The Bend
Hilco Real Estate Capital (HREC) closed on a $47.5 million loan for The Bend, a 103.3-acre mixed-use master development in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Located adjacent to downtown and spanning more than 3,000 linear feet of developable riverfront, The Bend represents one of the region’s most ambitious long-term redevelopment projects.
The purpose of the financing was to recapitalize the property through the refinancing of existing debt and the buyout of a majority equity partner. The transaction provided the sponsor with both control and flexibility to continue advancing the master development plan for the site.
The loan is secured by a first lien on a 45.2-acre developable portion of the overall property, consisting of 23 future development blocks planned for multifamily, retail, commercial, office, hotel, entertainment, marina, and specialty-use components. Repayment is expected through net sales proceeds from individual parcel dispositions and future equity contributions into the project.
The sponsor required a strategic recapitalization solution to facilitate the buyout of an existing majority equity partner while simultaneously refinancing existing debt obligations. Given the scale, complexity, and long-term nature of the master-planned development, the transaction required a lender capable of quickly understanding the asset, underwriting future value, and structuring a flexible financing solution aligned with the project’s phased development strategy.
Additionally, the sponsor needed a capital partner that could execute efficiently and provide certainty during a sensitive ownership transition process.
Hilco Real Estate Capital structured and closed a $47.5 million financing solution tailored to the complexities of The Bend’s large-scale mixed-use redevelopment plan.
HREC’s team rapidly assessed the asset, evaluated the development potential of the riverfront site, and underwrote the collateral value across the planned development blocks. The financing refinanced existing debt while enabling the sponsor to complete the partner buyout and gain operational control of the project.
The loan structure was designed to provide flexibility throughout the development lifecycle, with repayment tied to future parcel sale proceeds and additional equity contributions. By delivering a strategic and executable capital solution, HREC positioned the sponsor to advance the long-term vision for one of Chattanooga’s most transformative waterfront developments.
