“Amidst international economic uncertainty and an increase in global investor interest in alternative investments, we have seen an uptick in foreign investment firms, particularly those in the Gulf, looking to acquire stabilized Class-A office products in the United States,” says Norman Feinstein, vice chairman of The Hampshire Companies.

Sziklas, who will take on the post on Sept.3 and will be based at LaSalle’s corporate headquarters in Chicago, will lead the team of portfolio managers for LaSalle’s U.S. Custom Accounts clients and will be responsible for actively managing portfolios of office, retail, multifamily and industrial investments located throughout the U.S.

The new ownership states it will invest significant capital into the building to maintain its heritage. Plans call for an upgraded lobby, a new spec suite program, and improved tenant lounge and fitness facility.

Despite approximately 8,200 units in the pipeline in the Jacksonville area, including half in the highly sought-after Baymeadows and Southeast markets, the multifamily vacancy rate is expected to remain below 5% through 2019.

PREIT says it has recognized the growing demand in this segment and has strengthened its portfolio to include a variety of health-oriented concepts, most recently incorporating Onelife Fitness at the Valley Mall, Peloton at the Cherry Hill Mall and Edge Fitness opening this fall at the Plymouth Meeting Mall.

The brokerage firm reports the non-recourse loan for the Jersey City-based REIT was funded by Apollo Global Management through Athene Annuity & Life Assurance Co.

“Once in a generation, if ever, does a portfolio of this magnitude come to market in such desirable locations offering value-add appreciation opportunities through unit renovations and capital-improvement implementations on a grand scale,” Uranowitz says.

The properties acquired total a combined 317 units and increase the firm’s multifamily holdings in Chicago to 1,063 units and its total holdings in the Washington DC metro area to 1,169 units, according to John Williams, president and CIO at Avanath Capital Management.