September 11, 2010

Self Storage Facilities in Falmouth, MA and Fairhaven, MA Under New Ownership

33 Village Common Dr Falmouth 4FALMOUTH, MA — Storage Opportunity Partners LLC and Storage Pros Self Storage acquired self storage facilities in Falmouth and Fairhaven, MA in mid-August.

The Falmouth facility, formerly operated under the Uncle Bob’s brand, is located between East Falmouth Highway and Village Common Drive. The property has 79,495 rentable square feet in five two-story buildings. Among the 749 individual storage units, 30,000 square feet comprises climate-controlled space. The facility was originally built as Burlington Self-Storage in 1997 and expanded in 2001.

According to filings at the Barnstable County Registry of Deeds, the property was acquired from Sovran Acquisition LP for $4.6 million. Sovran, a REIT which owns and/or operates over 350 self storage facilities in 24 US States under the trade name Uncle Bob’s Self Storage®, previously acquired the property in 2005 for an indicated purchase price of $7.2 million.

According to David Levenfeld, co-founder and CEO of StorageOp, there were some mitigating circumstances which accounted for the price difference. “The Falmouth facility is a relatively large one and perhaps the occupancy projections adopted in 2005 were aggressive. And like all commercial property sectors, the self-storage sector has taken its share of nicks,” he said.

In addition to rebranding the property to Storage Pros Self Storage, future plans for the Class A Falmouth facility include offering larger spaces of up to 1,000 square feet for local businesses and becoming more involved with the local business community.

The Fairhaven facility contains 41,500 square feet of rentable area in six single-story buildings containing 337 storage units and 24 outdoor parking spaces for rent. The property was also formerly part of the Sovran portfolio and has been rebranded to Storage Pros Self Storage. The new ownership will update the Fairhaven property and convert 6,100 rentable square feet of existing space into climate-controlled space. Budget Truck Rental will also be added.

The recent acquisitions brings StorageOp’s holdings to 13 properties collectively offering 780,000 rentable square feet, 6,800 units and more than 950 outdoor parking spaces for rent in its initial target markets of New England and southeastern Michigan. All 13 properties were acquired within the last 28 months.

The properties will be operated by Storage Pros Management LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of StorageOp, which also offers third-party self storage property management services.

David Levenfeld, co-founder and CEO of StorageOp, commented, “Once again, our strong investor base and solid financing relationships have allowed us to further implement our acquisitions strategy in New England at a time when the capital markets continue to pose enormous challenges. We intend to continue our disciplined growth strategy within our core markets.”

New Hands at the Wheel for Former Ford Dealership

Falmouth Ford, Falmouth MA

FALMOUTH, MA – Nearly one year to the day after it closed for business, the former Lighthouse Ford property at 343 Dillingham Road in Falmouth changed hands. According to a deed filed on November 11, 2008 the sale price was $1,150,000. or approximately $114/SF of gross building area. The buyer was listed as 1 Lewiston Street LLC, 278 Scranton Avenue, Falmouth, MA. The main business located at this address is Falmouth Marine. Ford Motor Company was represented by CB Richard Ellis. The asking price was in the range of $1.6 Million.

Lighthouse Ford closed in November 2007 as part of a dealership consolidation program spearheaded by the Big Three automobile manufacturer. The dealership was operated as Falmouth Ford for many decades up until 2004 when it became Lighthouse Ford. The property conveyed to Lighthouse Ford Inc. in July 2004 for $1.5 Million.

The special purpose property consists of the 10,080 square foot automotive building on a level 1.73 acre site. The structure was erected in 1967 and was extensively remodeled about the time it became Lighthouse Ford.

Ford dealerships continue to be operating in Hyannis and Chatham as well as in Wareham and Plymouth.

The widely reported troubles in the automotive sector have resulted in the closing of many dealerships in the past year. Quite coincidentially is the recent closing of a Long Island, NY dealership similarly named Lighthouse Ford which also opened its doors in 2004. A message on the NY dealership’s website sums up the situation this way, “Unfortunately as a result of the ever changing market and the stark economic reality facing this country Lighthouse Ford has decided to close its doors on October 31st 2008.”

