Adriana Pop
Adriana Pop is a senior editor with Commercial Property Executive and Multi-Housing News. She joined CPE and MHN in 2012, with an academic background in economics, English and Italian. She currently curates the CPE Sneak Peek newsletter, highlighting noteworthy stories and emerging topics for readers. Connect with her at adriana.pop@cpe-mhn.com or on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ioana-adriana-pop-811772108/.
Bakery Square 2.0 Development To Break Ground in March
Walnut Capital and its financial partner, the RCG Longview Fund, have closed on the acquisition of the vacant Reizenstein School in Pittsburgh’s East Liberty section. The purchase of the property will allow the developers to move forward with their plans for the approximately $100 million Bakery Square 2.0 development.
Plans now call for three office buildings totaling 400,000 square feet, two 175-unit apartment buildings, 57 rental townhouses, an underground parking garage, new streets, as well as public and private green spaces. It is estimated that the project’s full build-out period will span over five years. “Bakery Square 2.0 will be another world class development and is expected to create more than 1,200 new jobs and offer amazing office and housing opportunities that will attract new businesses and residents,” Mayor Luke Ravenstahl said.
A&B Properties Acquires West Oahu Shopping Mall for $29.8M
A&B Properties Inc., the real estate subsidiary of Honolulu-based Alexander & Baldwin, has acquired the 170,275 square-foot Waianae Mall in Leeward Oahu from TNP Strategic Retail Trust Inc. The $29.8 million purchase price included the assumption of a $19.7 million mortgage, at a 5.4 percent interest rate. “The Waianae Mall acquisition redeploys proceeds realized from a July 2012 land sale, on a tax-advantaged basis, into a favorably priced, significantly higher income-generating commercial property on Oahu,” said Christopher J. Benjamin, A&B’s president & chief operating officer.
Omni Hotels Wraps Deal for 564-Key Downtown Westin; Rebrands as Omni Providence
Omni Hotels & Resorts has completed the acquisition of The Westin Hotel in Downtown Providence from The Procaccianti Group. Announced in October, the sale closed late last year for a price reported by CoStar Group as $170 million. Rebranded the Omni Providence Hotel, the 564-key property will become part of Omni’s “Convention Collection” of hotels. Currently, that portfolio includes the Omni Nashville Hotel, set to open in 2013; the Omni Dallas Hotel; the Omni Fort Worth Hotel; the Omni San Diego Hotel; the Omni Hotel at CNN Center in Atlanta; and the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C. “We are pleased to add this premier property to our Convention Collection hotel portfolio and enhance our offerings along the Eastern seaboard,” said Mike Deitemeyer, president of Omni Hotels & Resorts. “We look forward to working with the city and CVB, and serving as a leader in the marketplace for years to come.”
Flock Real Estate to Spend $1M Renovating Historic Apartment Buildings in Indianapolis
Two Old Northside apartment buildings at the northeast corner of 13th and Alabama streets in Indianapolis are about to get a $1 million makeover. Built in the late 1800s, the three-story properties comprise approximately 20,000 square feet of living space. The Indianapolis Business Journal reports that locally based Flock Real Estate Group will apply for historic tax credits to finance the renovation project. Upon completion, the buildings will offer 12 one-bedroom units, three two-bedroom units and three three-bedroom units, with refurbished hardwood floors, high ceilings, new windows, track lighting and new kitchens with stainless appliances. Rents for the 18 market-rate units will range between $750 and $1,600 per month.
$55M Mixed-Use Development in Downtown Chapel Hill Nears Completion
The 140 West Franklin development, one of Chapel Hill’s largest mixed-use projects, will be complete by late April. Located at the intersection of West Franklin and Church streets, the venture is expected to boost economic activity and bring new markets to the town. According to The Daily Tar Heel, the $55 million downtown complex will offer 140 condominiums, 26,000 square feet of retail space, a public plaza and 337 parking spaces. Developed by Ram Realty Services, the structure stands eight stories tall at its highest point. “The goal was definitely to develop Franklin Street — this is some of the first Class ‘A’ retail space available on Franklin Street in a long time,” development manager Jon Keener told the newspaper.
Pittsburgh Public Schools Unveil Project Bids for Schenley Redevelopment
Officials at Pittsburgh Public Schools have revealed proposals from four bidders interested in purchasing and redeveloping the former Pittsburgh Schenley High School in North Oakland.
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that in order to qualify, the bids were required to include an acquisition price of at least $4 million. This amount covers the remaining debt on the historic property.
The four bidders and the bid amounts are:
• PMC Property Group, $5.2 million
• AWSVPA/Edward Alexei, $4.1 million
• Ralph A. Falbo Inc., $4 million
• Kossman Development Co., agent for Provident Charter School, $4.6 million.
The candidates intend to convert the property into apartments and/or create a new school. The highest bid came from Philadelphia-based PMC Property Group. The developer is proposing 175 residential units, along with parking and an on-site fitness center. The development will incorporate the existing basketball gym, while the uses of the pool and auditorium will be determined at a later date. The estimated cost of the project is around $37 million.
Digital Realty Acquires Three-Property Data Center Portfolio in Paris for $80M
Digital Realty Trust has acquired a three-property data center portfolio in the Paris area for $80 million. The seller was Bouygues Telecom, France’s third largest telecommunications operator.
State Agency Green-Lights Student Housing for Aloha Tower
The Hawaii Pacific University (HPU) has gained approval from the Aloha Tower Development Corporation (ATDC) to repurpose the Aloha Tower Marketplace in downtown Honolulu into a 300-unit student dormitory and multi-use complex. According to the Pacific Business News, the $30 million project for the 160,000-square-foot, two-story waterfront marketplace would bring student housing on the upper floor, along with retail, dining and entertainment options on the first floor. “We’re delighted with the actions taken today by ATDC and excited about our ability to move forward with a project that we believe has tremendous implications for the university, for our downtown merchants and community and for all of Honolulu,” said HPU President Geoffrey Bannister on the occasion of the announcement.
Duke Realty Divests Six-Building Office Portfolio in Indianapolis
A joint venture between Middleton Partners and Romanek Properties has acquired the six-building Hillsdale Technecenter in suburban Indianapolis from locally based Duke Realty Corp. John Huguenard and Peter Harwood of Jones Lang LaSalle represented the seller in the transaction. Financial terms were not disclosed. According to the Indianapolis Business Journal, the sale of the 446,000-square-foot office complex is part of Duke’s plan to reduce its ownership of suburban office properties. The company’s long-term goal is to have 60 percent of its holdings in industrial, 25 percent in office and 15 percent in medical office.
Whitestone Realty Eyes Spring Start for 127-Unit Senior Housing at Pabst Complex
Milwaukee Pabst Senior Housing LP of New York City is moving forward with its plan to develop a 127-unit senior housing facility at the former Pabst Brewery in downtown Milwaukee. First proposed in 2011, the development is slated to replace the former Malt House and Malt Elevator buildings on West Juneau Avenue. The Business Journal reports that construction on the project could start in April and would be finished in 12 to 14 months. Upon completion, the developer plans to sell the complex to nonprofit operators United Housing and Community Services Corp. or Improved Living Foundation Inc.