A new nontraded multifamily REIT was born this week as part of a $617M recapitalization of more than 60 properties, including an under-construction apartment tower in Manhattan. 

Grubb Properties’ 8 Carlisle St. multifamily project is expected to top out this month.

Charlotte-based Grubb Properties consolidated several legacy funds into Link Apartments REIT, a newly formed managed REIT with more than 5,600 apartments in its portfolio.

The rollup of high net worth funds and rebranding to create the single entity occurred as Grubb also secured a $240M credit facility for the new REIT and its Link Apartments Opportunity Zone REIT, which was formed a few years ago and isn’t part of the consolidation. 

Grubb also secured a $300M senior construction loan from Maxim Capital Group and a $77M mezzanine loan co-originated by GreenBarn Investment Group, Skylight Real Estate Partners, Axonic Capital and Meadow Partners that fully capitalizes its Manhattan multifamily project called 8 Carlisle. 

“The REIT was created partially to have a vehicle with a bigger balance sheet that’s going to allow us to get bigger financing. But at the same time, it was also a move towards simplicity and efficiency,” Emily Ethridge, a spokesperson for Grubb, said in an interview Tuesday morning. 

Grubb values the new 45-property REIT at roughly $1.9B. It includes 8 Carlisle, a 64-story tower with 462 apartments that is set to top off construction this month, Ethridge said. The OZ REIT, which was also created through the merger of several funds a few years ago, has a 17-property portfolio, and fewer than 10 of Grubb’s other assets are still individually owned outside either entity, Ethridge said. 

The fund isn’t open for new investment, and there are no plans to pursue a public listing, she said. 

Grubb collectively secured the $617M in financing across the portfolio recapitalization with help from several teams at JLL, according to a release from the global brokerage. 

“By coordinating our M&A, Corporate Banking and Debt & Equity advisory expertise, JLL was able to sequence the series of transactions appropriately to ensure a seamless structure,” JLL Managing Director Stephen Van Leer said in a statement. 

Grubb’s refinancing move comes as the multifamily sector broadly emerges from a supply-driven malaise, with second-quarter apartment absorption hitting 124,600 units, among the highest in 25 years, and helping to push vacancy lower. 

A slowdown in new housing construction adds another tailwind to the back of multifamily developers. But the sector is also facing a demographic challenge, with the pace of U.S. population growth rapidly declining as President Donald Trump cracks down on illegal immigration. 

UPDATE, JULY 22, 10:23 A.M. ET: This story has been updated to clarify what assets are covered under the new $240M credit facility. 

REALM, in partnership with Delshah Capital and A.M. Properties, has acquired CitySpire, a 377,000-square-foot office condominium comprising 24 floors within the 70-story tower at 156 W 56th St. in Midtown Manhattan. Purchased at an 8.5% cap rate, the 98% occupied property features renovated common areas, high-end finishes and a roster of tenants including Caleres, Windels Marx Lane & Mittendorf, LLP and New York Road Runners. 

Built in 1987 and maintained by institutional ownership, the property has undergone approximately $22 million in capital improvements and requires no near-term capital expenditures, REALM said, noting that. Manhattan office leasing activity reached pre-pandemic highs in late 2025. 

“CitySpire represents the type of opportunity we seek in today’s market,” said Travis King, founder and CEO of REALM, an investment collective of 130 family offices. “While capital markets remain cautious on office, we see strong fundamentals in premier Midtown assets, where leasing activity and occupancy continue to outperform. CitySpire reflects our focus on highly selective investments with strong downside protection and long-term upside.”  

GMH Communities and AEW Capital Management have acquired two student housing communities: Dockside at Clemson University in Clemson, SC and Flatiron at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, LA. Terms were not disclosed. Both properties are located near their respective campuses.

With the addition of the Clemson and LSU communities, the AEW-GMH partnership will now own and operate more than 2,000 beds across four universities in Power 4 markets.

“For 40-plus years, GMH has been a leader and innovator in the student housing industry,” said Gary Holloway, Jr., CEO and president. “The acquisition of Dockside and Flatiron underscores GMH’s commitment to investing in high-quality, well-located assets within fundamentally strong markets.”

The 633-bed Dockside community will be rebranded as The Cove at Clemson, offering a lakefront setting with direct access to Lake Hartwell. In Baton Rouge, the 293-bed Flatiron community is recognized as one of the market’s few pedestrian-oriented housing options.

A JLL student housing team led by senior director Mike Brady, managing director Jake Wisness and associates Bill Maloney and Jake Davidson arranged financing. Teddy Leatherman of JLL arranged the acquisition from Fountain Residential.

Landmark Properties has closed on the acquisition of a 1.56-acre site at 134 N. Eagleville Rd., adjacent to the University of Connecticut’s (UConn) main campus in Storrs, CT. The firm will begin construction on The Mark Mansfield, a 738-bed student housing community, in late 2025. The site was acquired in partnership with Peninsula Investments. TSB Capital Advisors coordinated financing.

“UConn saw a record-breaking 2024 freshman class and, as the university moves forward with plans to expand its enrollment further over the next decade, the demand for high-quality and pedestrian-to-campus living options will continue to increase,” said Jason Doornbos, chief development officer of Landmark Properties. “We’re excited to help meet this growing housing need with the development of The Mark.”

