MINNEAPOLIS (May 1, 2023) — Minneapolis Glass Company celebrated the groundbreaking today of their new company headquarters at 610 Junction – West, a new Class A industrial development in Brooklyn Park. The project is being co-developed with Minneapolis-based real estate investment and development company United Properties.

“This exciting design-build project has been a true partnership between United Properties and Minneapolis Glass,” says Connor McCarthy, vice president, industrial development, United Properties. “We are delighted to create a state-of-the-art new home at 610 Junction – West for this dynamic, family-owned and operated company.”

Established in 1937, Minneapolis Glass is a woman-owned glass and glazing fabrication company that provides manufacturing, installation and distribution services. Their new headquarters at 610 Junction – West will house expanded glass and metal fabrication, global sourcing and distribution facilities, administrative offices and a consumer showroom.

“Our vision is to expand capacity, create efficiencies and bring our workforce under one roof,” says Jennifer Lang, owner and president, Minneapolis Glass. “It’s a dream come true to make our vision a reality.”

The new Brooklyn Park headquarters and centralized manufacturing facility will consolidate operations, and expand the company’s footprint to 115,000 sq. ft. With more space and new innovative equipment, Minneapolis Glass will increase capacity by over 50%. “A glass tempering line will enable us to vertically integrate our supply chain and meet the growing demands of our customers,” says Lang.

When looking at locations for this project, Brooklyn Park was an optimal choice for operational logistics, employee engagement and community involvement. 610 Junction – West is strategically located at the intersection of U.S. Highways 169 and 610, and is close to retail, restaurants and other amenities.
All 100 full-time employees will move to the new space, and the company plans to hire additional positions once moved in. “We have been a part of the broader Minneapolis community for over 80 years, and it is essential that we build our forever home right here in the metro,” Lang added.

The new headquarters is expected to be completed in 2024. Project partners include the City of Brooklyn Park, Lampert Architects, Sambatek and R.J. Ryan Construction.

About Minneapolis Glass Company

Minneapolis Glass is a woman-owned glass and glazing fabrication company that has provided manufacturing, installation and distribution services for their clients for more than 80 years. By continuously innovating manufacturing and installation processes, they eliminate the runaround to make business a little bit easier and a lot more predictable, and their craftsmanship experience ensures the best fit and function every time. Their integrated technology automates production, capacity planning, and project management for fewer surprises and faster fixes. Feedback and insights accelerate solutions that deliver not just great glass but exceptional experiences.

MINNEAPOLIS, MN (April 10, 2023) — United Properties, one of the largest real estate investment and development companies in the Midwest, is pleased to announce the hiring of Phil Cattanach as executive vice president of commercial development and the promotion of Karla Carlson to executive vice president of Amira, the company’s senior living brand.

Cattanach has an extensive background in development and market knowledge, having spent the last 13 years at Opus as a senior vice president and general manager, leading and managing the Minneapolis and Des Moines development offices. In this role, he will be responsible for pursuing development opportunities in all product types, helping United Properties grow and succeed in new areas, and preparing the next generation of development leaders. He will also be a part of the executive team, helping to shape and implement the company’s strategies and expansion plans.

“I am excited to welcome Phil to the United Properties team,” said Matt Van Slooten, chief executive officer, United Properties. “His breadth and depth of experience in the commercial real estate industry will be instrumental in identifying key growth opportunities as we continue to execute on our long-term vision for the company.”

Cattanach, a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point and holder of a master’s degree in business administration from the University of St. Thomas, served seven years in the U.S. Army before joining Opus.

Carlson is being promoted to executive vice president, having previously served as vice president of capital markets. She will lead United Properties’ senior living team, strategizing, raising capital, and overseeing execution of the strategic plan to create outstanding senior living communities and meet investor requirements, supporting the company’s growth objectives. Carlson had a 14-year tenure at Capital Real Estate Inc., where she was a partner/vice president of development, before joining United Properties last year.

“Karla has had a tremendous impact at United Properties since joining the team a year ago, and I am pleased to announce this well-deserved promotion,” said Van Slooten. “She formed strong relationships internally and externally, and demonstrated strategic collaboration to create efficiencies. I am confident that Phil and Karla will excel in these new roles, build on United Properties’ established success, and lead us into a new phase of growth and innovation.”

