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GULF SHORES, ALA. (Nov. 3, 2023) – DD Partners, LLC of Birmingham, Alabama, and Marietta, Georgia, Peachtree Group of Atlanta and Woodbine Development Corporation of Dallas announced the development of Embassy Suites Gulf Shores, a full-service resort overlooking the Gulf of Mexico and its renowned white sand beaches – located in Alabama’s No. 1 tourism destination, the City of Gulf Shores.
Now underway, Embassy Suites Gulf Shores is a joint venture among the three firms. DD Partners and Woodbine are leading development and asset management efforts, and Peachtree will manage operations for the resort upon completion in summer 2025. The architect of record for the project is PFVS, and the contractor is Robins & Morton.
The eight-story property will have 257 all-suite beachfront guestrooms; a lobby bar and restaurant; a rooftop amenity terrace inclusive of a bar and grille, pool deck and an outdoor entertainment venue; and 13,620 square feet of enclosed meeting and pre-function space, including a 7,800-square-foot ballroom. The resort will also have a three-story parking garage and 7,618 square feet of leasable retail space that will include a Starbucks.
“The Gulf Shores region has sustained solid momentum among leisure travelers thanks to its natural beauty and many attractions, and this destination’s amenities are designed to contribute to that momentum. Also, given the success of local meetings and events, we believe Embassy Suites Gulf Shores will be a sought-after destination for those who are traveling for business and special events,” said Ron Durham, co-founder of DD Partners, a joint venture he formed with Ron Day.
Durham and Day have strong backgrounds in commercial real estate development in the Florida/Alabama Gulf Coast, and they joined forces with Woodbine and Peachtree to pursue the Embassy Suites Gulf Shores opportunity. The team’s collective track record inhospitality and development – as well as DD Partners’ strong relationship with the City of Gulf Shores – resulted in the group closing on the project and beginning construction after many years of pursuit.
“We are excited to have Embassy Suites breaking ground here in Gulf Shores. This is the type of transformative project we envisioned for our beach area when we adopted Vision2025,” said City of Gulf Shores Mayor Robert Craft. “Having a high-end, full-service hotel with significant conference space in the heart of our beach district will boost our shoulder seasons, support local businesses year-round and be a catalyst for higher quality redevelopment in this area.”
Peachtree Group’s CEO and Managing Principal Greg Friedman said, “We are excited to advance this development with our partners and bring the dominant Embassy Suites brand to the vibrant Gulf Shores community. This resort aligns perfectly with the city's promising economic outlook, and as its operator, we anticipate its unparalleled location and all-suite offerings will establish it as the standout performer in its competitive segment, providing an enticing value proposition for business travelers and vacationers in the region.”
While it boasts plenty of its own amenities, Embassy Suites Gulf Shores will offer guests a great deal of options within the area. The property is situated footsteps from the beach as well as the Hangout Music Festival, National Shrimp Festival and NCAA Beach Volleyball Championships. It is also located adjacent to the city’s $15 million beachfront revitalization project, which was completed in 2018 as part of a master plan to enhance the area. Other nearby attractions include Gulf State Park, the Wharf at Orange Beach, Tanger Outlets, more than a dozen championship golf courses and easy access to the sports complexes in Foley.
About DD Partners, LLC
Based out of Birmingham, Alabama, and Marietta, Georgia, DD Partners, LLC was founded by Ron Durham and Ron Day. The team has more than 50 years of commercial real estate acquisition, development, construction, management and disposition experience across the Southeast. DD Partners has been involved in the Embassy resort project since its inception. DD was awarded the contract with the City of Gulf Shores through the RFP process, negotiated the terms and benefits of the Development Agreement with the City, secured the Embassy Suites by Hilton flag for the project and completed the conceptual design of the building before joining forces with hospitality partners Woodbine Development and Peachtree Group.
About Peachtree Group
Peachtree Group is an investment firm driving growth with a diverse portfolio of commercial real estate assets and other ventures. The company has executed hundreds of investments since its inception, focusing on real estate acquisition, development and lending valued at $9.0 billion in total market capitalization. Today, Peachtree manages over $2.5 billion in equity, augmented by services designed to protect, support and grow its investments. For more information, visit www.peachtreegroup.com.
