Acadia obtains main share in high-street retail property in Chicago

Obtaining an 88.4% share in 840 N. Michigan Avenue in Chicago has provided Acadia Realty Trust with a valuable addition to their portfolio.

For $144.3m, the company has obtained majority shareholding in the 87000ft² property, situated along Miracle Mile in the Gulf Coast area of the city.
The purchase was financed with operating partnership units, cash and around $48.6m of pro-rata debt.  It has now gained partnership with four of the original N. Michigan developers – Doris Holleb, Bob Wislow, Camille Julmy and Nancy Pacher.

The four-storey retail building occupies a prime corner spot on what was previously the Bonwit Teller Building.  It was built during 1992, at a cost of $35m and pre-leased as space for Waterstones Booksellers, FAO Schwarz and Escada.  At present, this fully occupied property houses H&M, the European fashion retailer which recently renewed its lease and expanded, and Verizon, which opened a new two-tier, 10000ft² Destination Store during November.

Along with Acadia, the property will be managed by CBRE/US Equities Realty, which is the result of a merger between the Chicago arm of CBRE Group and U.S. Equities Realty.
Acadia has been busy with acquisition during this year and thus far for 2014, it has spent nearly half a billion dollars, including its share in 840 N. Michigan.  Other acquisitions of note include the 3200ft² retail co-op unit located at 131-135 Prince Street, Manhattan, which it managed to gain for $51.4m.