EAST BRUNSWICK, N.J. — Pennsylvania-based self-storage REIT CubeSmart has opened a 1,100-unit facility in the Northern New Jersey city of East Brunswick. New Jersey-based TFE Properties developed the facility, which spans more than 130,000 square feet of net rentable space. The facility is located along State Route 18 at the site of a former Kmart and is situated within TFE’s Junction Pointe retail project.
Development
HARTWELL, GA. — Nestlé Purina PetCare Co. has unveiled plans to invest $550 million to expand its pet food manufacturing facility in Hartwell, located in Northeast Georgia. The expansion, which is expected to create up to 130 jobs, comes just one year after the factory opened in November 2019. By expanding the facility, Purina will add more processing, packaging and warehousing capacity. The expansion is also part of a broader growth plan for Purina, which includes new factories recently announced in Williamsburg Township, Ohio, and Eden, N.C. Purina brands feed 49 million dogs and 66 million cats each year, according to the company. The Hartwell location produces several of the company’s flagship brands, including Fancy Feast. When Purina first announced plans for the Hartwell facility in 2017, it committed to investing $320 million and employing 240 people. Purina will now combine $320 million of refinanced bonds to a new $550 million investment, according to local paper The Hartwell Sun. Purina now expects to employ up to 370 people by the end of 2025, and the new jobs in Hartwell will include positions in manufacturing and assembly. Purina expects to complete construction of the expansion by the end of 2021. Currently, …
First Industrial Realty Breaks Ground on 2.5 MSF Industrial Park in Miami-Dade County
by Alex Tostado
MEDLEY, FLA. — First Industrial Realty Trust has broken ground on First Park Miami, a 2.5 million-square-foot industrial campus in Medley. Phase I will comprise three buildings totaling 600,000 square feet. The facilities will feature 32- to 36-foot clear heights, ESFR sprinkler systems and 120- to 180-foot truck courts. Phase I is expected to be delivered in third-quarter 2021. Butters Construction & Development is the general contractor, while RLC Architects is the designer. At full buildout, First Park Miami will comprise 13 buildings spanning 2.5 million square feet. The property is situated on 126 acres along NW 87th Avenue between NW 80th and 90th streets, nine miles north of Miami International Airport and 14 miles northwest of PortMiami.
RESTON, VA. AND KENSINGTON, MD. — Arcland Property Co. has opened two self-storage facilities totaling 2,414 units. The first property is located at 1808 Michael Faraday Court in Reston. The four-story building is situated 20 miles west of downtown Washington, D.C. The property offers 1,100 climate-controlled and drive-up units. According to property manager Self Storage Plus, rents at the facility range from $31 to $443 per month. The second property is located at 4900 Nicholson Court in Kensington, 12 miles north of downtown D.C. The asset offers 68 drive-up and 1,246 climate-controlled units. Rents at the location range from $28 to $434 per month. Self Storage Plus will manage both properties, marking the Washington, D.C.-based company’s 44th and 45th managed facilities.
OKLAHOMA CITY — Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) will open a 1 million-square-foot fulfillment center in Oklahoma City in a move that is expected to create about 500 new full-time jobs. The developer and location of the facility, which is expected to open some time in 2021, were not disclosed. Since 2010, Amazon has created more than 4,000 jobs in Oklahoma and invested more than $650 million across the state, including infrastructure and compensation to its employees. The company also recently announced plans to open new facilities in metro Houston and Waco.
SAN ANGELO, TEXAS — Burlington will open a new store at the site of a former Hastings Entertainment location in San Angelo, located in the western-central part of the state. Dallas-based N3 Real Estate is developing and leasing the property on which the new store will be situated. Construction is underway, and the opening is scheduled for spring 2021. The square footage was not disclosed. Hastings Entertainment was a retail chain that sold books, movies, music and video games and also functioned as a video rental shop. The company ceased operations in 2016.
KANSAS CITY, MO. — Milhaus and Ryan Cos. have begun development of a $34.6 million apartment project in Kansas City. The 263-unit project is within the larger mixed-use development known as The Glade. Amenities will include a dog park, clubhouse, fitness center, pool and walking trail. The apartment property will offer studios, one-, two- and three-bedroom units priced from $1,100 per month. Milhaus and Ryan are co-developers while Ryan is also serving as general contractor. Other project partners include Davidson Architecture & Engineering, Helix, Taliaferro & Browne Inc., Landworks Studio, Apex Engineers Inc. and Lankford/Fender + Associates. A timeline for completion was not disclosed.
PORTAGE, MICH. — Meridian Design Build has completed construction of a 320,988-square-foot package sortation and distribution center in Portage within Southwest Michigan. Scannell Properties was the developer. The facility is a build-to-suit for an undisclosed provider of global shipping and information services. The building sits on 37.4 acres at 6701 Portage Road. The facility features 87 loading docks, eight drive-in doors and 10,441 square feet of office space. Precept LLC provided both architectural and structural design services while Paradigm Design handled the civil engineering work.
BOSTON — Skanska, an international developer based in Sweden, has paid $177 million to acquire land in Boston’s Back Bay neighborhood for the development of a 27-story office building. The building will be located at 380 Stuart St. and will also house street-level retail space and a below-ground parking deck. The seller of the land was John Hancock Life Insurance Co. A construction timeline was not disclosed.
MBK Rental Living Completes 330-Unit Artesa at Menifee Town Center Apartments in California
by Amy Works
MENIFEE, CALIF. — MBK Rental Living, with R.D. Olson Construction as general contractor, has completed the development of Artesa at Menifee Town Center, a multifamily property located at 30414 Town Center Drive in the heart of a master-planned community in Menifee. The community was delivered in 10 phases and consists of 37 residential buildings, two clubhouses and a variety of amenities. The property features 330 units in a mix of one, two- and three-bedroom layouts, with a total of eight floor plans ranging from 820 square feet to 1,322 square feet. Units offer quartz countertops, smart thermostats, gourmet kitchens with prep islands, custom cabinetry, covered patios, wood-style flooring, in-home washers/dryers and stainless steel appliances. Additionally, all units have access to a private garage and select units have vaulted ceilings and direct garage access. Community amenities include a resort-style pool and spa, barbecue area, dog park, package lockers, Wi-Fi in common areas, a playground, large clubhouse with a full kitchen and sports television wall, and a mix of outdoor community spaces. The project team also included SummA Architecture, Gouvis Engineering, Alliance Land Planning and Sitescapes.