaller anchor that had declining sales. The property also included some ‘elbow space’ with a history of being difficult to lease,” adds Paryani Rice. “Despite these factors, MMCC was able to create a sense of comfort for the lender, in terms of both the property and the market.”

“The Simi Valley asset is currently in transition,” Paryani Rice continues, “as the borrower negotiates an expansion and lease extension for a major tenant. Furthermore, the borrower requested that the loan’s terms include release provisions and exclude a prepayment penalty. MMCC was able to secure these terms in spite of the borrower’s non-optimal position, giving the property’s family ownership the all-important flexibility to release buildings or sell anytime,” Paryani Rice concludes.
         

Press Contact:

Marcus & Millichap Capital Corp.
(925) 953-1716


Marcus & Millichap Sells Strayer University Building in Miramar, FL for $5.9 million





Strayer University, Miramar, FL
 MIRAMAR, FL– Marcus & Millichap Real Estate Investment Services, the nation’s largest real estate investment services firm, has announced the sale of Strayer University, an 18,068-square-foot net leased educational facility located in Miramar, FL, according to Kirk A. Felici, First Vice President/Regional Manager of the firm’s Miami office. The asset commanded a sales price of $5,900,000.

Vice President Investments Adam J. Tiktin in Marcus & Millichap’s Miami office had the exclusive listing to market the property on behalf of the seller, a limited liability company from Davie, FL.

Adam J. Tiktin
“This sale was a great investment opportunity for the buyer to own a brand-new, Class-A, private educational facility.  Strayer University is listed in Forbes as one of the top 10 online universities and has 92 campuses throughout the United States. This particular location has great visibility to I-75,” says Tiktin.

The 18,068-square foot educational facility was a build-to-suit for Strayer in 2009 at which time Strayer University signed a 10-year double-net-lease.  Strayer University is located at 15620 Southwest 29th Street in Miramar, FL.

Press Contact:

Kirk A. Felici
First Vice President/Regional Manager,
Miami, FL
(786) 522-7000

Triumph Motorcycles Relocates to Hartsfield Centre in Atlanta, GA



Hartsfield Centre, Atlanta, GA
 ATLANTA, GA -- Cassidy Turley, a leading commercial real estate services provider in the U.S/ announced it brokered the 18,557-square-foot lease at Hartsfield Centre in Atlanta for Triumph Motorcycles (Americas), LTD.

 Triumph was looking for a new space to relocate its North American headquarters from Newnan, Ga., in order to be closer to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

Mike Shelly
The iconic British motorcycle manufacturing company locked in an eight-year commitment for an entire floor at Hartsfield Centre, a Class-A office building located at 100 Hartsfield Center Parkway. 

The location will enable the company to bring clients and distributors from around the country to their new showroom and offices, further amplifying the 110-year-old motorcycle company’s brand.

Sonia Winfield
Triumph was also looking for more space as it continues to grow its domestic market share. The company has grown more than 70% the last three years, and plans to increase its employee base by 40% over the course of the lease.

 Cassidy Turley’s Senior Managing Director Mike Shelly and Associate Vice President Sonia Winfield represented the landlord - Alecta Real Estate Atlanta, LLC, a 10-year client of the firm’s.

Bill Johnston of King Industrial Realty represented Triumph in the deal.

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

 Tony Wilbert
Wilbert News Strategies
404-965-5022

$10 Million Shopping Community Hits the Market in Marietta, OH


  
Lafayette Center, Marietta, OH
 MARIETTA, OH – Marcus & Millichap Real Estate Investment Services, the nation’s largest real estate investment services firm, has received the exclusive listing for Lafayette Center, a multi-tenant shopping community in Marietta, Ohio, 125 miles northwest of Columbus. The 109,856-square foot property is listed at $10.1 million, or $92 per square foot.

Steven Siegel
Steven Siegel, a first vice president investments in Marcus & Millichap’s Manhattan office, is spearheading the marketing efforts for the seller.

 Michael Kook, an associate in the same office, and Ashish Vakhariya, a senior associate in the firm’s Detroit office, are also providing representation.

Michael Kook
Michael Glass, vice president and regional manager of Marcus & Millichap’s Cleveland and Columbus offices, is the firm’s broker of record in the state of Ohio.

