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Commercial Real Estate Quarterly

Major Transactions from Around the State

Related stories:
- Market Leader Profile
- Market Overview
- The Art of the Deal
- Trends
- Outlook

Virginia Business
December 2004

REAL ESTATE SALES
Harbor Group International LLC of Norfolk has purchased the 26-story Dominion Tower in downtown Norfolk and its parking garage for $53.3 million. The property contains 403,276 square feet of Class A space and a 1,255-space garage. The seller was New Life Towers of Nashville, Tenn. Built in 1987, the tower is 85 percent occupied with major tenants including Wachovia Bank, KPMG and Merrill Lynch. With a location off Waterside Drive and near Interstate 264, the building offers unobstructed views of the Elizabeth River and the Norfolk skyline. The acquisition increases HGI’s foothold in the burgeoning downtown Norfolk office market.

The St. Joe Co., based in Jacksonville, Fla., has purchased the Overlook I and II Class A office buildings in the Innsbrook Corporate Center in Richmond. The acquisition of the 128,667 square feet of space was described by the company as part of an ongoing capital redeployment program. Invesco Real Estate of Dallas was the seller. Overlook I is 100 percent leased to seven tenants, and Overlook II has been completely occupied by Capital One. Advantis/GVA, a subsidiary of St. Joe, will lease and manage the properties.

Mills Corp., an Arlington-based retail developer, is buying half of Lakeforest Mall in Gaithersburg, Md., and eight other malls around the country in a billion-dollar deal that gives it a portfolio of shopping centers the company plans to redevelop. Mills Corp. is best known for building malls, including Potomac Mills and Arundel Mills, which combine big-box retailers and extensive entertainment options. The company expects to invest $200 million to $300 million in the nine malls over the next several years.

REAL ESTATE LEASES
Transwestern Commercial Services, one of the largest privately held, full-service commercial real estate firms in the country, has been awarded the leasing assignment for 4401 Wilson Boulevard in Ballston. The 11-story, Class A building contains 250,000 square feet of office space and is near the Ballston Metro station and Ballston Common Mall, as well as Interstate 66. It contains a 10,000-square-foot conference center that seats 500, on-site food service and a fitness facility. Transwestern in Vienna is leasing the project.

LAND SALES
Bristol Development LLC has purchased three city blocks in the Ghent area of Norfolk where it plans to develop luxury multifamily housing. The 4.6 acres were assembled through several transactions at a total cost of $4.2 million. Thalhimer/Cushman & Wakefield represented Bristol. The Bristol at Ghent will consist of 268 luxury, mid-rise apartments with private parking, and another 84 luxury condominiums.

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