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. …
BURLINGTON, N.J. — Liberty Property Trust has broken ground on a 441,380-square-foot industrial facility in Burlington. Located at 160-180 Dulty’s Lane, the project will feature 36-foot clear heights, 54-foot by 55-foot column spacing, 88 dock doors, space for 105 trailers and 330 parking spaces. The facility, which Dishner Architects is designing, is slated for completion in the first quarter of 2019. The general contractor is Blue Rock Construction.
NEWARK, N.J. — HFF has negotiated the $8.2 million sale of a 4.5-acre land parcel in Newark. The property is located at 120 Frontage Road and is adjacent to Newark Liberty International Airport. HFF represented the undisclosed seller in the transaction. The buyer plans to construct an 80,000-square-foot industrial building on the site. The site is also located near Port Newark-Elizabeth, one of the largest containerized deep-water shipping terminals on the East Coast.
HILSIDE, N.J. — Bank OZK has provided a $15.6 million construction loan for Hillside CubeSmart, a 1,203-unit self-storage facility in Hillside. HFF represented the borrower, Quinlan Development Group, in the transaction. Terms of the financing were not disclosed. CubeSmart, one of the nation’s largest operators of self-storage facilities, will manage the property. The property is located at 591 North Union Ave.
MONTVALE, N.J. — NAI James E. Hanson has negotiated the sale of a 14,000-square-foot office building in Montvale. The price was not disclosed. Located at 50 Craig Road, an undisclosed buyer acquired the 3.8-acre property and plans to convert the office building into a medical diagnostic center. NAI James E. Hanson represented the seller, Premier Associates LLC, in the transaction.
IRVINGTON, N.J. — Progress Capital has arranged a $4.4 million refinancing for the Irvington Medical Office in Irvington. Located at 40 and 50 Union Ave., the property consists of two buildings. 40 Union Ave. is a four-story, 19,982-square-foot medical office building built in 1962. The adjacent building, 50 Union Ave., is an eight-story, 50,638-square-foot building built in 1969. The property is currently subject to a ground lease. Kathy Anderson of Progress Capital secured the financing on behalf of the undisclosed borrower, who will use $1.5 million of the proceeds to acquire the land at 50 Union Ave. The five-year, fixed-rate loan includes a 4.5 percent interest rate and a 10-year term with a 25-year amortization. The lender was undisclosed.
RIDGEWOOD AND MONTCLAIR, N.J. — Evans Senior Investments (ESI) has arranged the sale of a two-property skilled nursing portfolio in New Jersey for $31.5 million. Totaling 161 beds, the two Van Dyk Health Care facilities are located in Ridgewood and Montclair, approximately 15 miles apart from each other and just west of Manhattan. ESI represented the seller, an independent owner-operator, in the transaction. The buyer was a New York-based private equity group, and a New Jersey-based operator will manage both communities.
EATONTOWN, N.J. — HFF has secured an $8.8 million refinancing for a 79,258-square-foot office building in Eatontown. Located at 4 Industrial Way W., the three-story property is 98 percent leased to nine tenants in a variety of industries ranging from technology to medical practice. The tenant roster includes Wayside Technology Group Inc., Clinilabs Inc., Polaris Alpha and The Memory Enhancement Center of America. HFF represented the borrower, The Donato Group, which originally developed the property in 1988. The lender was First Bank.
PAULSBORO, N.J. — Marcus & Millichap has brokered the sale of a 4,854-square-foot retail property occupied by Wawa in Paulsboro. The property, which is located at 51 Berkley Road, sold for $3.5 million at a 4.69 percent capitalization rate. Derrick Dougherty and Scott Woodard of Marcus & Millichap represented the buyer, a limited liability company, in the transaction. The seller was undisclosed.
CINNAMINSON, N.J. — NorthMarq Capital has secured a $38 million refinancing for Camelot at Cinnaminson, a 405-unit multifamily community in Cinnaminson. The property is located at 198 Camelot Court. NorthMarq arranged the financing for the borrower, Kaplan Cos. The lender was a life insurance company. The permanent, fixed-rate loan was structured with a fully amortizing, 30-year term.