“Conveniently situated on a prime retail corridor just off Interstate 77, also known as Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway, this asset is anchored by five national tenants and shares its location with four national big box stores,” Siegel says. 

“Additionally, its 9,371 vacant square feet provide an exceptional upside. An investor with a strong knowledge of the retail market stands to do very well with this property,” Siegel concludes.

 Ashish Vakhariya
Located on Pike Street, a heavily trafficked thoroughfare that sees 27,300 cars per day, Lafayette Center is currently 91.5 percent occupied by a number of national and regional tenants including Peebles (18,515 square feet), Jo-Ann Fabrics (9,000 square feet), Family Dollar (8,450 square feet) and Hibbett Sporting Goods (6,000 square feet).

Michael Glass
The asset is surrounded by national retailers McDonald’s, Arby’s, Applebee’s, Burger King and Chase Bank. It is just across Pike Street from Big Lots, Bridgeport Equipment and Kroger Square, a 43,500-square foot neighborhood center anchored by Kroger.

 A few steps away are Kmart and the River’s Edge center, anchored by Walmart Supercenter, Anytime Fitness and Sally Beauty Supply. Lowe’s Home Improvement, also in the immediate area, rounds out the list.

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

Public Relations
(925) 953-1716


Commercial Construction Set to Rise, but Will Enough Experienced Workers Be There to Handle Demand?



Michael Bull
 ATLANTA, GA) – As 2013 draws closer on the horizon, construction and design experts predict next year will see an overall increase in commercial building activity. However, they also worry that the construction and architecture industries will have a hard time finding enough experienced workers to meet the rising demand.

The most recent episode of the “Commercial Real Estate Show,” hosted by Michael Bull, took an enlightening look at the issues confronting the construction, development and design sectors. Bull and his guests discussed a range of topics including in-demand property types, construction costs, sustainability and tips for successful construction projects.

Bill Bland
The United States has experienced about a 2 percent increase in non-residential building activity during the past year and should see a roughly 6 percent bump in 2013, said Kermit Baker, chief economist for the American Institute of Architects.

However, while the overall activity number is increasing, there is a “lot of variation” in how individual sectors are performing, Baker added. “Some segments are doing pretty well, while others are really still in recession mode,” he said.

For example, hotel and motel construction has increased 25 percent in the past 12 months, while the building of worship facilities has dropped 17 percent in the same timeframe, he said. Multifamily and seniors-housing facilities also are seeing significant building activity, guests noted.

Bill Halter
Because the construction and architectural sectors have been so depressed for the last half decade or so, many seasoned workers left the industries in pursuit of more in-demand careers, leaving those still working in the sectors with the significant challenge of finding the right people to handle what should be a rising workload.

“We’re looking for seasoned individuals,” said Bill Bland, a senior vice president with Choate Construction. “Because so many people left the industry, trying to locate experienced workers, in particular pre-construction experts, is difficult.”

Sustainable design and construction is a trend that has taken a permanent hold, noted Bill Halter, director of corporate design for the Cooper Carry architectural firm. “Our clients today all want to talk about sustainability,” he said. “They see the value in it, from a building operations side.”

 “They may not want to do a LEED-certified building,” Halter added. “They may not want to go to the [U.S. Green Building Council] and go through [its certification] process, but they do want it to be a high-performance building.”

The entire episode on construction, development and architecture is available for download at www.CREshow.com.

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

Stephen Ursery
The Wilbert Group
Office: (404) 965-5026
Cell: (404) 405-2354

Bull Realty Arranges $1.8 Million Sale of 22,000-Square-Foot Grasslands Plaza in Northern Metro Atlanta, GA



Grasslands  Plaza Retail Center, Atlanta, GA
 ALPHARETTA, GA. – Bull Realty has negotiated the $1.8 million sale of the more-than-22,000-square-foot Grasslands Plaza Retail Center.

Located at 5620 Commerce Boulevard in Alpharetta, Ga., the foreclosed property and three acres of vacant land were sold by PNC Bank to TAC GrassLands LLC, a regional equity group.

 Rob Whitmire, Bull Realty partner and senior vice president with the firm’s Special Asset Services division, and Bob Kane, vice president in Bull’s National Retail Group, represented the bank in the disposition and were the only brokers involved in the transaction.

