Jan 07, 2021

Lane Powell

Lane Powell has elected seven new shareholders and promoted three attorneys as counsel to the firm's Portland and Seattle offices. The new shareholders in the Seattle office are Callie Castillo, Brett Durbin, Qingqing Miao. Julie Seidenstein and Taylor Washburn. New shareholders in the Portland office are Christine Thelen and Cozette Tran-Caffee. New counsel to the firm are Bret Finkelstein and Paul Spatafore in Seattle and Rishi Puri in Portland.

Amazon

Amazon announced that it is expanding its fleet with the first-ever purchase of eleven Boeing 767-300 aircraft. The purchases include seven aircraft from Delta and four aircraft from WestJet. The four aircraft purchased from WestJet are undergoing passenger to cargo conversion and will join Amazon Air's network in 2021, and the seven aircraft from Delta will enter the air cargo network in 2022. The company will continue to rely on third-party carriers to operate these new aircraft. Amazon Air was launched in 2016.

Cigna

Seattle resident Dr. Gjanje Smith has been selected to represent Cigna by participating in the CEO Action for Racial Equity fellowship – working alongside 500 fellows from companies and business organizations from around the world to address racial injustice at national, state and local levels. In this one-year, full-time fellowship, Smith will work together with other fellows to identify, develop and promote scalable and sustainable public policies and corporate engagement to address societal systemic racism and social injustice, and improve societal well-being. Smith is a medical director of urology supporting Cigna's clinical performance and quality team.

TMR lands $24M refi for Albuquerque units

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Local firm Thayer Manca Residential announced the recent refinancing of its 200-unit Ottavo Apartments in Albuquerque. The $23.9 million Fannie Mae loan came via Orix. It carries a 2.81% rate. The loan follows $4 million in recent renovations and upgrades. Joe Manca said in a statement, “It is a big testament to our incredible team who challenged the norm and performed under pressure to allow this timely refinance to happen. Steady Greystar leadership, energetic and competent onsite staff and loyal vendors give us confidence that we can achieve big results in Albuquerque.” Ottavo was purchased under a different name in 2018; TMR also owns two other multifamily properties in that city, both also recently acquired, which have 544 units.

SEED

Seiwerath

SouthEast Effective Development says that Michael Seiwerath will be its next executive director. He makes the move from Community Roots Housing (formerly Capitol Hill Housing). SEED board president Krista Holland said in a statement, “We are extremely excited to welcome Michael to SEED, and believe he will infuse new energy and leadership into the organization as we continue serving our Southeast Seattle community.” Seiwerath added, “SEED is an absolutely vital organization working at the intersection of affordable housing, arts, and economic development.” The nonprofit was founded in 1975; today it owns 1,135 units in several properties including the recently completed Spokane at Rainier Court, an affordable senior community in the Rainier Valley. It also manages Rainier Arts Center, Columbia City Gallery and other arts and cultural programs.

M&T provides $3M HUD loan for nursing home

Schneider

Roach

M&T Realty Capital Corporation announced that it last fall secured a refinancing loan for the St. Anne Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, in the Meadowbrook neighborhood in North Seattle. The approximately $3.1 million was secured via the national mortgage insurance program (Section 232) of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The non-recourse loan carries a fixed rate of 2.68%, with a fully amortizing loan term. The funding was secured by Madeleine Roach and Jim Schneider; the latter said in a statement, “We are thrilled to see this product work so well locally. We will see many more HUD-insured seniors housing and market-rate multifamily debt being placed in Seattle. Said Roach, “We initiated this transaction shortly after COVID-19 broke out in Kirkland, and had concerns about the risks associated with the pandemic. Our team worked closely with HUD and with the borrower to design strong mitigants to the perceived risks.” The 47-bed facility dates to 1954; St. Anne acquired it 20 years ago.

Jan 06, 2021

Alaska Communications

Alaska Communications Systems Group announced that it entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by a newly formed entity owned by ATN International and Freedom 3 Capital, in an all cash transaction valued at approximately $332 million, including net debt. The merger will result in Alaska Communications becoming a consolidated, majority owned subsidiary of ATN and is expected to close in the second half of 2021. Alaska Communications' prior agreement to be acquired by an affiliate of Macquarie Capital and GCM Grosvenor has been terminated. The merger is subject to the approval of Alaska Communications' stockholders, regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions.

Walla Walla Valley

The Walla Walla Valley has been named America's Best Wine Region in the 2020 USA Today Readers' Choice awards following a month-long nationwide public vote. Walla Walla Valley has been selected as a finalist for the award three consecutive years, but this is the first time it has earned first place. In addition, Long Shadows Vintners took fourth place in the Best Tasting Room category for the second consecutive year.

Lutheran Community Services

Lutheran Community Services Northwest and Compass Housing Alliance have signed a definitive agreement for Compass to become an affiliate of LCS Northwest. The agreement was approved by the board of directors for both organizations. Founded in 1921, LCS Northwest is a non-profit organization, partnering with individuals and families in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho to provide access to behavioral health, crime victim advocacy, child, youth and family, refugee, and immigrant supportive services, and aging and independent living services. Compass provides services to individuals, veterans and families experiencing chronic homelessness and housing instability.

GGLO

Franks

McDonald

In Seattle, GGLO promoted Meaghan McDonald and Carissa Franks to principal. McDonald is licensed as an architect and as an interior designer. At GGLO, she has worked on Chambers Bay Resort in University Place and Via6 and 624 Yale, both in Seattle. Prior to joining the firm, she worked in Wyoming, California and Montana on high-end residential, education and hospitality projects. Franks has multifamily mixed-use project experience at GGLO. Some of her notable projects include the Northgate Mall redevelopment, AMLI Pierside and 624 Yale, all in Seattle. GGLO is a design practice for architecture, urban design, landscapes and interiors.

Parametrix

Kelly

Parametrix hired Liz Kelly as senior vice president overseeing its Puget Sound region, which includes practices in water, transportation, environmental and community building and offices in Seattle, Puyallup, Tacoma and Bremerton. Kelly will initially focus on continuing to grow the Puget Sound region water practice, which provides services in drinking water, wastewater, stormwater, flood control and electrical/SCADA to public clients. She has 30 years of experience in water, wastewater, drainage and solid waste utilities work. Most recently she was with Jacobs where she led the North America water sector asset management practice and was U.S. West regional lead for the strategic consulting operation. She was with Seattle Public Utilities for over 20 years. Parametrix provides engineering, planning and environmental sciences.