Momentum at Fenton continues with closing of second largest commercial construction loan in Triangle history

RALEIGH, November 4, 2020 – JLL Capital Markets announced today that it has arranged what is believed to be the second largest commercial construction loan in Triangle history on the behalf of Hines, Columbia Development and USAA Real Estate for the continued development of Fenton, a 69-acre mixed-use project underway in Cary, North Carolina.

JLL represented the developer, a partnership between Hines, Columbia Development and USAA Real Estate, to arrange the construction financing with Bank OZK. In addition to being one of the largest construction loans in the Triangle region, this is also the largest construction loan to close for a retail-driven project in the U.S. since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Real Capital Analytics. The developer will begin vertical construction in November 2020. In 2019, HFF, now part of JLL, arranged the joint venture equity investment for the first phase of Fenton’s development.

“This is the final piece of the puzzle that allows the project to move forward with vertical construction,” said Paul Zarian, Director at Hines. “Especially in light of the current economic climate, we are grateful for the confidence that Bank OZK has placed in the development team and appreciative of JLL’s tremendous efforts and leadership to secure this facility.”

Fenton is positioned along I-40 and Cary Towne Boulevard, a prominent interstate interchange that occupies a premier, central location in the Triangle. The first phase of the project will include approximately 345,000 square feet of shops, restaurants and entertainment space, 200,000 square feet of office space, a 175-key boutique hotel and a recently announced multi-housing community, The Canopy at Fenton, which will consist of 357 luxury apartments.

Fenton’s dining scene will also have an impressive roster of chef-driven restaurants, including Chef Scott Crawford’s Crawford Brothers Steakhouse, Steve Palmer’s Italian restaurant Colletta, Chef Ford Fry’s tex-mex concept Superica and chef Michael Lee’s M Sushi. Other tenants include anchors Wegmans and CMX CinéBistro, as well as Honeysuckle Gelato, Crú Food & Wine Bar, Sephora, Free People, Bailey’s Fine Jewelry and Blo Salon.

The JLL Capital Markets team representing the developer was led by Managing Directors Chip Sykes and Roger Edwards.

“My partners and I at JLL are grateful for the opportunity to have worked on this visionary project, particularly with the wonderful development team of Columbia Development, Hines and USAA Real Estate,” said Sykes. “Together, and with our friends at Bank OZK, we were able to drive this financing to the finish line in such a challenging environment.”

JLL Capital Markets is a full-service global provider of capital solutions for real estate investors and occupiers. The firm's in-depth local market and global investor knowledge delivers the best-in-class solutions for clients — whether investment sales advisory, debt placement, equity placement or a recapitalization. The firm has more than 3,700 Capital Markets specialists worldwide with offices in nearly 50 countries. For more news, videos and research resources on JLL, please visit the newsroom.