Rob Whitmire
“Using aggressive marketing techniques, Bull Realty created substantial competition for this property, allowing the seller to net greater returns,” Whitmire said. “We had 10 solid offers immediately upon taking the asset to market.”

 Kane added, “This transaction supports the trend of investor interest in unanchored retail strip centers with income in place (this center features approximately $128,000 in net operating income) and the opportunity to lease up for considerable returns.”

Grasslands Plaza was built in 2008 and is currently 69.7 percent occupied. Its tenants include Curves, Dollar Tree, Moe’s Southwest Grill and AT&T Cellular. The vacant parcels are approximately 1.32 and 1.73 acres. The plaza and the vacant lots are outparcels to a Wal-Mart Supercenter.

Bob Kane
Traffic counts on nearby Highway 9, the main commercial artery in Alpharetta, exceed 19,000 vehicles per day. A wide variety of local and national retailers, including Kroger, CVS/pharmacy, Blockbuster, Advance Auto Parts, SunTrust, Wachovia, McDonald’s, Burger King, Sonic, Papa Johns, Subway, Great Clips, GNC and Metro PCS, are located within one mile of the property.

 Bull Realty Inc. is a full-service commercial real estate brokerage firm providing investment sales services throughout the nation and corporate services in the Southeast. The firm was founded 15 years ago with two primary missions: 1) to provide a company of stellar integrity and reputation, and 2) to provide the best commercial real estate marketing in the nation.
  
For a complete copy of the company’s news release, please contact:

Stephen Ursery
The Wilbert Group
Office: (404) 965-5026
Cell: (404) 405-2354

Bull Realty Arranges $1.67 Million Sale of Celebrity Chef Alton Brown’s Studio in Atlanta, GA


  
Atlanta, GA Chef Alton Brown's Studio
 ATLANTA, GA – Bull Realty has negotiated the $1.67 million sale of the almost 17,000-square-foot studio of celebrity chef Alton Brown.

Located at 1371 Southland Circle in the Georgia Tech submarket of Atlanta, the office loft/creative space, in which the Food Network’s popular TV show “Good Eats” was filmed, was purchased by Reliant Technologies. Reliant Technologies will use the space for its corporate headquarters.

Daniel Latshaw
 Daniel Latshaw, Bull Realty Partner, represented Brown in the transaction. An in-town commercial broker, Latshaw also represented the celebrity chef in the 2004 purchase of the northwest Atlanta property, which was renovated the following year.

“The offering received strong interest from studios, special-event companies and loft-office users” Latshaw said.

Chef Alton Brown Studio, interior, Atlanta, GA
Built in 1990, the property is zoned Flexible I-2 (Industrial), allowing for a variety of studio, loft-office and showroom uses. The surrounding district is home to some of the nation’s premier creative and technology businesses, acclaimed restaurants, and shopping.

Brown no longer needed the space, as he is now shooting most of his TV shows in New York or Los Angeles.

Paul Raulet of Raulet Property Partners represented the buyer in the transaction.

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

Stephen Ursery
The Wilbert Group
Office: (404) 965-5026
Cell: (404) 405-2354

Friday, December 7, 2012

Colliers International Completes 19,582-SF Office Lease in Los Angeles, CA


9841 Airport Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA
 LOS ANGELES, CA -- Colliers International, the third largest global real estate services organization, has completed one of the largest leases in the Los Angeles LAX submarket, totaling 19,582 square feet at 9841 Airport Boulevard in Los Angeles, Calif.

     Greg Walsh, Vice President, Patrick Grunbok, Associate, and Josh May, Associate Vice President with Colliers International, represented the tenant, TollFreeForwarding.com, an internet based company from Los Angeles, Calif. The landlord was represented by Geena Oh of Jamison Services.

Gregory Walsh
 “This was one of the largest deals in the 3rd quarter in this submarket,” said Grunbok. The LAX submarket, which suffers from a 37.5% vacancy rate, was boosted by the closing of the Airport Boulevard lease.

Patrick Grunbok
 In October, TollFreeForwarding.com vacated its former corporate headquarters in Los Angeles and moved into the new space on Airport Boulevard. With this relocation TollFreeForwarding.com has more than doubled in size, making it one of the fastest growing companies in the area.

     The 15-story, Class A office building TollFreeForwarding now resides in is conveniently located near Century Boulevard, in close proximity to LAX.

