On March 26, 2019, the Philadelphia Business Journal honored the Best Real Estate Deals of 2018. These awards are given to deals ranging from successful sales, to renovations, and to project completions. Several GBCA members were involved in building the honored projects at the awards ceremony – we’ve listed them here. Congratulations to all who worked on these projects!

 

Deal of the Year: Comcast Technology Center

1800 Arch Street, Philadelphia
Developer: Liberty Property Trust
Owners: Comcast Corp. and Liberty Property Trust
Architects: Core and shell: Foster and Partners; Core and shell architect of record – Kendall Heaton Associates; Office Interior Finish Design – Gensler, Foster and Partners, Daroff Design

General Contractor: LF Driscoll
Other GBCA Members involved in this project:

  • AmQuip Crane Rental, LLC
  • Apache Industrical United
  • B. Pietrini & Sons
  • Bayshore Rebar
  • Carr & Duff, Inc.
  • Chesco Coring & Cutting
  • DM Sabia & Co.
  • Doughterty Electric
  • EDA Contractors, Inc.
  • George Young Mammoet
  • Med-Tex Services, Inc.
  • Re-Steel Supply Co., Inc.
  • Richard S. Burns & Company

The Comcast Technology Center has been named by a panel of judges as the Philadelphia Business Journal’s Deal of the Year. The skyscraper not only altered Philadelphia’s skyline but became the latest to define what a 21st century workspace looks like – at least at this point. The design was based on the architects’ vision of it not being called an office building, but a loft in the sky. The loft design meant big open ceilings, flexible work spaces, and artwork.

 

Best Office Redevelopment: Chemours Co.

1007 N. Market Street, Wilmington
Developer: Buccini Pollin Group
Tenant: Chemours Co.
Architect: L2P
Owners Representative: CBRE Inc.

General Contractor: INTECH Construction
Other GBCA Members involved in this project:

  • Central Metals, Inc.
  • Krando Metal Products, Inc.
  • Philadelphia D&M
  • Wayman Fire Protection, Inc.

After an $80 million renovation, Chemours Co. last fall opened its headquarters at the historic DuPont building in Wilmington. Chemours had initiated a multistate search for a new headquarters. Chemours decided to stay, but also to sell the 106-year-old DuPont building to Buccini Pollin, which upgraded the building, preserving its historical character while also turning it into contemporary office space.

 

Best Mixed-Use Development: Lincoln Square

1000 S. Broad Street, Philadelphia
Developer: MIS Capital, Alterra Property Group, and Kimco Realty Co.
Architects: BLT Architects
Landscape Architect: Cairone & Kaupp

General Contractor: INTECH Construction
Other GBCA Members involved in this project:

  • Belcher Roofing Corporation
  • BrandSafway Services
  • Carr & Duff, Inc.
  • CDP Construction, LLC
  • Central Metals, Inc.
  • Component Assembly Systems, Inc.
  • Dan Lepore & Sons Company
  • D’Andrea Brothers Concrete Company, Inc.
  • E.C. Fence & Iron Works
  • Frank T. Lutter, Inc.
  • Independence Steel, Inc.
  • Kieffer’s Appliances
  • Mayfield Site Contractors
  • McGregor Industries, Inc.
  • O’Donnell & Naccarato
  • Revolution Recovery
  • Roman Mosaic & Tile Company

Lincoln Square is a $260 million mixed-use development that established a new anchor for South Broad Street and the project is expected to stimulate other development along the Avenue of the Arts. The retail space occupied by Sprouts Farmers Market is in the historic Lincoln Train Shed, and much of its late Gothic architectural features were preserved.

 

Honoree, Apartment Sale: 3601 Market Street

3601 Market Street, Philadelphia
Seller: Southern Land Co.
Buyer: FPA Multifamily
Broker: Newmark Knight Frank

General Contractor: INTECH Construction
Other GBCA Members involved in this project:

  • Madison Concrete Construction
  • Superior Scaffold Services, Inc.

Southern Land Co. sold 3601 Market St., a newly constructed apartment building to a fund managed by FPA Multifamily of San Francisco for $139 million. The 28-story building’s construction was completed in the fall of 2015. The sale included the leasehold interest of the property that has at this time a 99-year lease with the University City Science Center. The sale was one of the biggest in terms of dollars in the Philadelphia Market.

 

Honoree, Financing: Philadelphia Metropolitan Opera House

858 N. Broad Street, Philadelphia
Developer: EB Realty Management Corp.
Tenant: Live Nation Entertainment Inc.
Banks/Financier: Philadelphia Industrial Development Corp., Fulton Bank, Enhanced Capital Partners, Pocida Funding & Advisors
Architect: Atkin Olshin Schade Architects
Lawyer: Duane Morris
Account: Novogradac & co.
General Contractor: Domus Inc.

GBCA Members involved in this project:

  • McGoldrick Electric, Inc.
  • Richard S. Burns & Company
  • Smith Flooring, Inc.
  • Superior Scaffold Services

The Metropolitan Opera House on North Broad Street in Philadelphia sat vacant for years and was deteriorating. There were several rounds of financing that were arranged for the project that involved New Market Tax Credits, Historic Tax Credits, HUD 108 financing and a construction loan. The Met has already attracted a lineup of performers and has contributed to the ongoing renaissance of North Broad Street.

 

Best Real Estate Deals Judges

  • Tom Londres, CEO, Metro Commercial
  • Rija Beares, First Vice President, CBRE Inc.
  • Erin Miller, Executive Managing Director, Newmark Knight Frank
  • Morgan Murray, First Vice President, CBRE Inc.
  • Lou Battagliese, Founding Principal, Jackson Cross Partners.

 

Congratulations to all of the honorees!

View the full list of the honorees (Philadelphia Business Journal subscription required):