Feb 12, 2015

Eskenazy heads Merrill Gardens

Eskenazy

Merrill Gardens named David Eskenazy its new president, replacing Tana Gall, who left earlier this year to pursue other interests. Eskenazy last worked as chief financial officer at Aegis Living, and has more than 25 years of experience. He spent nine years as chief operating officer for R.C. Hedreen Co. Eskenazy is on the board of Outerwall, which operates Coinstar, Redbox and ecoATM kiosks. Seattle-based Merrill Gardens has 31 assisted-living communities in five states.

DeBrock to lead HFC division

DeBrock

Washington State Housing Finance Commission promoted Lisa DeBrock to lead the homeownership division. DeBrock has been a manager in the division since 1999. She replaces Dee Taylor, who retired in December. Before coming to the commission, DeBrock worked in the public and private sectors on mortgage banking and housing counseling. The division annually oversees more than $800 million in loans and down payment assistance.

New brand for Red Lion: Hotel RL

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Spokane-based Red Lion Hotels Corp. said its Olympia hotel will be renovated and converted to a new upscale brand: Hotel RL. Work on the hotel at 2300 Evergreen Park Dr. S.W. will begin in March and finish in December. The new brand is designed to offer a “town square” that caters to visitors and locals. Lobbies will have seating with morning coffee service and evening cocktails, and rooms will have wood floors and flat-screen TVs. Red Lion also is converting hotels in Spokane and Salt Lake City to the new brand.

Feb 05, 2015

HFF arranges financing for Smith Tower

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HFF said it arranged financing and represented the seller in the sale of Smith Tower, which Unico Properties bought for $73.7 million last month.

HFF's Gerry Rohm, Nick Kucha and James Childress marketed the building for sale for the seller. Tom Wilson and Erica Christensen of HFF helped Unico secure a loan from a foreign bank.

Smith Tower is protected by both local and national landmark designations. The facade and many interior finishes have been preserved.

Unico plans some improvements, including to the elevators, lobby, restrooms, and the Observation Deck and Chinese Room on top.

NAIOP talking hotels

The hotel construction boom will be the focus of the Washington chapter of NAIOP's breakfast meeting at 7 a.m. Feb. 11 at Sheraton Seattle Hotel, 1400 Sixth Ave. Andrew Olsen of Columbia Hospitality will moderate a panel that includes Tom Norwalk, president and CEO at Visit Seattle; Chris Burdett, senior vice president at CBRE; and Carla Murray, senior vice president at Starwood Hotels & Resorts. For more information, or to register for the event, visit: http://www.naiopwa.org/breakfast-meetings

Mortgage refinancing site comes to Washington

Lenda, a website that allows homeowners to refinance mortgages online, is now available in Washington. Previously, the site only covered California. Lenda says it eliminates the middleman in mortgage refinancing, the same way TurboTax does for taxes. Lenda has closed $25 million in refinancing loans since October. Lenda says it can close loans faster and with lower interest rates than traditional refinancing sources.