Josh May

For more information, please contact Patrick Grunbok.

Rainee Tiske
Marketing Specialist | PR GLA|
 Torrance, CA
Dir +1 310 381 2413
Main +1 310 381 1000

Colliers International
3 Park Plaza, Ste. 1200, Irvine, CA 92614
www.colliers.com
.


Waterbury, CT Apartment Building Sells for $3.1 Million and 52K Per Unit



3250 East Main Street Apartments, Waterbury, CT
BRIDGEPORT, CT – Investment sales broker Northeast Private Client Group has announced the sale of 3250 East Main Street, a 60-unit apartment building in the East Farms submarket of Waterbury, CT.

  Bradley Balletto, the firm’s regional manager for southern Connecticut, represented both the seller and the buyer in the $3,130,000 transaction, which closed on November 14.

“High occupancy and rent growth are driving strong demand, especially for multifamily properties,” notes Balletto.  “In today’s still uncertain financial market conditions, income-producing real estate remains one of the best opportunities for generating and preserving wealth.”

Bradley Balletto
 The seller, 3250 East Main LLC of Monsey, NY, purchased the property in 2004 as one of a series of Connecticut acquisitions at the time.  The buyer, FNL Holdings LLC, based in New York, purchased the East Main Street property for a price that equates to $79/SF, which represents a capitalization rate of 8.5 per cent on the current year’s net operating income.

“Going into 2013, the investment sales cycle continues to accelerate and activity remains strong,” explains Edward Jordan, JD, CCIM, the firm’s managing director. “We presently have about two dozen deals under contract in southern New England.  

Edward Jordan
“A robust rental market in many areas gives investors the confidence to move forward on acquisitions, and the increased competition for these assets is beneficial to our sellers as well.”

Founded in 2010 by Edward Jordan, Northeast Private Client Group supports real estate investors with offices in New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts. 

The firm specializes in representing owners of income producing properties, and supporting those who invest and sell property in the commercial and multifamily sectors across a region that stretches from New York to Boston.

 Jordan holds the Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) designation and currently serves on the board of directors of the Connecticut chapter of CCIM.

 Contact

Rick Leonard
203.434.7734

Thursday, December 6, 2012

HFF arranges $49 million financing for Class A multi-housing complex in Dallas, TX



Gramercy On The Park Apartments, North Dallas, TX
DALLAS, TX – HFF announced today that it has arranged $49 million in financing for Gramercy On The Park, a 535-unit, premier Class A multi-housing community in Dallas, Texas.

                HFF worked exclusively on behalf of Billingsley Company to secure the 10-year, fixed-rate permanent loan through Freddie Mac (Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation). 

Trey Morsbach
Loan proceeds were used to pay off an existing construction loan.  HFF will service the securitized loan through its Freddie Mac Program Plus® Seller/Servicer program. 

Gramercy On The Park is located at 4755 Gramercy Oaks Drive; ideally positioned at the southeast corner of the Dallas North Tollway and the George Bush Turnpike in the desirable Far North Dallas area. 

  This upscale midrise community was completed in 2011 and includes one- and two-bedroom units averaging 889 square feet in 13 floor plans.  

                The HFF team representing Billingsley Company was led by senior managing director Trey Morsbach

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

Kristen M. Murphy
Associate Director
HFF | 9 Greenway Plaza, Suite 700 | Houston, TX 77046
tel 713.852.3500 | cel 617.543.4873 | fax 713.527.8725 |



HFF arranges sale of $133.4 million loan secured by a mixed-use development in suburban Dallas/Fort Worth, TX.



3555 Timmons, Houston, TX
HOUSTON, TX – HFF announced today that Unilev Capital Corporation has purchased 3555 Timmons, a 225,895-square-foot, Class A office building in Houston’s Greenway Plaza submarket.

                HFF marketed the property on behalf of the seller, Great Point Investors LLC.  The purchase price was not disclosed.

                3555 Timmons is located between Richmond Avenue and West Alabama Street just north of U.S. Highway 59 in Houston’s “Inner Loop”.  The 14-story property is 98 percent leased.

Dan Miller
The HFF investment sales team representing the seller was led by senior managing director Dan Miller and director Martin Hogan.

