Historic Center City Apartment Tower Sells: The Philadelphia Deal Sheet

A Center City tower that opened in 1929 as a hotel and was converted to apartments decades later has sold to a new investor group.

Courtesy of Newmark
The Drake

The Drake at 1512 Spruce St. sold for an undisclosed price to a partnership including Lionheart Realty Group, Lineage Squared, Avery Cos. and AMS Equities, Newmark announced. The seller was Brookfield Properties, the Philadelphia Business Journal reported.

The building, repositioned into apartments in 1998, houses 289 units and an 8,500 SF ground-floor space occupied by InterAct Theatre Co.

“The Drake presented a rare opportunity to acquire an iconic property in an irreplaceable location,” Lionheart founder Yehudah Greenberg said.

“We see tremendous potential to enhance value for our tenants and the broader community through strategic capital investments and a strong focus on the resident experience.”

A Newmark team including Executive Managing Director Erin Miller and Associate Chris Koehler represented the seller while Lument Managing Director Mark Vinitsky represented the buyer.

SALES

Velocity Venture Partners sold a nearly 125,000 SF industrial portfolio in Montgomery County to NorthBridge Partners for about $22.2M or $178 per SF. Newmark’s Industrial Capital Markets team helped arrange the sale of the properties off Wissahickon Road in North Wales.

CONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT

Courtesy of AEI

Leasing has begun at Federal Realty Investment Trust’s 217-unit apartment building in its Bala Cynwyd on City Avenue complex. Move-ins are expected to begin in March.

***

The Philadelphia Free Public Library Paschalville Branch in Southwest Philly officially reopened Oct. 16 after a $13M renovation designed by DIGroupArchitecture.

FINANCING

GFI Realty Services has closed a $96M refinancing loan for a multifamily property at 4701 Pine St. in University City. It was arranged by GFI Managing Director Daniel Lerer, the firm said in a press release. The borrower is Infinity Real Estate and the lender is New York Life.

THIS AND THAT

High Concrete Group and AIA Philadelphia are hosting an Architectural Precast Concrete Walking Tour of the Philadelphia Navy Yard at 11 a.m. Nov. 12.

“Explore how precast concrete is shaping the future of architecture through real-world applications in one of Philadelphia's most dynamic redevelopment zones,” says a social media post promoting the event.

Continue reading this story with a free account

Log in or register
Sign up for more articles like this
Subscribe to Bisnow's Philadelphia Newsletters
Related Stories

Energy Company Opens 125K SF Newton Office: The Boston Deal Sheet

Bally's Lines Up $560M Loan For Bronx Casino: The N.Y. Deal Sheet

California Investor Scoops Up Amazon Warehouse: The Chicago Deal Sheet

Goldman Sachs Pays $154M For Davie Apartments: The South Florida Deal Sheet

Bucks County Mall Closing As Owners Prepare Redevelopment Plans

Sales Of Lower-End Apartments Surge In Philly As Landlords Face Financial Issues

Machine Investment Group Buys 490-Unit Multifamily Property In North Dallas: The DFW Deal Sheet

Philly Has The Fundamentals. Now It Has To Reduce The Risk Of Building

Chapman Market Owners Get $29M Refinance: The Los Angeles Deal Sheet

Fertility Provider Opens Clinic At 1900 Lawrence Office Tower: The Denver Deal Sheet

Apartments Kick Off New Era Of Mixed-Use Activity In Philly Navy Yard

Security Tech Firm Plans Loudoun HQ Move: The D.C. Deal Sheet