DENVER (March 6, 2023) — United Properties is pleased to announce the topping out of Amira Choice Arvada, its newest Assisted Living and Memory Care community in Colorado.

“We are excited to have reached this construction milestone as we look forward to completing this special project. It is a tough environment for construction right now, and we have only been able to reach this topping out milestone through the hard work and dedication of our team,” said Matt Oermann, vice president, United Properties. “This marks United Properties’ first location in Colorado under our new Amira brand. We are thrilled to provide supportive services and individualized care to our seniors within a beautiful community where everyone can flourish.”

The senior living community will have four floors and 120 units. Both inside and out, Amira Choice Arvada offers extensive amenities for every season, including beautifully landscaped grounds and spacious apartment homes featuring comfortable, light-filled layouts — from studio to two-bedroom floor plans — with premium finishes and fixtures. From well-appointed living spaces to fulfilling social opportunities and elegant design, every detail is designed to help residents live life to the fullest. An experienced team will manage the day-to-day maintenance, freeing up time for residents to enjoy community activities and events with their neighbors.

“It has been an honor to work with United Properties on the Amira Choice Arvada project,” said Ian McIntosh, project executive, Catamount Constructors. “All project teams demonstrated strong collaboration to get to this point of being able to celebrate the topping out of this senior living project.”

“We are grateful for the opportunity to be part of this senior living project with everyone at United Properties,” said Mark Barton, Denver division president, Catamount Constructors. “We are excited for the future with this great team.”

Amira Choice Arvada will feature beautiful millwork with under cabinet lighting, quartz countertops, stainless steel appliances, high-end finishes and more. The senior living community will also feature a variety of lifestyle amenities, such as restaurant-style dining, a spa, fitness studio, library, game room, community lounge, theater/multi-purpose room and two outdoor amenity decks.

Boasting amazing views of North Table Mountain and the Denver foothills, the community is also close to walking trails, a King Soopers-anchored shopping center, medical facilities and restaurants.

“We chose Arvada because it allows us to create an environment for our residents to feel empowered to live optimistically, confidently and with a sense of purpose. The location fulfills our goal to provide delightful homes in a community that offers residents a sense of belonging, engagement and connection,” said Oermann. “The City of Arvada is a highly desirable location, with a high retention rate for its residents. Our community will provide seniors in the area who may need additional care another option that allows them to stay in the city they love.”

Occupancy is expected in 2024. Project partners include Catamount Constructors, VTBS Architects, Brue Baukol Capital Partners, First National Bank of Omaha, Great Lakes Management and HS Colorado LLC. For more information, visit amirachoice.com/arvada.

About Catamount Constructors

Catamount is a 100% employee-owned company with 26 years of experience providing construction management and general contracting services nationwide. Ranked in Engineering News Record’s ‘Top 400 National Contractors’ for sixteen consecutive years, Catamount provides contracting services to owners and developers including general contracting, construction management, sustainable construction, design-build, cost estimating, conceptual budgeting, scheduling, and value engineering. Markets include Industrial, Multifamily, Senior Living, Healthcare, Office/Office Interiors, Retail, Automotive, Energy, and Government. Serving clients throughout the U.S., Catamount maintains offices in Atlanta, GA; Denver, CO; and San Antonio, TX. For more information about Catamount, visit www.catamountinc.com.

MINNEAPOLIS (Dec. 1, 2022) — United Properties, one of the largest real estate investment and development companies in the Midwest, announced today it is rebranding its senior living communities in Naples and Sarasota, Florida, and transferring operations of the communities from Watercrest to Ebenezer Management Services. United Properties will retain ownership of each community.

“We’re excited to expand our partnership with Ebenezer and to continue to deliver a lifestyle that seniors are looking for — one full of caring relationships, and activities seniors can share with people who have similar interests and are at similar stages in life,” said Matt Van Slooten, United Properties president and chief investment officer. “We are proud to have developed these two beautifully designed communities, and pleased to bring Ebenezer’s management to these locations under the Amira Choice brand.”

Amira senior living developments are well-positioned to meet demographic demands, building on United Properties’ 18 years of experience with senior living developments in 31 locations, including 20 Applewood Pointe co-op communities, Van Slooten noted. The number of people in the U.S. over 75 is expected to nearly double over the next two decades — from 23 million in 2020 to 45 million in 2040.

