WAYCROSS, GA. AND PARAGOULD, ARK. — North Avenue Capital has closed two acquisition loans totaling $16.8 million for properties in Georgia and Arkansas. USDA Rural Development Business & Industry funded the loans on behalf of the undisclosed borrowers. In Waycross, North Avenue arranged $7.3 million in financing for the acquisition of a 51,548-square-foot mixed-use center. Enhanced Resource Corp., a business management operation, anchors the property. Other tenants include Surchero’s Fresh Grill, AppleCare, Bone & Joint Institute and Southeastern Credit Union. In Paragould, North Avenue arranged a $9.3 million acquisition loan for a 579,015-square-foot, single-tenant industrial facility. Arkansas-based LA Darling occupies the property, which it has leased for more than 50 years. LA Darling, a Berkshire Hathaway subsidiary, is a retail merchandising solutions firm that builds out physical displays and fixtures for chains such as Walmart and Best Buy.
HOUSTON — Dallas-based Crow Holdings Industrial has purchased 45 acres in north Houston for the development of Layne Crossing, a 530,000-square-foot industrial project that will encompass six buildings ranging in size from 56,400 to 174,000 square feet. Building features will include 24- to 32-foot clear heights, large truck courts and ample trailer storage. The groundbreaking of Layne Crossing is scheduled for January and delivery is slated for the fourth quarter of 2019. Richard Quarles and Bubba Harkins of JLL represented the seller of the land, Dallas-based Sarofim Realty Advisors. Cory Driskill and Travis Covington represented Crow Holdings Industrial internally.
HOUSTON — Strategic Storage Trust IV, a self-storage REIT sponsored by SmartStop Asset Management LLC, has acquired a portfolio of six properties totaling approximately 3,600 units and recreation vehicle spaces in the greater Houston area. The properties were built between 2002 and 2007 and offer a total of roughly 483,000 net rentable square feet. Nick Walker, John Fenoglio and Trevor Roberts of CBRE represented the seller, Metro Mini Storage, in the transaction.
FORT WORTH, TEXAS — Hillwood has broken ground on a 75,000-square-foot hangar facility at Fort Worth Alliance Airport for aviation defense firm Airborne Tactical Advantage Co. (ATAC). The facility will support pilot training and professional development in addition to aircraft maintenance. The project is expected to be complete by summer 2019 and could employ as many as 200 personnel.
DOWNERS GROVE, ILL. — Green Bay Packaging (GBP) has broken ground on a new 170,000-square-foot industrial complex in Downers Grove. The building will house a high-tech design department and enable the packaging company to expand warehouse capabilities. A timeline for construction was not disclosed. The Green Bay, Wis.-based company has manufacturing facilities in 14 states.
CHICAGO — Concept Laboratories Inc. has signed a 119,388-square-foot industrial lease at 4920 S. Central Ave. in Chicago. The designer and manufacturer of personal care and household products will relocate from 83,091 square feet at 4404 W. Ann Lurie Place when the lease commences in February 2019. The property on Central Avenue spans 461,750 square feet and includes 20 exterior docks, 12 interior docks and direct access to I-55. Mike Senner and Ned Frank of Colliers International represented the tenant in the lease transaction. Matt Mulvihill, Mitch Adams and Cal Payne of CBRE represented the landlord, Combined Warehouse Co.
MCHENRY, ILL. — Entre Commercial Realty LLC has arranged the sale of a 65,000-square-foot flex office building in McHenry for an undisclosed price. The property is located at 1391 Corporate Drive. Mike DeSerto and Dan Jones of Entre represented the undisclosed seller. The buyer, Papazyan Capital Group, plans to utilize a portion of the building for its own use while subdividing and leasing up other portions as small as 3,000 square feet.
RONKONKOMA, N.Y. — Newmark Knight Frank has brokered the sale of 16 Colt Court, a 12,000-square-foot industrial facility in Ronkonkoma. The sales price was undisclosed. Daniel Gazzola, Chuck Tabone and Keith Kito of NKF represented the seller, Colt Properties LLC, in the transaction. The buyer was 16 Colt Realty LLC. The property was formerly occupied by Link Control Systems Inc., a manufacturer of control devices for a range of complex and large mechanical devices for drawbridges.
GREENVILLE, TEXAS — JLL has negotiated a 130,816-square-foot industrial lease at 1001 Ed Rutherford Drive in Greenville, a city located about 50 miles northeast of Dallas. Chris Stout and Craig Phelps of JLL represented the tenant, Pennsylvania-based Chelsea Building Products, and the undisclosed landlord in the lease negotiations. The property, which previously housed a plastic injection molding company, will be Chelsea’s second production facility in the U.S.
The industrial sector continues to experience seemingly limitless success, and New Jersey is one of the nation’s leading markets. Amid record-setting asking rents, vacancy rates and leasing velocity, it would be tempting for property owners, tenants and investors to become complacent while reaping the rewards of a sophisticated global supply chain, impressive gross domestic product and strong investment returns. But challenges remain, and real estate professionals should consider them when making decisions. To continue to thrive in the industrial space, it behooves major players to explore solutions to some of the key matters facing the region. Limited Space for Development As a general rule, companies are insisting that warehouses be built within a one- or two-day drive of the customer, and from Central New Jersey, companies can reach 130 million consumers within a day’s drive. Therefore, it is no surprise that 75 percent of the industrial leases signed during the past two years for greater than 200,000 square feet occurred in Middlesex County, primarily along the New Jersey Turnpike. However, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to find sites for construction. On top of that, when sites are identified, they often come with greater capital needs driven by redevelopment and brownfield issues. …