$3,000,000 Non-Recourse Acquisition Loan for 20,000 SF Office/Retail Building; Sacramento, CA

Transaction Description:

George Smith Partners successfully closed a refinance of a mixed-use office and retail property in Santa Barbara with a life insurance company. Despite the current market hesitation towards office properties, GSP was able to secure 10-year, fixed-rate financing given the lower leverage. GSP identified a Lender that was comfortable with the office component due to the 30+ small office users and no significant rollover risk. The largest tenants are a restaurant and movie theater which have been in occupancy for over 20 years.

Transaction Description:

George Smith Partners secured a $15,400,000 loan commitment for the refinance of a 381,754 square-foot, “Curacao” office and retail building located on the Olympic Boulevard business corridor: one-half mile west of L.A. Live and The Staples Center. To reduce excess proceeds from the refinance, the Sponsor elected to reduce the proceeds to fund only $14,700,000 of the committed amount.

The building had been previously encumbered by a 10-year CMBS loan arranged by GSP. During the past year’s volatile interest rate environment, GSP worked closely with the Sponsor and Lender to provide a loan commitment with a five-month forward rate lock. The goal was to eliminate the Sponsor’s rate risk and enable the pre-payment of the CMBS loan, without paying defeasance, in the “open window” four months prior to its maturity. The 7-year loan was forward rate locked at a 5.04% fixed rate. Without the forward rate lock, the pricing would have been 75 – 100 bps higher.

Several challenges were encountered when discussing the transaction with capital providers. While the property was over 93% occupied, 43% of the space was occupied by both office and retail affiliates of the Sponsor. The retail comprised 23% of the building’s gross leasable area and its location on the ground floor and basement levels made it a challenge for some capital providers concerned about owner/user and retail tenant concentration. However, by highlighting the long-term ownership, unique business strategy, and strong sponsorship, GSP was able to source a lender that was both comfortable and eager to be a part of the refinancing.

Transaction Description:

George Smith Partners successfully advised on the placement of a $22,900,000 non-recourse bridge loan with cash out for the refinance of a 35,000 SF mixed use, office/retail building in the heart of Beverly Hills. Although boasting fully leased office spaces and an irreplaceable location in the famed Golden Triangle, the Property’s ground floor included some vacancy. Pandemic issues with return to office and street retail concerns were offset due to the Property’s incomparable location. At close, one lease was signed, another in negotiation, and numerous tenant tours were requested as the market recovered.

The Sponsor required a loan to not only pay off existing debt and return equity, given the long-term ownership, but also to fund leasing commissions and tenant improvements. With strong sponsorship and a jewel box asset, GSP was able to source a lender that was willing to structure financing to complete the Sponsor’s business plan, funding leasing costs as well as providing both cash out at closing and an income earn out once the street facing retail was leased.

Transaction Description:

George Smith Partners arranged $56,500,000 in construction financing for the development of a mixed-use coastal infill project in Solana Beach, CA. The mixed-use development features 55,000 square feet of office space, 9,000 square feet of retail and 25 apartment units.

Located just one block from the beach and the Cedros Avenue Design District, the two-story development focused on sustainability will be the largest mixed-use project along Highway 101 in the past three decades. The dearth of comparable projects, especially ones with large office floorplates, presented a unique opportunity.
Amidst a time of market volatility and economic uncertainty, GSP was able to identify capital who not only understood the value of all three components and the subsequent demand but also the ability of the Sponsor to execute on the intended business plan.

Transaction Description:

George Smith Partners structured and arranged $45,600,000 in bridge financing for the recapitalization of the Lido Marina Village, a 116,000 sf multi-block, waterfront boutique retail and office property on Balboa Peninsula in Newport Beach. Lido Marina Village features retail, restaurant, and office space in 14 separate structures including prime waterfront retail and restaurant spaces featuring spectacular harbor views, along with 47 boat slips, creating an iconic Newport Beach destination. Some highlighted restaurants include Orange County’s only Nobu and Malibu Farm locations. Retail tenants include first-to-market “laid back luxe” retailers such as Elysse Walker, LoveShackFancy, Serena & Lily, the RealReal, and Jenni Kayne. The Property stretches from the waterfront, across a public street and walkway to the Via Lido street-front retail. It also includes a 372-space parking structure and 91 on-grade parking spaces. The Project is located on 17 legal parcels totaling 3.5 acres, with 4 parcels held as leasehold interests. Since the acquisition in 2013, the Sponsor successfully rebranded Lido Marketplace as a super high-quality boutique and restaurant destination, featuring a “who’s who” of tenants. Even during the pandemic, Lido Marina Village occupancy stayed high, and the Sponsor signed new leases at “high street” rents. The Property has been thriving in part due to their shoppers feeling comfortable in the open air, pedestrian friendly and waterfront environment.

Transaction Description:

George Smith Partners successfully arranged a $4,400,000 refinance of two flex buildings, totaling 68,169 SF, in Jacksonville, FL. This was a permanent, recourse loan at 3.75%, fixed for the first 10 years with a rate reset at every 10 years thereafter. This is a fully amortizing 25-year loan. The two buildings are adjacent to each other and offer a mix of flex, office and retail space. Both buildings are currently 100% occupied with minimal impact of COVID-19 on its tenants. The Sponsor, a repeat client, acquired the Property just a month prior and engaged GSP to capitalize on the low interest rate environment.