Lincoln Memorial University is expanding into metro Atlanta with the purchase of three suburban office buildings in Chamblee, marking the Tennessee-based school’s first footprint in the region.
The university acquired 2835 and 2877 Brandywine Road — a four-story, 59,000-square-foot building and a five-story, 131,000-square-foot building — along with 2900 Woodcock Blvd., a four-story, 87,000-square-foot structure, for nearly $22 million total. The properties sit adjacent to the District at Chamblee and Mercer University’s Atlanta campus.
“With these purchases, LMU is preparing for the extension of additional health sciences programs for the Atlanta market, including medical and other health professions education,” said university spokesperson Rachel Worley in an email.
The buildings were purchased from two separate sellers: Ohio-based Boyd Waterson Asset Management sold 2900 Woodcock and part of Brandywine Road, while an LLC affiliated with Atlanta’s Parkside Partners sold the remaining Brandywood Road property, according to Georgia Superior Court Clerks’ Cooperative Authority records.
Targeting Georgia’s Healthcare Workforce Gap
LMU’s main campus, established in the late 1800s, sits in Harrogate, Tennessee, near the Cumberland Gap. The university also operates campuses across Tennessee, Virginia, Kentucky, and Florida. Its Atlanta expansion aims to address Georgia’s ongoing physician shortage, particularly in osteopathic medicine.
“This is more than a real estate investment. It is a long-term investment in healthcare education, workforce development and improved access to care,” Worley said.
Sagard Real Estate separately purchased a 401,000-square-foot warehouse at 5070 Philip Lee Drive in southwest Atlanta for around $30 million. The property, located in the Fulton Industrial submarket, was sold by an LLC tied to SkyREM, which had previously secured a $100 million loan from Truist Bank backed by that facility and two others.
Additional Metro Atlanta Commercial Moves
Sagard purchased the facility on behalf of its open-end core-plus real estate fund. It includes four contiguous warehouses on 15.5 acres.
SkyREM snagged consumer goods-maker Kittrich in a long-term renewal at the facility last year.
Meanwhile, Atlanta-based multifamily developer RangeWater acquired a portion of North DeKalb Mall from Edens Realty for $15.3 million. DeKalb County property records classify the parcel as a multifamily site, though specific development plans have not been disclosed.
Edens has been leading the mall’s redevelopment under the name Lulah Hills since 2024. Crescent Communities is developing a 303-unit apartment complex there, while Empire Homes is constructing a 92-unit townhome project. Earlier this year, L.L. Bean announced plans to open its first Georgia store at the site.
Leasing and Leadership Changes
Insignia has retained Newmark’s Craig Kalinowski and Brad Kirschner to lead leasing for 2727 Paces Ferry, an 18-story, 640,000-square-foot office tower in Vinings. The company is investing eight figures to refurbish and reposition the property as a mixed-use destination.
Insignia purchased the former Paces West complex last year for nearly $22 million. The property previously served as the headquarters for Piedmont Healthcare before the organization relocated to Atlantic Station.
CBRE’s Ellen Stern has joined Cousins Properties Inc. as senior vice president of leasing, succeeding retired executive Bill Hollett. She will work alongside Jeff Dils, Emily Holmes, and Cameron Bloodworth on the company’s leasing team.
Jim Chapman Construction Group appointed Brandon Woods as assistant vice president of land acquisition. Woods will focus on identifying new sites for build-to-rent projects. His prior experience includes roles at ResiBuilt and ResiCap, where he worked on build-to-rent, multifamily, and mixed-use developments.
JLL expanded its multifamily housing investment sales platform by hiring John Topping as a senior director in its Atlanta office. He joins Peter Yorck, John Weber, and Nick Brown on the team and will report to Richard Reid.
Topping began his career at Marcus & Millichap and most recently served as senior director at Global Real Estate Advisors in Atlanta.
SCIM Group secured Park Bench, an interactive dueling piano bar, for a 2,000-square-foot space at its $5 billion Centennial Yards development in Downtown Atlanta. The venue will operate within the project’s Entertainment District, which also includes Cosm, Shake Shack, and The Irish Exit.
LaVista Associates’ Ed O’Connor and Mindy Elms brokered the transaction.
1031 CF Properties obtained a $21 million loan from Old Second National Bank to acquire Oaks at Eagle’s Landing, a 122-unit assisted living and memory care facility in Stockbridge. The property, located at 2700 Patrick Henry Parkway, includes 54 assisted living units and 32 memory care units.
JLL’s Sam Dylag, Erik Von Hamm, and Caroline McClelland arranged the financing, while Old Second National’s Don Clark, Jack Slovick, and Damir Milos provided the loan.
Additionally, Kimco Realty Corp. and an unnamed joint venture partner secured more than $154 million in financing from JPMorgan Asset Management for a six-property, 1.3 million-square-foot retail portfolio spanning California, Arizona, and Georgia. The portfolio includes North Decatur Station, an 89,000-square-foot Whole Foods-anchored shopping center in DeKalb County.
JLL’s Chris Drew, John Marshall, Wells Waller, Jarrod Howard, Gabriel Davenport, and Preston Bacon arranged the financing on behalf of Kimco and its partner.