Amazon narrows HQ2 search to 20 cities
Seattle-based Amazon released a list of 20 potential cities where it may build its second headquarters. Amazon’s promised $5 billion investment in construction and 50,000 jobs have had cities across North America scrambling to win the tech giant’s favor. The list includes some of the nation’s biggest cities — New York, Miami and Los Angeles among them — as well as some smaller locales such as Columbus, Ohio and Indianapolis, Indiana. Toronto is the only finalist located outside the U.S. [TRD]
Apple picking a new campus somewhere in the US and expanding data centers
Apple, too, is in search of a new corporate campus in the U.S. The Cupertino, California-based company did not announce the size or preferred location of its new campus, but said it will initially house customer support staff at the new location. Apple also plans to make investments in expanding its domestic data centers. [Reuters]
Skanksa names new CEO of US operations and lays off thousands
Skanksa USA, the American branch of the Swedish construction giant, named Richard Kennedy as its CEO amid a worldwide restructuring that will result in layoffs of about 3,000 employees. Kennedy, who had been president of Skanksa USA’s building unit, succeeds Anders Danielsson, who was named CEO of Skanska AB in December. [TRD]
Brookfield and Onex plan $3.7B bid for coworking firm
WeWork rival IWG, formerly known as “Regus,” is attracting interest from two Canadian private equity firms. Brookfield Asset Management and Onex are planning to bid $3.7 billion for the company, which has almost 3,000 workspace locations worldwide, Reuters reported. [TRD]
Amid concerns over tax law and construction costs, US homebuilder confidence drops slightly
While still near its high point, U.S. homebuilder confidence fell slightly in January, according to the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo. Confidence in the single-family home market fell 2 points from December, when the level was at its highest point since 1999. While the NAHB cited a strong economy and limited supply of available homes as strong point, Bloomberg reported that the new tax law and rising construction costs could pose challenges to homebuilders. [TRD]
CoStar expands into former rival Xceligent’s home turf
Real estate data company CoStar announced a partnership with the Kansas City Regional Association of Realtors, moving into the hometown of Xceligent, its main rival that folded amidst a costly legal battle between the two firms. CoStar will become the “exclusive data, analytics and marketing provider” for the realtors’ group. Xceligent’s bankruptcy caused hundreds to lose their jobs in the Kansas City office. [TRD]
Lawsuit against Zillow claims it conceals Zestimates for some listings
A lawsuit filed in New Jersey accuses online real estate service Zillow of giving preferential treatment to brokerages that have “contracts” with the site by withholding Zestimates for certain listings. EJ MGT LLC, the plaintiff, says Zillow is breaking antitrust laws. A statement from Zillow denies any wrongdoing and states that the company intends to “vigorously defend ourselves against this lawsuit.” [TRD]
Brown Harris Stevens lines up 30 brokerages for global network
Led by Brown Harris Stevens, 30 brokerages around the world are joining together to promote each others listings online. Formerly affiliated with the auction house Christie’s, BHS will now partner with Hilton & Hyland Real Estate in Beverly Hills, Daniel Féau in Paris and London’s Strutt & Parker, among others. “The unique part is that for each listing, the contact is the listing broker themselves,” said co-president Hall Willkie, who added that there are no dues and referral fees for those listing on the network. [TRD]
MAJOR MARKET HIGHLIGHTS
Miami’s Nautilus South Beach for sale, could fetch $180M
The 250-key Nautilus South Beach hotel is for sale, and industry sources say it could sell for as much as $180 million. Quadrum Global paid $61 million for the hotel in 2011 and launched a major renovation. It was designed by Miami Modern architect Morris Lapidus in the 1950s. CBRE has the listing. [TRD]
Chicago courts developers in hopes of revitalizing city-owned warehouses
The Chicago Community Development Commission is looking for developers to reinvigorate two massive city-owned warehouses. The six-story structures were built by the U.S. Army in 1918 and were once the largest concrete warehouses in the world, with 570,000 square feet apiece. The city is offering up the buildings as part of an international design competition sponsored by C40, a coalition of cities looking for sustainable ways to combat climate change. Developers have until May 4 to submit their qualifications to the city. [Chicago Business]
HP’s Houston campus on the market
HP Enterprise is marketing its 2-million-square-foot campus in Houston for sale, and it could fetch an estimated $55 million. Originally the home of Compaq Computers, which HP acquired in 2002, the complex has manufacturing and laboratory space, but after Hurricane Harvey flooded parts of Houston, HP announced it would move its manufacturing operations to Austin and Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. HP sold a chunk of the campus to Lone Star College System in 2009 amidst a corporate consolidation. [Houston Chronicle]
Apple to lease four-story building in LA’s Culver City
As Apple promises to build a second campus somewhere in the U.S., it is also in talks to expand its footprint in Los Angeles. Sources tell The Real Deal that Apple will lease all of Lincoln Property Co.’s building at 8777 Washington Boulevard in Culver City. The 128,000-square-foot property includes ground floor retail with office space above. HBO was thought to become the building’s sole occupant, but that deal fell through. [TRD]
Amazon leases two more office buildings in Seattle
And as it searches for a home for a second headquarters, Amazon continues to grow in its hometown Seattle. The online retail giant leased two more office buildings in Seattle, adding nearly 350,000 square feet to the 8 million square feet it already controls in the city. Amazon will occupy all 11 floors in the new 9th and Thomas building and 186,000 square feet in the former Pemco Insurance headquarters. [Seattle Times]