Ebenezer Management Services, which is affiliated with Fairview Health Services, is Minnesota’s largest senior housing operator and has decades of experience in the senior living market. Ebenezer currently manages over 100 locations and offers senior housing and care options including independent living, assisted living, memory care and skilled nursing care.

“We are honored to expand our relationship and footprint to Florida with our valued partner United Properties,” said Jon Lundberg, Fairview Senior Services and Ebenezer president and chief executive officer. “It is a pleasure to welcome the residents, family and staff of these two communities to the Ebenezer family, and we look forward to sharing our long-standing values of dignity, integrity, service, compassion and innovation as we begin serving older adults in Florida.”

Amira Choice residents in Florida will notice a new name, logo, website designs, signs and employee uniforms in their communities. They will also experience the benefits of United Properties and Ebenezer’s partnership with best-in-class levels of service, care and quality of life.

Additional details about the rebranding will be available on the community websites.

About Ebenezer Management Services

Ebenezer Management Services is Minnesota’s largest senior living operator. Part of Fairview Health Services, Ebenezer Management Services develops, consults, and provides management services to more than 100 senior communities throughout Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Nebraska and Florida.

MINNEAPOLIS (Sept. 21, 2022) — United Properties broke ground today on The Ellie, a new four-story residential community development on six acres in Eden Prairie.

Located 12 miles southwest of downtown Minneapolis, and a 15-minute drive to MSP Airport at the intersection of Lincoln Lane and Eden Prairie Road, The Ellie will consist of 239 studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments. Twenty-five percent of the residential units will be affordable.

“United Properties is excited to break ground and deliver this multifamily project to the city and residents of Eden Prairie,” said Scott Peterson, vice president of hospitality and office development, United Properties.

“Purchasing the land was complex; it included the acquisition of seven off-market homes, as well as rezoning, relocating major utilities, right-of-way changes, and a tax increment financing (TIF) agreement,” Peterson said. “We arrive at today’s groundbreaking thanks to close coordination with the city council, city and county staff, and the Metropolitan Council’s Housing and Redevelopment Authority.”

Named after Elizabeth F. Ellet, a writer who visited the area in the mid-1800s and is credited with naming Eden Prairie, The Ellie has a large outdoor courtyard area for residents to gather with friends and family, plus shared indoor spaces such as a fitness center, a community lounge and fireplace, bike storage rooms, storage spaces to rent, and ample underground and surface parking.

The central courtyard area will have an outdoor pool with lounge seating and shade umbrellas, a children’s play area, a culinary garden to grow food, an outdoor kitchen and fire pit area, and a lawn area for games.

The project was designed to maximize natural light in all indoor spaces, and features refined materials and a color palette that mimics Eden Prairie’s natural surroundings.

Apartments will have oversized windows, balconies/patios, walk-in closets, in-unit laundry and kitchen islands. A mail room and parcel package lockers will make it easy to receive mail and packages worry-free.

“The Ellie is a great example of an infill development opportunity that benefits the overall community,” said Carrie Eggleston, senior development manager, United Properties. “We worked closely with the City of Eden Prairie to vacate the existing road (Lincoln Lane) and replace seven homes with 239 units of new construction — all in close proximity to area amenities.”

“We’re proud we were able to preserve four of the original homes and physically move them to new locations in Minnesota,” she added.

The development is close to a robust park network — including Miller and Round Lake parks — and is located seven minutes from public transit with easy access to Highways 212 and 5.

The Ellie was designed by DLR Group and is being constructed by Eagle Building Company. Construction on The Ellie is anticipated to be complete by the spring of 2024.

AUSTIN, TEXAS (Aug. 8, 2022) — United Properties announced today that Victor Young has joined United Properties – Austin as senior vice president of commercial development. In this role, Young will serve as market lead and direct all development activities based out of the Austin office. He will report directly to Bill Katter, United Properties president and development chief investment officer.

“We are very excited for Victor to lead the United Properties – Austin team as we expand our portfolio in the region,” said Katter. “He’s an experienced developer and longtime Austinite who has strong relationships with the companies, brokers and financial institutions that call Austin home.”

Young comes to United Properties with an extensive background in real estate development. Most recently, he was a principal at Cypress Real Estate Advisors where he specialized in multi-family, office and mixed-use developments.

