SAN FRANCISCO—Taylor Design, a solution-oriented architecture, environments and strategies firm, has appointed Lorraine Rowan as interior designer to its growing San Francisco team. The appointment further broadens the talent of Taylor Design's Environments practice in Northern California, strengthening the firm's ability to grow its portfolio of healthcare, education and science and technology projects in Northern California, according to a prepared statement. “We are pleased to welcome Lorraine to our diverse and multi-talented design team in San Francisco. She brings enthusiasm and a global design perspective to our growing practice in Northern California,” says Kevin Hinrichs, Principal and Director of Taylor Design's office in San Francisco.

SAN FRANCISCO—Equity Office, a portfolio company owned by Blackstone's real estate funds, has appointed Alan Walker as a SVP and portfolio director responsible for the Northern California and Pacific Northwest markets. In this newly created role, Walker will be responsible for providing the strategic direction and value creation efforts for the company's activities in the region, including approximately five million square feet of existing office properties. He will oversee signature properties, including The Ferry Building and Market Center in San Francisco, and focus on facilitating the growth and expansion of the Company's business in these markets. Walker joins Equity Office from Swift Real Estate Partners where he focused on acquisition, asset management, capital markets and firm leadership. He has also held roles at the John Buck Co., Deutsche Bank, Goldman Sachs and Brown University.

SEATTLE—Bellwether Enterprise Real Estate Capital LLC has closed 49 deals totaling $365.93 million loans since January 1, 2017. “Our loan originators have started the year full force and we're working to build upon last year's success to make 2017 our best year yet,” says Ned Huffman, president of Bellwether Enterprise. “These financings further solidify our reputation for excellence—both in arranging flexible lending customized to the unique needs of our clients and in bringing crucial housing and assets to communities across the country.”

DEAL TRACKER

SEATTLE—Hunt Mortgage Group has provided Freddie Mac financing in the amount of $12.15 million to finance four multifamily properties located in Washington state for the same borrower. The portfolio was sourced by Glenn Gioseffi, VP and partner at Kidder Mathews. The borrower is a Washington Limited Liability Co., backed by key principals and husband and wife, Isamu and Gloria Kawabori. The properties include: Roosevelt Apartments; Le Chateau Apartments; Mona Lisa Apartments; and Forest View Apartments. The transactions are all a 5/1 Hybrid ARM, a 20-year ARM loan with the first five years fixed with one-year of interest-only and a 30-year amortization. The properties are all located in the Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue MSA, a top market, within the North Seattle submarket/Puget Sound regional market.

SEASIDE, OR—The iconic Seaside Carousel Mall's ownership has sold to a local family that is familiar with both Seaside and North Coast businesses. The downtown property occupies an entire block located at 300 Broadway, Seaside, OR. The sellers, the Dodge family, have owned the Broadway Block for 90 years spanning four generations. The buyers, the Poole family, have enjoyed a successful business on Broadway for three generations, according to a prepared release. The Seaside Carousel Mall will continue with the same management, shop owners and Carousel operation. Raymond Duchek and Thomas McDowell, listing agents with Portland-based Norris & Stevens Inc. represented both parties in the transaction.

This week in the North West region, an iconic coastal retail property changes hands, we learn more about Bay Area power centers and we see a few executive appointments in the area as well. Check out all the news you might have missed below.—Natalie Dolce

BY THE NUMBERS

SAN FRANCISCO—John Cumbelich & Associates' quarterly survey of the Bay Area's flagship Power Center inventory shows a significant overall rise in occupancy. Bay Area Power Centers began the fourth quarter at a 95.73% occupancy level, the lowest occupancy level achieved in three years. This sudden drop in occupancy levels was mostly attributed to the big box bankruptcies of The Sports Authority and Sport Chalet. As big box retailers began to absorb these vacancies, Q4 ended with an increased overall occupancy level of 96.62%.

NEWS & NOTABLES

SAN FRANCISCO—Taylor Design, a solution-oriented architecture, environments and strategies firm, has appointed Lorraine Rowan as interior designer to its growing San Francisco team. The appointment further broadens the talent of Taylor Design's Environments practice in Northern California, strengthening the firm's ability to grow its portfolio of healthcare, education and science and technology projects in Northern California, according to a prepared statement. “We are pleased to welcome Lorraine to our diverse and multi-talented design team in San Francisco. She brings enthusiasm and a global design perspective to our growing practice in Northern California,” says Kevin Hinrichs, Principal and Director of Taylor Design's office in San Francisco.

SAN FRANCISCO—Equity Office, a portfolio company owned by Blackstone's real estate funds, has appointed Alan Walker as a SVP and portfolio director responsible for the Northern California and Pacific Northwest markets. In this newly created role, Walker will be responsible for providing the strategic direction and value creation efforts for the company's activities in the region, including approximately five million square feet of existing office properties. He will oversee signature properties, including The Ferry Building and Market Center in San Francisco, and focus on facilitating the growth and expansion of the Company's business in these markets. Walker joins Equity Office from Swift Real Estate Partners where he focused on acquisition, asset management, capital markets and firm leadership. He has also held roles at the John Buck Co., Deutsche Bank, Goldman Sachs and Brown University.

SEATTLE—Bellwether Enterprise Real Estate Capital LLC has closed 49 deals totaling $365.93 million loans since January 1, 2017. “Our loan originators have started the year full force and we're working to build upon last year's success to make 2017 our best year yet,” says Ned Huffman, president of Bellwether Enterprise. “These financings further solidify our reputation for excellence—both in arranging flexible lending customized to the unique needs of our clients and in bringing crucial housing and assets to communities across the country.”

DEAL TRACKER

SEATTLE—Hunt Mortgage Group has provided Freddie Mac financing in the amount of $12.15 million to finance four multifamily properties located in Washington state for the same borrower. The portfolio was sourced by Glenn Gioseffi, VP and partner at Kidder Mathews. The borrower is a Washington Limited Liability Co., backed by key principals and husband and wife, Isamu and Gloria Kawabori. The properties include: Roosevelt Apartments; Le Chateau Apartments; Mona Lisa Apartments; and Forest View Apartments. The transactions are all a 5/1 Hybrid ARM, a 20-year ARM loan with the first five years fixed with one-year of interest-only and a 30-year amortization. The properties are all located in the Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue MSA, a top market, within the North Seattle submarket/Puget Sound regional market.

SEASIDE, OR—The iconic Seaside Carousel Mall's ownership has sold to a local family that is familiar with both Seaside and North Coast businesses. The downtown property occupies an entire block located at 300 Broadway, Seaside, OR. The sellers, the Dodge family, have owned the Broadway Block for 90 years spanning four generations. The buyers, the Poole family, have enjoyed a successful business on Broadway for three generations, according to a prepared release. The Seaside Carousel Mall will continue with the same management, shop owners and Carousel operation. Raymond Duchek and Thomas McDowell, listing agents with Portland-based Norris & Stevens Inc. represented both parties in the transaction.