Great Point Investors LLC has been a registered investment advisor since 1998.  The private firm is owned by its Principals.  The firm has acquired and managed assets for six different separate account clients. In 2012, it launched a senior housing investment program. 

Martin Hogan
Since inception the Firm has completed more than 110 purchase and sale transactions in over 30 different markets in the United States.  Great Point’s broad experience includes core, value-added and opportunistic investments using both joint venture structures and direct purchases.

Unilev Capital Corporation is a privately held real estate investment organization that also invests with a select, limited group of private and institutional partners to acquire well-located, income-producing commercial properties with both a short-term opportunistic strategy and a long-term, low-risk investment horizon. Unilev’s Houston portfolio includes Galleria Towers I and II, Galleria Financial Center, One and Three Riverway and other office and retail properties.

Contact:

Kristen M. Murphy
Associate Director
HFF | 9 Greenway Plaza, Suite 700 | Houston, TX 77046
tel 713.852.3500 | cel 617.543.4873 | fax 713.527.8725 |



HFF arranges sale of $133.4 million loan secured by a mixed-use development in suburban Dallas/Fort Worth, TX



Watters Creek at Montgomery Farm, Allen, TX
DENVER, CO – HFF announced today that it has sold a non-performing loan secured by Watters Creek at Montgomery Farm, a 700,000-square-foot, grocery-anchored, mixed-use development in Allen, Texas.          

    HFF marketed the $133.4 million loan on behalf of a five-member bank group. 

Doug Hazelbaker
Watters Creek at Montgomery Farm features 362,436 square feet of retail space, 96,530 square feet of office space, 233 luxury multi-housing units and 15 acres of land proposed for future multi-housing development.   

The HFF team representing the bank group was led by loan sale professionals Eric Tupler and Brock Cannon along with investment sale professionals Doug Hazelbaker, Bill Miller and Ryan Shore

Contact:

Kristen M. Murphy
Associate Director
HFF | 9 Greenway Plaza, Suite 700 | Houston, TX 77046
tel 713.852.3500 | cel 617.543.4873 | fax 713.527.8725 |



HFF closes sale of Westchase Park in Houston’s Westchase District



Westchase Park, Houston, TX
HOUSTON, TX – HFF announced today that it has closed the sale of Westchase Park, a 272,361-square-foot, newly-built, Class A, core trophy office building in Houston’s Westchase District.

                HFF represented the seller, Simmons Vedder Partners and O’Connor Capital Partners, in the sale of the property to Clarion Partners.  


Rusty Tamlyn
The buyer also purchased seven acres of land adjacent to the site for a future office development project as part of this transaction.

                Westchase Park is located at 3700 West Sam Houston Parkway between Richmond and Westpark Drive close to Westpark Tollway, U.S. 59 and Interstate 10.  The six-story property is LEED gold certified and is 98.4 percent leased to eight tenants including ABB and MetLife.  52 percent of the tenants are investment grade tenants with an average lease term of eight years remaining.  

Jeffrey Hollinden
Building amenities include a fitness center, 24-hour security, a large building conference room and a 1,089-space parking garage. 

                The HFF investment sales team representing the seller was led by senior managing directors Rusty Tamlyn and Jeff Hollinden, and associate director Trent Agnew.

                “Clarion has been an active player in major U.S. markets, including Houston, for many years, amassing a diverse portfolio of assets across the risk/return spectrum,” said Tamlyn.

Trent Agnew
O’Connor Capital Partners is a privately-owned, independent real estate investment and development firm focused on principal investing through private equity funds.  O’Connor concentrates its efforts on making direct investments in high-quality assets in major metropolitan markets in North America.  

                Clarion Partners has been a leading U.S. real estate investment manager for over 30 years. Headquartered in New York, the firm has offices in major markets throughout the U.S., in S͠ão Paulo, Brazil and London, England as well as a presence in Mexico.  

With more than $25 billion in total assets under management, Clarion Partners offers a broad range of real estate strategies across the risk/return spectrum to its more than 200 domestic and international institutional investors.  More information about the firm is available at www.clarionpartners.com.


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

Kristen M. Murphy
Associate Director
HFF | 9 Greenway Plaza, Suite 700 | Houston, TX 77046
tel 713.852.3500 | cel 617.543.4873 | fax 713.527.8725 |