“As a lifelong Texan and long-term resident of Austin, I have witnessed firsthand the dramatic transformation of our city and have been fortunate to raise my family while participating in the most active real estate market in the country,” said Young. “The company’s mission of ‘creating deep roots’ while building and strengthening communities, along with the innovative team that makes up United Properties, is what attracted me to this opportunity. I’m thrilled to channel my passion for this field into my role at United Properties.”

Before joining Cypress Real Estate Advisors, Young launched Greenbelt Commercial, the real estate acquisition and development company behind properties such as the award-winning SXSW Center in downtown Austin — which houses South by Southwest’s headquarters — and the Eastlake at Tillery office development, among others. He was also a development partner at Capital City Partners, Inc. and a commercial real estate broker for Aquila Commercial in Austin.

Young is a Texas native with a bachelor’s degree from Rice University (where he played football) and a law degree from the University of Texas at Austin School of Law. He lives in Austin with his wife and two children and serves on the board of the Pease Park Conservancy while actively supporting many other local nonprofit organizations.

United Properties expanded operations to Texas in 2020, opening a development office in Austin after carefully studying the area’s growth trajectory and how it has responded to both market expansions and downturns.

“We love the diversity and growth opportunities in Austin,” Katter said. “We like the strong tech hub and the culture and people of Austin, and we’re excited about new projects on the horizon.”

MINNEAPOLIS (July 26, 2022) — JLL is pleased to announce that United Properties has broken ground on their new 199,919-sq.-ft. industrial building in Oakdale, Minnesota. The Class A development, dubbed the 4Front Industrial Park, will be located directly off the Interstate 694 and County Road 14 interchange. JLL’s leasing agents include Managing Director Chris Hickok, Executive Vice President Eric Batiza and Vice President Connor Ott.

The new project is a rare development in Oakdale, a suburb of St. Paul in the east metro. It will offer suites that range in size from 30,000 sq. ft. to the full 199,919 sq. ft. Sitting on 12 acres with 284 parking stalls for visitors and employees, the building will also provide 21 dock doors with levelers and three oversized drive-in doors, with the ability to add additional doors by tenant request. Floor plans are available here.

“We’re thrilled to take advantage of the industrial market momentum in the Twin Cities and bring such an unparalleled product to Oakdale,” said United Properties Vice President Connor McCarthy. “The community’s labor market is best-in-class, and the site offers employees a superb work atmosphere. We’re confident that this project will be a win-win for the city and its employers.”

Additionally, the industrial park is located less than 25 miles from the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, 15 minutes from St. Paul, 25 minutes from Minneapolis, four minutes from I-94 and less than 15 miles from Atlas Cold Storage in St. Paul, making it an ideal site for medical, manufacturing and warehouse operations. Upcoming construction on I-94 and the I-494 and I-694 interchanges will also widen the north and southbound interchange bridges, as well as create auxiliary and buffer lanes, enabling trucks to navigate the ramps more easily.

4Front Industrial Park is also strategically located near several restaurants and retail options along I-694, including Costco, Whole Foods, The Home Depot, The Tavern Grill, Wild Bill’s Sports Saloon and Tamarack Tap Room.

According to recent JLL research, the Minneapolis-St. Paul industrial market has nearly 4.2 million sq. ft. under construction. 4Front Industrial Park will contribute to this growing number.

“The demand for industrial space in the Twin Cities region has not slowed down in the least and this is just one of the numerous projects United Properties is developing to answer that demand,” said Hickok. “The accessibility of 4Front Industrial Park is superior and its location is prime for medical, manufacturing and warehouse uses.”

The industrial park is slated for a June 2023 delivery.

MINNEAPOLIS (Feb. 24, 2022) — United Properties announced today the appointment of Karla Carlson to vice president of capital markets. In this role, Carlson will be responsible for raising equity for speculative and build-to-suit developments, structuring joint ventures and coordinating the due diligence process for equity partners to ensure timely closings.

Based in United Properties’ Minneapolis office, she will work closely with Eric Skalland, chief financial officer and executive vice president of capital markets. Additionally, she will coordinate with both Skalland and Brian Schmidt, director of capital markets, to monitor capital markets as it relates to equity capital, maintain strong investor contact and manage capital relationships.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Karla to our Capital Markets team,” said Skalland. “Her extensive market knowledge, history of building trusted relationships, and strong business acumen and financial skills will be an asset to us moving forward.”