Hey Where Ya Going? Former Thompson’s Farm Market Property Sold

HARWICHPORT, MA – The former Thompson’s Farm Market in Harwichport, MA changed hands in mid October 2008. According to a filed deed, the purchase price was $2,250,000 and the buyer was Building Down the Road, LLC. In a recent report published in the Cape Cod Chronicle the buyer was indicated to be affiliated with South Harwich based Back Office Associates, an information technology firm specializing in SAP data solutions. This notable piece of Cape Cod commercial real estate was vacant at the time of sale and was previously listed for sale on the open market for approximately two years.

The property is located on the north side of Route 28, across from Saquatucket Harbor and Brax Landing.  The 33,000 square foot building, situated on a 1.92 acre parcel of land, was erected in 1989 originally as Thompson’s Farm Market. The first floor contains approximately 16,500 square feet of retail and merchandise storage space. The layout of the 16,500 square foot second floor includes about one-half office space and a bakery/commissary in the remainder. Following the closing of the independent market, in recent years the ground floor space was occupied by various local retailers and the upper level was utilized as the offices of the Wychmere Harbor Club.

The upscale market was erected by Dr. J. Richard Fennel as a later offshoot to the original Thompson Brothers Clam Bar, a popular Cape Cod eatery formerly located at the end of Snow Inn Road on Wynchmere Harbor. Despite generations of loyal patrons since the 1950′s, the original clam bar closed in about 1996. Although a new Thompson’s was subsequently established at the corner of Bank Street and Route 28, the eatery eventually transitioned and the Thompson Brother’s Clam Bar legacy essentially ended here. Many will also remember Thompson Brothers Clam Bar from the famous Hey Where Ya Going?” radio jingle found in this YouTube video.

Thompson Brothers Clam Bar

 

Postcards by Hannau-Robinson, NY, NY; Joseph P. Egan Collection

The Art of the Deal: The International Inn Sold

In October 2008, the 141-unit International Inn in Hyannis, MA sold for $5.8 million. The sale was handled by Carey Commercial. Chuck Carey, principal of the Cape Cod commercial real estate and business opportunity brokerage firm bearing his name, shares with us his behind the scenes perspective on this notable transaction.

What can you tell us about the International Inn?

The 141 unit hotel actually had 175 units back in the 70’s and 80’s.  It was bought in 1985 by Arthur Rittel who re-constructed the building over and over combining rooms into suites and then even larger and more dramatic suites. Many of the rooms have huge flat screen TV’s, columned bathrooms, Victorian furniture and 15 inch crown moldings.

These rooms combined with the power marketing of the Cuddle and Bubble theme produced the highest grossing hotel in the Hyannis area for many years. At the time of the sale, however, other hotels in the area had taken market share. The decline was a sign of the complete obsolescence and failure of print media advertising which the operation relied upon.  

You have brokered the sales of numerous lodging properties on Cape Cod since the 1990′s. Why is this hotel sale significant?

The sale of the International Inn was a major event for Hyannis and Cape Cod. While the press makes comparisons to the Great Depression and predictions of a 1929 style crash, there are people who are still endeavoring to do business and carving out a path.

At $41,135 per key, the sale price ranks up there based on historical price levels. What are your thoughts on that?

The income at the time of the sale did not justify the price. But the owners are very experienced and the elements of success are clearly there. That is what the real story of this sale was,  the positive venture in a time when the press is playing Chicken Little.

The 3.17 acre property is exempt from the Cape Cod Commission which means that it is not obstructed from having a new building of up to four stories with a parking garage under.  There are only two small territories on the Cape which have been granted this immunity. So far it has led to the construction of several commercial / residential buildings and a new Hampton Inn. 

So there are intrinsic options with the property itself but the reason for the purchase was to rejuvenate a uniquely themed operation which had lost it’s dominant position.

What are some of the additional transactions details?

The buyers own a Hampton Inn and a Super Eight in Stamford, CT as well as three hotels in India. There are several partners in the venture and they have stated that they consider the theme distinctive and plan to keep it.

