Tuesday, March 26, 2024

Zoned Properties Inc. (ZDPY) Seeks to Bridge the Real Estate Shortage for the U.S. Cannabis Retail Operators

 

  • Many Landlords across the United States currently face several obstacles in leasing commercial properties to cannabis-focused tenants, on the basis of ongoing federal restrictions that impact real estate factors such as insurance, financing, and permitting
  • Zoned Properties has sought to bridge this supply gap, with a portfolio of investment properties seeking to address the needs of the regulated cannabis industry
  • The company has recently announced plans to refocus its investment portfolio towards direct-to-consumer retail properties, simultaneously revealing their intentions to market one of their cultivation-oriented sites for sale
  • Zoned Properties recently revealed that 3Q2023 revenues had risen by 17.2% YoY, whilst guiding for estimated full year rental revenues of $2.5 million over the course of 2024

In 2021, New York state officially legalized the usage of marijuana for recreational purposes; nevertheless, and nearly three years on from the landmark decision, cannabis supply for retail consumers remains painfully constrained. In April 2023, plans to build out a recreational cannabis dispensary in Harlem’s 125th street was thwarted by a lawsuit filed by a prominent Harlem business group, alleging that the planned dispensary would contribute to social issues in the neighborhood (https://ibn.fm/cB54T).

Despite cannabis being legal in 38 of 50 states for medical use and 24 states for recreational use, cannabis linked businesses are still faced with significant obstacles when looking to secure commercial properties for the cultivation or sale of marijuana-based products. With cannabis still illegal under federal law, commercial landlords seeking to rent out a mortgaged property face the risk of being called on a loan if a property is used for ‘illegal activity’; similarly, landlords open to leasing to cannabis tenants could face constraints in the form of city-specific zoning rules (https://ibn.fm/4XEBB). It is this unique conundrum which Zoned Properties (OTCQB: ZDPY), a technology-driven property investment company focused on acquiring value-add real estate within the regulated cannabis industry in the United States, is seeking to address.

The United States’ cannabis industry is expected to benefit from a remarkable 13.93% CAGR from 2024 to 2028, resulting in an annual market size of $67.15 billion by the end of 2028. With a decade of national experience and a team of experts devoted to the emerging cannabis industry, Zoned Properties is seeking to capitalize on the industry’s burgeoning future by targeting commercial properties which have the potential to be acquired and rezoned or permitted for specific purposes, including the regulated and legalized cannabis industry. Separately and in addition to its core real estate development business, the company has sought to leverage upon their considerable commercial real estate expertise within their brokerage business in recent years; since 2021, Zoned Properties Brokerage has closed upwards of $80 million in commercial real estate deals nationally for clients.

Zoned Properties maintains a portfolio of six investment properties located across Arizona, Michigan and Illinois; with each of its leased properties occupied by commercial cannabis-linked businesses. The company currently enjoys a 100% occupancy rate with a weighted average lease term of over 10 years. In addition to maintaining four properties leased and repurposed as regulated cannabis retail dispensaries, the company leases two properties which are operated as regulated cannabis cultivation and processing facilities. Nonetheless, the company has recently sought to refocus its investment portfolio towards direct-to-consumer properties located in states boasting both, a regulated and legal domestic cannabis industry and robust underlying cannabis consumer demand; in doing so, Zoned Properties has announced that it now considers its cultivation sites as legacy properties, reserving the optionality to potentially sell or leverage these holdings to unlock equity to be deployed towards its core business.

Considering its reaffirmed commercial priorities, Zoned Properties recently revealed that the company has listed its cultivation property located in Chino Hills, Arizona for sale at a purchase price of $16 million. A valuable yet non-core asset within the company’s portfolio, the sale of the Chino Valley property could help further streamline Zoned Properties’ portfolio and help recalibrate its real estate offering towards more direct-to-consumer focused properties (https://ibn.fm/WWgDm).

“As part of our ongoing strategic review to enhance shareholder value, we are very pleased to announce our intention to sell our Chino Valley Property. The Chino Valley Property, which we now consider a non-core asset to our investment strategy, represents a significant capital reallocation opportunity for Zoned Properties. We expect that, if and when the Chino Valley Property is sold, the non-dilutive proceeds from the sale would be instrumental in supporting the company’s future real estate portfolio acquisition plans,” commented Bryan McLaren, Chief Executive Officer of Zoned Properties.

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.ZonedProperties.com.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to ZDPY are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/ZDPY

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