The Birch Group Acquires Four-Building Portfolio in Short Hills for $255M — One of the Largest Commercial Deals in N.J.'s Recent History
Company continues calculated expansion in Northern NJ with off-market deal in affluent Short Hills submarket
The Birch Group, a privately-held commercial real estate investor, owner and operator, today announced the $255-million acquisition of a prominent four-building portfolio in Short Hills, N.J. The off-market acquisition comes on the heels of the company's recent $77-million portfolio purchase in Morristown, and further cements its focus on acquiring prime value-add office assets across the suburbs of Northern N.J.
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51 John F. Kennedy Parkway, Short Hills, NJ (Photo: Business Wire)
The 843,300-square-foot portfolio comprises four Class A office buildings located at 51, 101, 103 and 150 JFK Parkway in the affluent Short Hills submarket, widely recognized as one of the most prestigious and iconic suburban office regions in New Jersey. Cushman & Wakefield represented Mack-Cali Realty Corporation (NYSE:CLI), the seller in the transaction, and is also being retained by The Birch Group as the exclusive office leasing agent for the properties. With the acquisition, The Birch Group has now acquired over $750 million of commercial office assets since 2019.
"This portfolio offers a unique opportunity to reposition historically high-performing properties back to best-in-class assets, which is a hallmark of The Birch Group's strategy. Short Hills is known for its incomparable prestige that manifests in heightened expectations among the regional tenant base," said The Birch Group CEO and Founder Mark Meisner. "A one-size-fits-all approach to asset management doesn't work in this submarket, and our focus will be on enacting tailored improvement strategies to create enduring value for our tenants and investors alike."
The portfolio, which represents The Birch Group's first foray into the Short Hills submarket, has a storied history of attracting and retaining blue chip tenants. Currently 80% leased to an impressive roster of 22 tenants, The Birch Group targeted the portfolio as a unique repositioning opportunity. The properties' unrivaled trophy quality and preeminent Short Hills address has drawn the likes of Citibank, Investors Bank, KPMG, Bank of America, UBS, Dun & Bradstreet, Morgan Stanley and Wells Fargo — all current tenants.
Situated directly off Route 24, the properties offer regional connectivity to the Garden State Parkway, I-78, and the NJ Turnpike with immediate access to a highly skilled executive labor base in Short Hills, the wealthiest town in N.J. and the sixth wealthiest town in the United States. The buildings are further complemented by an expanding, walkable mixed-use amenity base that includes convenient access to the high-end Mall at Short Hills, a 4-Diamond Hilton Hotel, Canoe Brook Country Club, and The Upton — a recently completed upscale residential development by Roseland Residential Trust. The Mall at Short Hills is New Jersey's premier shopping destination, offering unrivaled access to the state's most extraordinary collection of quality retail including four of the world's most prestigious department stores along with 150 specialty shops, restaurants, cafes and entertainment options.
The Birch Group will employ its unique value-add strategy for the portfolio, complementing $15.2 million of recently completed renovations at the properties by previous ownership, in addition to a newly constructed parking deck at 150 JFK Parkway. To this end, The Birch Group has tapped world-renowned commercial design firm Gensler to lead the design enhancements.
"During the pandemic, there has been a demographic shift to the suburbs and the migration of this talent pool represents an extraordinary opportunity to meet the demand for high-quality office assets in prime New Jersey markets," Meisner added. "Short Hills is among one of the most prestigious suburban locales and it has consistently achieved above average rents in New Jersey, while maintaining the highest occupancy rates within the market."
Each of the properties are located in the high-growth Route 24 Corridor, which is ideally situated near affluent residential communities including Short Hills, Millburn, Summit, Livingston, Chatham and Florham Park. Short Hills alone is home to 35% of N.J.'s billionaires, boasting a $1.475 million average home price and access to a top-level talent base, which has traditionally drawn consistent interest from high caliber Fortune 500 companies and leaders across industries spanning medical, finance, education and technology.
"These properties are situated within proximity to New Jersey's most highly sought-after residential areas, which has long enabled them to attract a nationally recognized roster of blue chip tenants," said David Bernhaut, executive vice chairman of Cushman & Wakefield of New Jersey, Inc. "The Short Hills cache has been instrumental in attracting wealth management, consulting, accounting and legal firms, as well as the headquarters of Dun & Bradstreet and Investors Savings Bank. These companies have chosen Short Hills due to its unparalleled local and regional highway access, proximity to private country clubs, high-end hospitality, and other conveniences that you simply can't find in other submarkets."
The four-building portfolio is located less than 15 miles from Newark Liberty International Airport, and within easy reach of NJ Transit's Summit Station, which provides tenants and visitors with an easy commute to Manhattan via the Midtown Direct train line.
About The Birch Group
The Birch Group is a privately-held commercial real estate investor, owner and operator with a singular ability to uncover opportunity and create enduring value for partners, tenants and investors. Since 2014, we have deliberately expanded our portfolio of income-generating properties to include more than 3.8 million square feet of value-add office assets in strategic markets that demonstrate sound fundamentals and growth potential.
The Birch Group takes the long view, employing a methodical approach to investment in the pursuit of institutional-quality assets that consistently outperform any market cycle. For each property, we listen to the needs of existing and future tenants and enact tailored improvement and marketing strategies to create workplace environments that help them prosper. For more information, visit: https://birchgroupllc.com/
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