Carlson joins United Properties with over 13 years of experience as a partner and lead developer in the commercial real estate industry. Most recently, she was the partner/vice president of a team at Capital Real Estate, Inc. where she assisted partners with deal procurement and managed the entire development process of projects. While there, she successfully completed more than 25 development projects that yielded $140 million in project value.

MINNEAPOLIS (Dec. 13, 2021) — United Properties announced today that it will triple the number of senior living communities that it owns and develops over the next three years — averaging about six groundbreakings per year — and unite its three types of senior living developments under the umbrella of one brand: Amira.

“The name Amira represents what we offer: flourishing communities for a new generation of seniors where we promise continued life enrichment with a sense of community and meaningful experiences,” said Matt Van Slooten, co-president and chief investment officer for United Properties Investment, who is leading the rebranding initiative. “Amira delivers a lifestyle that seniors — especially baby boomers — are looking for; namely, caring relationships and activities with people at similar stages of life, sharing similar interests and experiencing life together.”

The following three types of senior living communities will fall under Amira:

• Amira – 55-plus independent living rental communities (formerly known as ThePOINTE)
• Amira Choice – 62-plus integrated independent living, assisted living and memory care communities (formerly known as Cherrywood Pointe)
• Applewood Pointe – For-purchase cooperative communities owned by seniors

The company currently has 13 for-rent senior living developments in its Amira offerings. Seven of these properties are already open and 96% occupied. Three others were recently completed and are available to lease, and three more are currently under construction. In addition to these locations, the company has an active pipeline of sites that will break ground in 2022. This expansion will increase the number of housing units from 1,100 open today to 3,800 over the next few years — and not just in Minnesota, but in Colorado, Texas and Florida as well.

United Properties’ growth is in response to demographic trends that project that the number of people in the U.S. over 75 is expected to nearly double over the next two decades — from 23 million in 2020 to 45 million in 2040.

Amira senior living developments are well-positioned to meet demographic demands, building on United Properties’ 17 years of experience with senior living developments in 30 locations, including 20 Applewood Pointe co-op communities, Van Slooten noted.

Amira residents will notice a new name, logo, website designs, signs, and employee uniforms, but the company’s commitment to best-in-class levels of service, care and quality of life for communities will remain the same.

In Minnesota, construction recently began on Amira Minnetonka, its newest 55-plus active adult rental community, located on five acres at 801 Carlson Parkway in Minnetonka. Amira Minnetonka will have six floors and 186 units. 19 units will be designated as affordable to meet the needs of the community. The active adult community will also feature a variety of lifestyle amenities, such as a state-of-the-art golf simulator, an outdoor pool and hot tub, pickleball court, community gardens, art and fitness studios, an expansive community room and a sky lounge. Occupancy is planned for 2023.

Van Slooten summed it up this way: “The name ‘Amira’ reflects the growth and evolution of our senior living developments — communities that prioritize a sense of place, a commitment to community, personalized services and meaningful experiences — as well as our vision for the future.”

AUSTIN (Nov. 10, 2021) – United Properties and AQUILA Commercial today announced CED Greentech has signed a prelease for 38,840 sq. ft.at Buda Midway at 1795 Fire Cracker Drive in Buda, Texas. CED Greentech is the nation’s leading solar equipment distributor.

Buda Midway is the first Austin-area project from Minnesota-based developer United Properties. The groundbreaking for the Class A industrial development took place in June, with completion expected in 2022. Buda Midway is planned in two phases and will ultimately encompass 800,000 sq. ft. when completed.

Mitchell Becker and Ralph Coppola of Stream Realty represented CED Greentech, and Leigh Ellis, Blake Patterson, Omar Nasser with AQUILA Commercial represented the landlord.

About AQUILA Commercial

Founded in 2007, AQUILA Commercial is a recognized leader in Austin commercial real estate. Today AQUILA manages and leases over 11 million square feet of office, industrial and retail properties and has over 600 corporate tenant representation clients. AQUILA offers clients full-service real estate solutions, providing tenant representation, project leasing and asset, property and project management services for office, industrial and retail properties. For more information, visit: www.aquilacommercial.com.