"The project was originally designed as two phases and the previous financer committed to fund Phase I, but the economics of the transaction, and of the market, made the developer want to build both at the same time," explains Suzanne Kliegerman, senior vice president, real estate lending division, Commerce Bank. "The previous financer was constrained with loan amount, but Commerce Bank was able to come in and fund the full amount and the borrower wanted to establish a relationship with a local bank like Commerce."

Located along the waterfront in this section of Brooklyn, at 3128 Emmons Ave., the condominiums will be located in 23 townhouse-style buildings and one 29-unit, three-story building. The property will also feature 44 underground parking spaces, 22 above ground parking spaces and 45 dock spaces. The 18-month loan includes two six-month extension options. Construction should be completed in 12 to 14 months.

The Cherry Hill-NJ based Commerce, which has more than $29 billion in assets, has commercial real estate loans constituting approximately one-fifth of its total loan portfolio. Commerce recently provided a $10.7-million construction loan to Fairfield Ronkonkoma LLC, an affiliate of Fairfield Properties, to develop 60 luxury rental townhouses in Ronkonkoma, Long Island. The two-year loan includes a six-month extension option, and a five-year loan is available to the borrower as well.

The bank also provided an acquisition loan in the amount of $2.5 million to 250 West 41st Street Realty Corp. for the purchase of a mixed-use building located at 54 Spring St. in Soho. The borrower secured a six-year loan for the building, which comprises 10 residential units as well as ground-floor retail space.