About Woodbine Development Corporation
Woodbine Development Corporation is a full-service real estate company with 50 years of development, investment, acquisition and asset management experience. Since its founding in 1973, Woodbine has been involved in more than $7 billion in commercial real estate development, including resort, resort, mixed-use, office, residential, industrial and master-planned projects throughout the United States. The Dallas-based company offers a depth of hospitality expertise and services, including ground-up development, renovation, repositioning, asset management and ownership for full-service destinations and select-service stays for global and boutique brands alike. Its portfolio also features Woodbine Legacy Investments, an acquisition platform dedicated to the purchase and repositioning of lifestyle resorts, and Woodbine Commercial, a brokerage entity focused on industrial/office. Learn more at www.woodbinedevelopment.com.
ATLANTA (June 24, 2024) – Peachtree Group, a leading private equity firm specializing in identifying and capitalizing on opportunities in dislocated markets, has been proudly named to Inc.'s annual Best Workplaces list. This prestigious recognition not only highlights our company's excellence but also our team's dedication to creating exceptional workplaces and company cultures. This award is a testament to our continuous growth and success, further solidifying our previous Top Place to Work recognition from USA Today.
"Recognitions like Inc.'s annual Best Workplaces and USA Today's Top Places to Work are particularly meaningful to us because they reflect our team members' positive feedback, something we deeply value," said Greg Friedman, Peachtree's managing principal and CEO. "Winning these awards demonstrates our commitment to culture and inclusion truly resonates with our team. We believe in providing a healthy work/life balance to support our team members. When our team feels cared for, they show even stronger commitment to their work, leading to positive business impacts and increased employee engagement."
Inc. selected 543 honorees this year. Each nominated company participated in an employee survey, which included topics such as management effectiveness, perks, fostering employee growth and overall company culture.
"Each year, Inc.'s Best Workplaces program recognizes the very best in terms of companies that have fostered a truly amazing culture," says Inc. editor-in-chief Mike Hofman. "We use hard metrics and data as well as qualitative measures for judging in order to find the very best—and we're proud that the program is highly selective."
In addition to being named as one of Inc.'s Best Workplaces and USAToday’s Top Place to Work, Peachtree’s Friedman, Jatin Desai, managing principal and CFO, and Daniel Siegel, principal and president, credit, were recipients of GlobeSt.’s 2024 Best Bosses in Commercial Real Estate Award, celebrating leaders who exemplify ambition, financial acumen, exceptional people skills and inspire innovation through their exemplary leadership. In addition, Michael Ritz, Peachtree executive vice president, investments, and Siegel were selected as Commercial Real Estate’s Aspiring Leaders of 2024.
About Peachtree Group
Peachtree Group is a vertically integrated investment management firm specializing in identifying and capitalizing on opportunities in dislocated markets, anchored by commercial real estate. Today, the company manages billions in capital across acquisitions, development and lending, augmented by services designed to protect, support and grow its investments. For more information, visit www.peachtreegroup.com.
Contact:
Charles Talbert
678-823-7683
ctalbert@peachtreegroup.com
ATLANTA (June 20, 2024) – Peachtree Group (Peachtree) has expanded its financing program to include net lease retail, medical and industrial properties. The program provides up to 100% loan to cost construction financing for these asset classes, effectively addressing a critical gap in the current commercial real estate market.
The commercial real estate market is currently experiencing a void between tenant expansion plans and financing availability. Developers need alternative financing solutions, as banks have pulled back on lending due to exposure and liquidity constraints.
“Peachtree’s comprehensive financing offerings come at a critical time, as the retail vacancy rate in the U.S. reached a historic low of 4.6% in December 2023, while construction starts significantly declined due to increased financing costs and reduced capital availability,” said Daniel Siegal, Peachtree’s principal and president, CRE.
Net lease financing requires a tenant to pay base rent along with property taxes, insurance, and maintenance costs. This long-term and stable arrangement makes it highly suitable for financing new construction projects. Triple net leases, in particular, enhance this method's value in commercial real estate. By securing lease commitments from creditworthy tenants, developers can leverage stable income streams to secure favorable financing terms.
