Seattle Firms Touchstone and URG Align

SEATTLE—Urban Renaissance Group of Seattle has acquired the operating company for Seattle-based developer Touchstone. The deal also involves an investment by Urban Renaissance Group in six current Touchstone projects.

The transaction also includes the acquisition of Touchstone by URG and retention of all current Touchstone employees. The companies say it will allow Touchstone owners Douglas Howe, Jim O'Hanlon and Shawn Parry to step back from day-to-day operation of the firm.

While the owners have sold the Touchstone operating company, they will continue to serve as advisors to it and remain invested as General Partners with URG in all current projects, seeing them through to completion.

“We've been looking for the right opportunity to expand our operating platform to include a robust development company,” said URG founder and CEO Patrick Callahan. “Touchstone's reputation for innovative and successful urban development is unmatched in this region. Our goal is to give the Touchstone team the freedom to continue doing what they do best.”

“For more than 30 years, we've focused on creating great urban projects – and it was important for us to find a partner who would give Touchstone the freedom to continue to do just that,” said Touchstone founder Howe. “I've known Pat for many years and URG is the right partner to ensure the Touchstone legacy continues.”

URG has invested in six current Touchstone projects. The projects are as follows:

·       The Hill7 office development, which is under construction, includes 300,000 sq. ft of office space at Boren Avenue and Stewart Street.  This project will deliver in March 2015. An affiliate of Principal Real Estate Investors is the primary investor in the project.

·       The Hilton Garden Inn, which is also under construction, features 222 hotel rooms at Boren Avenue and Howell Street.  An affiliate of AIG is now the primary investor in this project.

·       The NorthEdge office development broke ground earlier this year and features 210,000 sq. ft of office space in Fremont across from Gas Works Park. An affiliate of  AIG is now  the primary investor  in this project.

·       The Troy Block office development is currently under construction and includes 817,000 sq. ft at Fairview Avenue and Harrison Street in the heart of South Lake Union. An affiliate of USAA Real Estate Co. is the primary investor in the project.

·       The Everett Marriott Courtyard project in downtown Everett, Wash. is a 156-room hotel that broke ground in October 2014.  The project includes approximately 4,300 square feet of ground-floor retail space and is expected to open in spring 2016.

·       Tilt49 in downtown Seattle includes an 11-story, 300,000 sq.ft. office building that is adjacent to a 40-story residential tower.  The project is located on the East side of Boren Avenue between Stewart Street and Howell Street. It is expected to start construction in the second quarter of 2015.

As part of the deal, AIG invested in three current Touchstone projects: Hill7 office, the Hilton Garden Inn and NorthEdge.

“Douglas, Jim and Shawn have made a tremendous contribution to Seattle for more than 30 years,” said URG's Callahan. “Their legacy is an important chapter in Seattle's real estate history and we look forward to working with them as financial partners in these six projects.”

URG's acquisition of Touchstone will mean little change for their seasoned team of professionals. URG will operate the firm as a wholly-owned subsidiary and the Touchstone name will not change. The development strategy of large-scale urban projects will continue.

“Touchstone's existing seasoned leadership team of A-P Hurd, Troy Black, Kristin Jensen, Joe Polito and Paul Klansnic have done tremendous work in this development cycle and I am confident they will continue their great work in the years ahead,” said Callahan.

Callahan will serve as CEO of Touchstone and continue to serve as CEO of URG.

As the original partners move into advisory roles, Touchstone's existing leadership team will expand their responsibilities and assume the following positions:

·       A-P Hurd: President and Chief Development Officer

·       Troy Black: Chief Financial Officer

·       Kristin Jensen: Vice President, Development

·       Joe Polito: Senior Development Manager

·       Paul Klansnic: Senior Project Manager

“To the outside world, not much at Touchstone will change,” said Touchstone president and chief development Officer Hurd. “URG's involvement gives us greater financial strength and access to additional institutional relationships, which is a plus for this cycle and the next. We are improving our ability to execute, while maintaining our local roots.”

URG manages a portfolio of approximately six million square feet of office and retail properties, growing substantially since its inception in 2006, making URG one of the largest locally owned real estate firms in the region. 

URG experienced another transformative event in November 2012 when the Seattle based investment firm Joshua Green Corporation acquired a substantial stake in the firm. The investment by Joshua Green Corporation provided URG with substantial investment potential and an even larger platform.

"There is a high level of excitement within our organization for this deal, as it complements the outstanding team at URG with the talented development group from Touchstone,” said Stan McCammon, president and CEO of the Joshua Green Corporation. “Our relationship with URG has allowed us to think about investing in real estate in a manner that could not have previously been pursued by our firm.”

 URG has been an active player in the Pacific Northwest real estate market, with the purchase of the Plaza 600 Building in downtown Seattle in 2012, the Five Centerpointe building in Portland, Ore. in 2012, the former Zulily Building in Seattle's SODO neighborhood in early 2014, and the former Oregonian Building in downtown Portland in September 2014.  In addition, URG is nearing completion of its award-winning renovation of the 1600 Seventh Avenue office building in downtown Seattle.

Seattle-based Heartland, LLC served as Touchstone's advisor, developing and executing the strategic alignment announced today.