Trademark Starts $417M of Texas Retail Projects, Market briefs

In Fort Worth, Trademark Property Co., a multi-use investor, developer, and operator based in Fort Worth, has started $417 million in retail projects in Texas and another big development is on the way.

Trademark and its partners have closed on financing for four projects, including three new developments and a redevelopment, over the last six weeks. The deals mark the busiest stretch in the company’s history and signal a shift in the real estate market.

A limited amount of new construction has kept vacancy rates low. The national vacancy rate averaged 4.4% in the second quarter, well below the 7.4% historical average, as stated by JLL. Dallas, Houston, and Austin, home to all four of Trademark’s Texas closings, account for 21% of the national construction pipeline.

A New Retail Cycle

“Capital is back, retail vacancy is at the tightest level I’ve seen in decades, and some ground-up projects are breaking ground again,” said Terry Montesi, founder and CEO of Trademark. “After the longest drought I’ve seen in this business, we believe this the start of a new retail cycle. Trademark spent the last several years preparing for this moment, and we’re ready to lead.”

Dunham Pointe in Cypress. Trademark Property Co. courtesy rendering.

In the Houston region, Trademark and equity partner MetLife Investment Management secured debt financing from PNC Bank for Dunham Pointe, a 202,000-SF retail and restaurant district on 25 acres at Highway 290 and Mason Road in Cypress. Over 60% of the space is pre-leased with Whole Foods as the anchor tenant.

In Southlake, north of Dallas, Trademark and JV partner Harrison Street Asset Management secured financing and started construction on Shivers Farm, a 40-acre multi-use community that is set to include 111,000 SF of retail and a 38,000-square-foot boutique office building. Whole Foods will also anchor that development.

In Shivers Farm, a development of Trademark Property, will have a one, acre park surrounded by heritage live oak trees. Dwell Design Studio courtesy rendering.

In Arlington, Trademark and Harrison Street Asset Management started work on Anthem, a $135 million-plus redevelopment of the former Lincoln Square shopping center. InterBank provided refinancing and construction financing for the 43-acre project, which is planned to include 404,000 SF of retail, dining, and entertainment space.

In Austin, Trademark and global investment manager Cohen & Steers purchased Oak Hill Plaza, a 116,000-SF neighborhood shopping center at US 290 and SH 71 from Houston-based Partners Real Estate. Trademark will manage and lease the center and lead a renovation of the property and the upgrade of its tenant lineup.

Elsewhere in Texas, Trademark is also renovating Longview Mall in Longview and Galleria Dallas.

Next Up

Next year, Trademark plans to break ground on Shawnee Trail, a 150-acre multi-use development anchored by Walmart in Celina, Texas. The Walmart, designed as a Store of the Future featuring the latest innovations in retailing, opened in April. The world’s largest retailer debuted the Store of the Future concept in Houston last year.

“Capital that sat on the sidelines for years is starting to move again,” said Trademark President and COO Kevin Kessinger. “We are pleased quality lenders and equity partners came to the table quickly on all four of these deals, evidence that well-located retail in high-quality locations is scarce. That’s the clearest signal yet that the market has turned.”