To seed the new venture, Combined Properties contributed a Waldorf, MD-based shopping center called Charles County Plaza. Alex Iszard, EVP and general counsel for the firm estimates its value to be more than $30 million. The recently renovated and expanded 142,500-sf center is anchored by a 71,500-sf Giant Food store, Linens 'N Things and Pier One.
Iszard declined to tell GlobeSt.com the original amount of equity or the ownership structure of the venture, other than to say that Combined Properties will manage the joint venture's daily operations and manage and lease each retail property acquired. The $200 million represents final purchasing power of the fund.
Iszard estimates the fund, which is investing for a medium to long term hold time period, should be able to acquire five to six properties at $25 million to $35 million each.
There is nothing under contract, he says. "We have identified one possibility on the East Coast and we are looking at several possibilities on the West Coast this week."
Iszard says that the investments the fund will make will be similar Charles County Plaza, which with a 96.5% occupancy rate, can be classified as core, institutional grade. Instead of a value-add approach, he says, "we hope to realize rent growth and asset appreciation."
This is the second equity fund the firm has closed in the past three years as part of its aggressive growth strategy. The fund is also a logical step for Combined Properties as it seeks to expand its Mid-Atlantic presence, says Katherine Roberson, president Combined Properties.
"Our objective is to continue to acquire well located shopping centers in these two outstanding markets," she says.
Want to continue reading?
Become a Free ALM Digital Reader.
Once you are an ALM Digital Member, you’ll receive:
- Breaking commercial real estate news and analysis, on-site and via our newsletters and custom alerts
- Educational webcasts, white papers, and ebooks from industry thought leaders
- Critical coverage of the property casualty insurance and financial advisory markets on our other ALM sites, PropertyCasualty360 and ThinkAdvisor
Already have an account? Sign In Now
*May exclude premium content© 2024 ALM Global, LLC, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to [email protected]. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.
Erika Morphy
Erika Morphy has been writing about commercial real estate at GlobeSt.com for more than ten years, covering the capital markets, the Mid-Atlantic region and national topics. She's a nerd so favorite examples of the former include accounting standards, Basel III and what Congress is brewing.
