E-commerce and the growth of the digital age have become important factors in the tightening industrial real estate market. With single-digit vacancy rates becoming the norm in nearly all of the Greater Boston submarkets, existing product cannot supply the space necessary to meet current market demand. Consumers’ shopping attitudes have changed, and retailers are having to adjust their strategies to meet their needs. In 2016, the Greater Boston industrial market recorded vacancies averaging 6.8 percent, the lowest in more than 15 years. The thriving e-commerce industry has been a large factor in the spike in demand. Last year, major e-commerce tenants like Amazon, FedEx and Wayfair expanded their presence in the Boston market with new leases on distribution centers, pushing 2016 absorption to almost 6 million square feet, an all-time record. Retailers are now looking to expand their coverage with multiple warehousing locations, pushing for facilities proximate to their specified consumer base. Instead of having one regional warehouse/distribution center, retail giants have zeroed in on infill submarkets surrounding cities to locate multiple warehouses close to the population center. Just last year, Amazon leased a 96,600-square-foot warehouse in Everett, minutes from Downtown Boston, which would become a base for grocery and …
PORTLAND, ORE. — Staples has leased 263,413 square feet of industrial space at Interstate Crossroads Distribution Center (ICDC) in Portland. The center is situated in the Portland’s Airport Way industrial submarket at 16441 N.E. Cameron Blvd. Interstate Crossroads LLC (a partnership between Specht affiliates and Pacific Coast Capital Partners LLC) developed the warehouse and distribution center in 2015. Specht Properties manages the asset. Staples will use the facility for the warehousing and distribution of consumer goods. Paul Breuer and Jerry Matson of the Portland office of Colliers International represented ICDC.
DENVER — Pet Scoop has leased a 10,000-square-foot of industrial space in Denver. The space is located at 1260 West Byers Place. Pet Scoop is the largest private dog waste contractor in the state. Nick Schill of Pinnacle Real Estate Advisors represented Pet Scoop in this transaction.
HOUSTON, TEXAS — NAI Partners has brokered the lease renewal of a 43,298-square-foot industrial warehouse located at 4310 Campbell Road in Houston. John Ferruzzo and Chris Kugle of NAI Partners represented the tenant, Mascorp Ltd., and Steve Hazel of Insite Realty represented the landlord, Cabot, in the leasing transaction.
NORCROSS, GA. — Berkeley Partners has received a $22.5 million loan for the refinancing of a five-property, 20-building industrial portfolio in Norcross. Totaling 605,274 square feet, the portfolio comprises six buildings in Gwinnett Gateway (1710 Wilwat Drive); three buildings in Gateway Business Park I (6500 McDonough Drive); five buildings in Gateway Business Park II (6000 Dawson Blvd.); and five buildings in Atlantic Business Center (6400 Atlantic Blvd.), all of which are located in Norcross in the Northeast Atlanta industrial submarket. Additionally, the portfolio includes the one-building Five Points Business Center (1600 Roswell St. Southeast), which is located in the Northwest Atlanta industrial submarket. The properties are leased to 150 tenants. HFF arranged the five-year loan with a regional bank. Jeff Sause, Kevin Mackenzie and Gregg Shapiro of HFF represented Berkeley Partners in the loan transaction.
BOCA RATON, FLA. — Berger Commercial Realty/CORFAC International has arranged a 53,139-square-foot industrial lease for a pharmaceutical logistics company in Boca Raton. WDSrx-Woodfield Distribution LLC will occupy the space at 6500 Park of Commerce Blvd. The 83,000-square-foot building offers 24-foot clear heights, dock loading areas and access to I-95. Exeter 6500-6500 Park of Commerce LLC owns the property. Michael Feuerman of Berger arranged the lease on behalf of WDSrx, which operates facilities in Boca Raton, Pompano Beach and Sugar Land, Texas. This will be the company’s second location in Boca Raton.
OLATHE, KAN. — Colliers International has brokered the sale of a 515,132-square-foot industrial building located at 16600 S. Theden St. in Olathe. John Stafford of Colliers brokered the transaction on behalf of the buyer, Himoinsa Power Systems Inc., while Mike Mitchelson of CBRE represented the seller, Lone Elm 515 LLC. The sales price was not disclosed.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLA. — CBRE has secured an 11,043-square-foot lease on behalf of the Central Oklahoma Humane Society at an industrial property located at 5228 Classen Circle in Oklahoma City. Caitlin Mazaheri, Jason Hammock and John Lenochan of CBRE represented the tenant in the transaction. Derek James of Price Edwards & Co. represented the landlord, Classen West Properties LLC.
TRAVERSE CITY, MICH. — Colliers International has arranged an 18.3-acre ground lease for Costco near Cherry Capital Airport in Traverse City. Costco will build a new wholesale warehouse at the site. The size of the building was not disclosed, but the Traverse City Record Eagle reports the size at 156,000 square feet. Max Goldman of Colliers represented Costco in the lease of the property from Northwestern Regional Airport Commission. Construction will commence immediately with the opening planned for the fourth quarter of this year.
TROY, MICH. — Signature Associates has negotiated the sale of an 88,886-square-foot industrial building located at 1600-1630 E. Big Beaver Road in Troy. Paul Hoge and John Boyd of Signature Associates represented the seller, Iron Point Troy Industrial LLC. Boyd also represented the buyer, DB1600 LLC.