IRET Pays $125M for Denver, Minneapolis Properties; Exits Topeka Market

IRET also has closed on the sale of its entire Topeka portfolio consisting of 1,042 multifamily homes for $82.75 million.

Lugano at Cherry Creek, Denver, CO

MINNEAPOLIS—IRET reports it has added the Lugano at Cherry Creek development in Denver for $99.25 million.

The firm, which also has corporate offices in Minot, ND, acquired the circa 2010 property that consists of 328 homes and 13,262 square feet of retail space. The homes at Lugano feature granite countertops, large cabinets, nine-foot ceilings, walk-in closets, full-sized washer/dryer and private patios/balconies. Amenities at the complex include a clubhouse, outdoor swimming pool, fitness center, cybercafé, outdoor lounge and structured parking.

IRET also reports it has recently acquired FreightYard Townhomes & Flats, a 96-home community located in the North Loop area of Minneapolis, for an aggregate purchase price of $26.0 million.

FreightYard is an adaptive re-use of a brick and timber freight house that was refurbished in 2018 and 2019 into 96 walk-up style townhomes and flats, all of which contain exposed brick/timber and high ceilings. The property is located one block from the Mississippi River riverfront and is within walking distance of Target Field, First Avenue, Target Center, Minneapolis Farmers Market and the Minneapolis skyway system.

IRET also announced today that it has closed on the sale of its entire Topeka portfolio consisting of 1,042 multifamily homes for an aggregate sale price of $82.75 million. The firm did not reveal the buyer of the portfolio.

“The opportunistic disposition of our Topeka portfolio allowed us to take advantage of strong demand for multifamily product in our secondary markets and redeploy the proceeds into our strategic growth markets,” says Mark O. Decker, Jr., IRET’s president and CEO. “Our aim is to increase the quality of our business, and selling the Topeka portfolio and acquiring assets like Lugano and FreightYard is a great step forward. In every respect, IRET is a better company after this exciting series of transactions, with higher quality cash flow, better potential for growth and better underlying fundamentals.”

As of June 30, 2019, IRET owned interests in 88 apartment communities consisting of 13,975 apartment homes.