Located near the university’s core, the new development will be Landmark Properties’ second asset in the Storrs market. The site was formerly proposed as the location for another student housing development.

Marcus & Millichap closed the sale of two adjacent retail properties in Maplewood, NJ for $4,262,500. Located at 1812 and 1802 Springfield Ave., the 12,415-square-foot freestanding properties are leased to Dollar General and Sherwin-Williams.

“Credit-tenant net leases in northern New Jersey always generate tremendous demand from the investment community,” said Alan Cafiero, senior managing director investments. “In addition to investment-grade credit, this property was located along one of the main retail corridors in Maplewood with excellent visibility.” 

Alan Cafiero, David Cafiero and Dean Matuszewicz, investment specialists in Marcus & Millichap’s New Jersey office, exclusively marketed the property on behalf of the seller and procured the buyer. 

The Dollar General building was recently renovated and features a new 10-year lease with two five-year renewal options and scheduled rent increases. Sherwin-Williams has occupied the site since 1986 and recently completed façade improvements. Other national retailers nearby include Advance Auto Parts, Walgreens, Wawa and T-Mobile.

Silverstein Properties unveiled a specially commissioned new sculpture by acclaimed architect and artist Frank Gehry in the lobby of 3 World Trade Center. Titled Untitled (Fish on Fire, Greenwich Street), the sculpture adds to Lower Manhattan’s burgeoning public art scene and represents the largest suspended fish sculpture ever created by Gehry.

Under the leadership of chairman Larry Silverstein, his wife Klara and CEO Lisa Silverstein, Silverstein Properties has demonstrated a commitment to integrating museum-quality artwork into its residential and commercial properties, the company said

“I am delighted to host Frank Gehry’s iconic fish sculpture – one of his largest – inside the 3 World Trade Center lobby,” said Larry A. Silverstein. “This collaboration is the latest in our company-wide commitment to public space art and creative thinking throughout our buildings.”

In addition to the public art works on view and Silver Art Projects, Silverstein Properties continues to expand its support for the arts through programs that engage local communities and artists.

Cambridge Realty Capital has provided $43,360,100 in HUD-insured Section 223(f) financing for four senior housing properties located in Illinois, Washington, and Iowa.

According to Cambridge’s Managing Director Tony Marino, the Illinois transactions consisted of two affordable rental apartment properties for seniors totaling 196 units located in Chicago, Illinois.

The Washington transaction was provided to South Pointe, a 42-bed assisted living facility located in Everett. The Iowa financing was provided to Gardens of Cedar Rapids, a 112-bed facility in Cedar Rapids that offers skilled care, assisted living, and memory care services.

Cambridge’s early rate lock program was utilized, which allowed the owners to lock rates before all HUD approvals were obtained. This enabled each borrower to mitigate risk associated with rising interest rates and contributed to a more predictable and efficient HUD execution, including assurance that the financings included sufficient funds to complete long-term repairs and improvements.

Register Today to “Be in the Room” when Michael Brennan receives Connect CRE’s Lifetime Achievement Award and will participate in the Keynote Interview with Kevin Brennan, also of Brennan Investment Group. Join us at Connect Industrial Midwest 2025 on the afternoon of Wednesday, March 5, at Joe’s Live in Rosemont, IL, for this exclusive presentation! 

Hilco JCP, LLC, an affiliate of Hilco Real Estate, LLC and manager of Copper Property CTL Pass Through Trust, said Thursday the trust has brought to market 121 net-leased JCPenney properties located across 35 states representing more than 16 million square feet. The majority of the portfolio’s properties are located in major metropolitan areas such as Austin, Miami, Houston, Los Angeles and New York. Fifty percent of the portfolio is in the Sunbelt, including 21 in Texas.

Averaging 132,700 square feet per store, the portfolio is the subject of an absolute, triple-net long-term master lease with the sole tenant, JCPenney. The retailer is owned in a joint venture comprised of two of the largest retail mall owners in the U.S., Simon Property Group and Brookfield Asset Management. 

Hilco JCP, LLC has chosen Newmark’s national retail capital markets team to market this portfolio. The targeted deadline for submitting offers is Feb. 26. Click here for additional information.

Branch Properties received unanimous rezoning approval from the City of Gainesville for Lakeshore, the 49-acre mixed-use redevelopment of Lakeshore Mall. Branch Properties will break ground on Lakeshore in late 2026, and completion is anticipated in 2028. Positioned between Lake Lanier and Interstate 985, Lakeshore is anticipated to become Gainesville’s premier town center. Gainesville is a town of just over 40,000 residents NE of Atlanta.

At full buildout, Lakeshore will feature 305,444 square feet of retail space, 652 multifamily residential units and 38,200 square feet of outdoor community greenspace. The redevelopment will also include capacity for a hotel and townhomes in future phases. Anchors Dick’s Sporting Goods and Belk will remain open throughout the transformation, with Dick’s Sporting Goods relocating within the property. Franklin Street’s Len Erickson will work in tandem with Branch Properties on the retail leasing.