NEW & NOTABLE

CHICAGO (January 12, 2012) - The Habitat Company announced the
start of construction of a 43-story, 450-unit luxury high rise in
Chicago in a joint venture with Multi-Employer Property Trust
(MEPT) and a major institutional investor. This luxury
multifamily community will be located at 360 W. Hubbard Street in
Chicago's vibrant River North neighborhood, across the street from
the iconic East Bank Club. This latest project adds to the more
than 17,000 residential units developed by The Habitat Company in
its 40 year history. Bentall Kennedy, one of the
largest North American real estate advisors, represents its
clients, an institutional investor and MEPT, a $5.4 billion real
estate equity fund, in the transaction.
"We are pleased to begin our latest project which builds on our
forty years of experience and understanding of the market to create
what we believe will be our finest apartment development," said
Daniel Levin, Founder and Chairman of The Habitat Company.
The rental residences will be smoke-free and will include
top-of-the-market finishes, amenities, and services, including
29,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor amenity space to
accommodate year round activities. The development will be
seeking LEED Silver certification under the Leadership in Energy
and Environmental Design (LEED) system of the U.S. Green Building
Council.
The project's architect is Solomon, Cordwell, Buenz &
Associates which has designed many distinctive residential
buildings around Chicago, including The Habitat Company's Kingsbury
Plaza development located across the street. The general
contractor for the development is James McHugh Construction Company
which has built some of the most recognized properties in the
Chicago skyline, including many of The Habitat Company's prior
projects.
"For The Habitat Company, there are many exciting aspects to this
development, not the least of which is our partnership with Bentall
Kennedy, one of the most respected North American institutional
real estate advisors, a major institutional investor and MEPT,"
said Matt Fiascone, Senior VP of Finance and Investment for The
Habitat Company.
Upon its completion in late 2013, the development will be managed
by The Habitat Company. The Habitat Company currently manages
for its own account and for third parties over $2 billion of assets
comprised of more than 20,000 residential units of market rate,
affordable, condominium, student and public housing units in
Illinois and four other states.
When combined with its recent acquisition of 480-unit and 360-unit multifamily assets in Ann Arbor, Michigan, The Habitat Company concluded transactions in December having a total value of close to one-quarter of a billion dollars.
PRESS RELEASES
