Loblaw Cos. Ltd., Canada’s largest food retailer, reported a 40-per-cent increase in first-quarter profit and said it plans to compete the initial public offering of its real estate investment trust (REIT) in early to mid-July.

The company, majority-owned by George Weston Ltd., also raised its quarterly dividend by 9 per cent to 24 cents per share. This was the second time in six months that the company raised its dividend.

Loblaw, which also sells clothing, footwear and drugs, reiterated its outlook for 2013 despite increasing competition.

U.S. discount retailer Target Corp. opened its first three Canadian stores in March and plans to have more than 100 by the end of this year.

Read more: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/loblaws-7-billion-reit-offering-planned-for-july/article11649029/

We have sold 425 Twelfth Street in New Westminster. The building is a 34-unit strata titled apartment building that was offered to the market last year. The purchase price was $5,875,000, or $173,000 per unit. We achieved a premium valuation for our client as a result of the buildings age (15 years) relative to the average age of an apartment building in New Westminster (almost 50 years). Contact us for further details.

Investors Group has sold 6651 Fraserwood Place in East Richmond in a deal worth $12,000,000. The building, approximately 15 years old, is a 2-storey office/flex building with a total of 91,450 SF. The building had been substantially vacant and for lease for some time.

DNV mulls Lower Capilano draft plan.

District of North Vancouver council appears poised to pass its Lower Capilano – Marine Village Centre Implementation Plan.

If approved next month, the plan will set the stage for the next 20 years of growth and a total redevelopment in the area between Marine Drive and Fullerton Avenue on either side of Capilano Road.

The plan envisions about 1,200 more units of housing in townhouses, mid-rise condos and highrises, 100,000 square feet of commercial space, as well as a public plaza, green space and a new community centre. At an informal workshop Monday, council members reflected on the draft and the two years of consultation that produced it.

“I’m very excited to see the draft at this stage because it has been informed by so much community engagement, right down to the kitchen table,” said Coun. Alan Nixon. “I feel really confident the temperature that has been taken within the community is 98.6 F and we’re in good shape. There are going to be a few tweaks but the most common comment I hear is ‘When can we get on with it?'”

The Seylynn Village project website has been launched: www.seylynn.ca . The 720 unit, 3-tower project is being built by Denna Homes and marketed by Pacesetter Marketing. It appears that each tower will comprise a separate phase.