Net Lease Program Highlights:
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“As a nationwide balance-sheet lender, Peachtree Group offers competitive terms, in-house loan servicing, and flexible capital to handle a wide array of projects. Our net lease financing is designed to provide the flexibility and support needed for successful project execution, no matter how complex the deal,” said Siegel.
Through various programs, Peachtree provides full-stack debt capital solutions to qualified commercial real estate owners across all sectors throughout the U.S.
For more information about Peachtree Group’s Triple Net Lease financing and how it can benefit your business, please visit our website at www.peachtreegroup.com/credit.
About Peachtree Group
Peachtree Group is a vertically integrated investment management firm specializing in identifying and capitalizing on opportunities in dislocated markets, anchored by commercial real estate. Today, the company manages billions in capital across acquisitions, development and lending, augmented by services designed to protect, support and grow its investments. For more information, visit www.peachtreegroup.com.
Contact:
Charles Talbert
678-823-7683
ctalbert@peachtreegroup.com
ATLANTA (June 3, 2024) – Peachtree Group (Peachtree), a prominent private equity firm, debuted its financed film, "The Surfer,” starring Nicholas Cage, at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival.
This successful premiere at Cannes is just one highlight in a series of achievements by Peachtree and its film financing division, Peachtree Media Partners. The firm already has financed nearly a dozen films, cementing its reputation as a growing alternative to conventional television and movie financing.
Peachtree leverages its deep financial expertise and a proven track record of more than $10 billion in investments to excel in uncovering niche and non-traditional opportunities where risk is mispriced to its advantage, driving outsized returns on its investments. The firm applies this strategic insight to transform the financing landscape for television and film productions, generating significant value.
"Our increased activity in movie and television financing represents a natural progression of our capabilities and interests," said Greg Friedman, managing principal and CEO of Peachtree. "We recognize the unique challenges and opportunities within the entertainment industry, especially in an era where content creation is rapidly evolving. We aim to support producers and creators with tailored financial solutions that align with their vision and project needs."
This strategic expansion taps into the growing demand for alternative financing within the dynamic entertainment sector. It specifically addresses the needs of productions ranging from $5 million to $50 million, which are adapting to rapid changes and an increasing number of productions seeking flexible funding options.
As streaming giants like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+ and others continue to pour billions into original content to captivate and retain subscribers, they are reshaping the entire financing landscape.
"Peachtree's initiative is poised to capitalize on these industry shifts, offering innovative financial structures that align with the needs of modern content creators," Friedman said. "Having an industry veteran, Joshua Harris, leading Peachtree Media Partners provides the expertise to structure the financing appropriately while mitigating downside risks."
Peachtree's risk management strategy in entertainment financing includes detailed evaluations of each project's commercial potential, the presence of A-list talent, the production team's track record and collateral such as tax credits and pre-sale agreements. The firm also implements safeguards like completion bonds to ensure that projects are completed within budget and on schedule.
"We are excited to provide a platform that not only fuels the creative economy but also aligns with our investment strategies, providing our stakeholders with diverse opportunities in the burgeoning entertainment sector," added Joshua Harris, managing partner of Peachtree Media Partners. "Furthermore, Peachtree's vertical integration allows us to go beyond capital investments in debt and equity by developing the infrastructure needed to originate, underwrite, manage assets and operate as appropriate."
Peachtree has fully transitioned into film and television financing, actively collaborating with filmmakers and production companies on upcoming projects, with 20-plus opportunities currently in its pipeline. In 2024, additional Peachtree-financed movies slated to be released alongside “The Surfer,” include “The Fabulous Four,” starring Bette Midler and Susan Sarandon, “Not Without Hope,” featuring Zachary Levy and Josh Duhamel and “In the Grey,” directed by Guy Ritchie.
The ongoing digital transformation, the proliferation of high-quality content production and changes in consumer viewing habits suggest that the movie and film financing market will remain dynamic and potentially lucrative for the foreseeable future.
About Peachtree Group
Peachtree Group is a vertically integrated investment management firm specializing in identifying and capitalizing on opportunities in dislocated markets, anchored by commercial real estate. Today, the company manages billions in capital across acquisitions, development and lending, augmented by services designed to protect, support and grow its investments. For more information, visit www.peachtreegroup.com.
Contact:
Charles Talbert
678-823-7683
ctalbert@peachtreegroup.com