The Sam’s Club will be one more addition to the new 85,000-square-foot retail power center. The retailer is expected to break ground this February. The store is scheduled to open in the fall of 2012.

David Block and Becky Goodman of Block & Company represented the seller, Plaza Speedway LLC. Bob Johnson at RH Johnson represented the buyer.

The Plaza at the Speedway is already home to Walmart Supercenter, Best Buy, Kohl’s, Olive Garden and other retailers.

Financing was based on a 10-year term and a 30-year amortization schedule, and was arranged for the borrower by NorthMarq through its seller-servicer relationship with Freddie Macs.

This transaction is the refinance of an existing loan.

“Great borrower and a great property,” Blake said. “This transaction is a perfect fit for the Freddie Mac CME program.”

on the industrial side, Southwest Solutions leased 5,956 square feet of space in Lenexa, Kansas. Brian Bock, Gene Elsas, Kenneth Block and Ryan O’Rourke of Block Real Estate Services handled the transaction. Also, Rockhurst University Continuing Education leased 11,997 square feet in Lenexa. Michael Block and Kenneth Block of Block Real Estate Services closed the deal.

On the retail end, Bread for All recently leased 1,757 square feet in Kansas City, Mo. Donald Gessen and Kimberly lBartalos of Block handled the transaction. Bio-Medical Apps of KS also leased 5,879 square feet in Topeka. Stephen Block and Bartalos handled this deal.

Express Auto Services & Tire leased 6,307 square feet in Belton, Mo. Dick Hamill of Block Real Estate Services, in cooperation with Larry Gaines of Block & Company, handled this deal.

Copaken Brooks will help Aspen Square with city approvals and site design on the project, a 96-acre mixed-used development featuring a completed two-level parking structure and first-phase shops totaling 197,503 square feet of buildings now under construction. The mixed-use development is anchored by Von Maur, JCPenney and Lifetime Fitness, all of which are open and operating.

Aspen Square took ownership of the project on Nov. 29.

These new assignments are a significant addition to CBRE’s existing Invesco management portfolio, which consist of four industrial buildings in Lackman Business Park in Lenexa.  CBRE will now be responsible for managing more than 740,000 square feet of industrial and retail property for Invesco in the Kansas City region.

Brad Ashley, senior real estate manager for CBRE, is responsible for the Invesco industrial portfolio.

Kelly Masten will be joining CBRE as a senior real estate manager, and will head CBRE’s Hawthorne management team.

The 3,175-square-foot free-standing restaurant opened Nov. 21 in the 850,000-square-foot retail center.

Also in late November, Logan’s Roadhouse broke ground on 1.4 acres of land at the Plaza at the Speedway. The new restaurant will be located just west of an existing Chick-fil-A, and is scheduled to open in the summer of 2012.

Peter E. Kepic and Peter J. Kepic of Collers International represented ThyssenKrupp in the transaction.

TyssenKrupp, based in Germany, is one of the world’s largesdt producers of steel. It also provides materials for the automotive, elavator, escalator and industrial services businesses.

Financing was based on a flexible term and a 30-year amortization schedule, and was arranged for the borrower, Boardwalk Apartments L.C., by NorthMarq through its relationship with the Bank of Kansas City.

Celebrating the near completion of the museum, the Grand Lodge of Kansas Masons will parade to the site for placement of the cornerstone on the building. The ceremony will include comments from Manhattan Mayor James Sherow and Wildlife, Parks and Tourism State Secretary Robin Jennison. The Northview Elementary singers will also perform “Home on the Range,” and a procession will follow the event.

The new Kansas landmark museum will showcase and inspire people to explore and care for the Flint Hills, a historic band of hills in eastern Kansas created about 250 million years ago. The $18.5 million construction project began in July of last year. The museum will open to the public in April of 2012.

Located in Manhattan’s new South End Downtown Redevelopment, the 34,900-square-foot center, built by Kansas City-based McCownGordon Construction, includes a lobby, museum store, core exhibit areas, flexible temporary exhibit areas, an immersive theater, community rooms, exhibit support areas and an outdoor park.

“This dynamic facility is another successful stride toward the redevelopment of downtown Manhattan,” said Ramin Cherafat, vice president for McCownGordon Construction. “We are proud to continue the successful partnership we have established with the City and the Flint Hills Discovery Center, helping to offer the community and regional visitors an iconic museum celebrating history.”

With the purchase of Shawnee Lakes, Orozco Capital Trust now owns four multi-family complexes in Topeka, including Kensington Plaza, Trianon Apartments and Brentwood Apartments.

Shawnee Lakes’ occupancy was at 95 percent at the time of closing.  The complex includes eight residential buildings and one leasing office, totaling 97,975 square feet, and sits on 9.08 acres.  It was built in 1994 with two remodels in 2004 and 2005.  Amenities include laundry facilities, walk-in closets, a basketball court, private balconies and more.

Jeff Englert and Nathan Farha of Grubb & Ellis|Martens Commercial Group in Wichita represented the sellers.