The sale was financed by $3.0 Million from The Community Bank, arranged personally by Eric Bancroft along with $1.9 Million from Matt Collins through an SBA Lender, Granite State Development. The property was valued in 2004 at $10.4 Million.

Warehouse Distribution Property Changes Hands

128 Breeds Hill Rd, Hyannis, MA

The Mill Stores warehouse and distribution facility located at 128 Breed’s Hill Road, Hyannis, MA recently changed hands. According to public records, the 27,000SF structure on 4.13 acres conveyed in early July 2008 for $3.7 million to RAM Construction LLC of Bedford, MA. The buyer was reported to be a F.W. Webb Co., a plumbing supply company with locations throughout New England.

The property located in Independence Park, between the Cape Cod Potato Chips plant and Breed’s Hill Condominium, is one of a few high bay and sprinklered facilities of this size on Cape Cod. The property also offers several truck height docks and a large truck parking area.

Those of us who have been here long enough to remember will recall this structure was originally built in 1989 by The Myers Furniture Co. for use as their warehouse and distribution facility.

Cape Cod Bank Branches Included in Sale-Leaseback Deal

In May 2008, Rockland Trust completed a $33.0 million sale-leaseback transaction with American Realty Capital Trust, Inc. a Jenkintown, PA based REIT.

According to a SEC filing completed by the REIT in the same month, the real estate only transaction included a portfolio of 18 commercial bank branches, branch bank/offices and operation centers located throughout Southeastern MA and Cape Cod. Together the properties comprise 121,000 square feet of Gross Building Area (GBA). The sale price equated to about $272 per square foot of GBA, including associated transaction fees and closing costs.

Rockland Trust will be the sole tenant at each property and the total annual base rent for all 18 properties is just over $2.3 million. The terms for each lease are fully net and the base terms range from 10-15 years, not including four concurrent renewal options. The average base rent for all 18 locations is $19.05 per square foot as set forth in the SEC filing.

According to the Form 8-K filing the six Cape Cod branches located in Centerville, Chatham, Hyannis, Orleans, South Yarmouth and West Dennis, total almost 27,000 square feet of GBA and conveyed for $9.121 million. The collective sale prices for the six Cape Cod properties accounted for about 28% of the total acquisition price and equated to $338 per square foot of GBA. The average base rent per square foot for the Cape Cod locations was also higher than the portfolio average based on the transaction information reported to the SEC.

Rockland Trust acquired the Cape Cod properties in 2000 following the divesture of Fleet branches after its merger with BankBoston. The most recent real estate only transaction did not include all Rockland Trust properties located in Southeastern MA and Cape Cod.

The number of sale-leaseback real estate transactions involving national and regional banking entities has increased in recent years. In mid 2006, American Financial Realty Trust acquired a portfolio of 236 Citizens Bank and Charter One properties in a $317 million sale-leaseback deal. The 2006 transaction also included selected branch locations on Cape Cod. As investors such as REITS continue to be attracted to quality net leased opportunities and more banks seek to tap the equity in these prime assets, sale-leaseback transactions are likey to continue in the banking sector.  

Independent Bank Corp. (NASDAQ: INDB) the holding company for Rockland Trust Company, provides commercial banking, retail banking, and investment management services in Massachusetts. Rockland Trust has a network of 61 retail branches, ten commercial lending centers, five mortgage banking centers and four Investment Management Group offices all located in Southeastern Massachusetts and Cape Cod. The growing community bank founded in 1907 and headquartered in Rockland, MA has $3.3 billion in assets. 

In March 2008, Independent Bank Corp. acquired Slade’s Ferry Bancorp, parent of Slades Bank. The transaction added nine new Southcoast MA branches to the Rockland Trust franchise.

Upper Cape Cod Mixed-Use Center Acquired

41 meetinghouse

A two story retail and office property located in Sagamore, MA was sold in March 2008 for $1.8 million. Both sides of the deal were successfully handled by Ben Edgar, principal broker and owner of Sea Watch Realty

The two story property on two acres comprises approximately 28,000SF of building area is one of several former Towne Paint commercial properties sold on Cape Cod by Sandler Realty Trust between 2006 and 2008.