SAVANNAH, GA. — Safavieh, a New-York based manufacturer and distributor of international home furnishings, will invest $60 million to develop a 1.1 million-square-foot fulfillment center at the Savannah River International Trade Park in Savannah. Bob Robers of Cushman & Wakefield represented Safavieh in the acquisition and development of the site, and Bradley Migdal and Carol Henderson of Cushman & Wakefield secured financing for the project. Safavieh currently operates more than 500,000 square feet of warehouse space in Savannah. The new facility will triple the company’s presence in the area and is expected to create 200 jobs upon completion in late 2018.
COWETA COUNTY, GA. — Core5 Industrial Partners has unveiled plans for Southwest 85 Logistics Center, a 1.1 million-square-foot industrial development situated off Exit 51 along Interstate 85 in Coweta County, roughly 35 miles southwest of Atlanta. Slated for delivery in the second quarter of 2018, the building will feature 40-foot clear-heights, trailer parking for more than 520 trailers and expansion opportunities up to 1.3 million square feet. The announcement for Southwest 85 comes on the heels of Core5’s sale of Shugart Farms facility to TA Realty in June.
Halfway through a year of transition, the self-storage sector continues to undergo changing investor dynamics while feeling the effects of political uncertainty in Washington. Yet opportunities abound, particularly in the Midwest, where a moderate development pipeline has kept supply in check with demand. We’re currently witnessing a pool of buyers rethink their approach amid rising interest rates and a lack of tax and policy guidance. As a result, large self-storage real estate investment trusts have tempered growth expectations as development activity puts upward pressure on vacancy, and rent growth moderates. This may present an opening for small to midsize buyers to enter the market or expand their existing portfolios. Meanwhile, sellers are looking to capitalize on elevated valuations. Yet, the climate of higher interest rates will likely bring lower cash-on-cash returns and put upward pressure on cap rates. Favorable fundamentals Nationwide, self-storage is currently downshifting to a more sustainable growth trajectory after years of rampant expansion. Newly employed millennials are finally moving out on their own, spurring household formation. Baby boomers are also leaving the family nest as they look to downsize. These societal shifts, along with the current economic landscape, are driving a demand for space and keeping vacancy …
ROCKVILLE, MD. — Finmarc Management Inc. has acquired a four-building warehouse portfolio in Rockville, roughly 17 miles north of Washington, D.C., for $8.6 million. Located at 627, 649 and 655 N. Horners Lane and 202 Mason Drive, the portfolio comprises 123,000 square feet. Jay Clogg of Jay Clogg Realty Group Inc. represented the undisclosed seller in the transaction and will handle the property’s leasing assignment. At the time of sale, the portfolio, known as the EU Services Buildings, was fully leased to Envelopes Unlimited, an envelope printing company. The buildings feature ceiling heights ranging from 14 to 24 feet, multiple loading docks, drive-in doors and a 120-space free-surface parking lot.
NORTHLAKE, TEXAS — JLL has negotiated a 349,425-square-foot industrial lease at Northport 35 Business Center, a Class A industrial park located at 4250 Dale Earnhardt Way in the Fort Worth metro of Northlake. Elizabeth Jones of JLL represented the tenant, Allen Distribution, a food and beverage services firm. Cannon Green, Bob Hagewood and Forrest Cook of Stream Realty Partners represented the landlord, New York-based Clarion Partners.
MCKINNEY, TEXAS — Hunt Southwest will develop a 400,000-square-foot industrial facility in McKinney. The property, which will be built entirely on a speculative basis, will be located near U.S. Highway 380 and be branded University Business Park, according to The Dallas Morning News. A timetable for construction has not yet been established.
BARTLETT, ILL. — Ridge, the industrial development arm of Transwestern Development Co., has broken ground on a 186,000-square-foot industrial spec development in Bartlett’s Brewster Creek Business Park. The project, called Ridge Brewster Creek II, is slated for delivery in December. Ridge previously developed Ridge Brewster Creek I, a 271,000-square-foot building that is 50 percent leased to Winhere Brake Parts. Located at 1331-1337 Schiferl Road, Ridge Brewster Creek II will feature 32-foot clear heights, an ESFR sprinkler system, 35 dock doors, two drive-in doors and 224 car parking spaces. Triumph Construction Services Corp. is the general contractor. Harris Architects Inc. is providing architectural services, while Eriksson Engineering Associate Ltd. is performing civil engineering work. Newmark Knight Frank will oversee leasing at the property.
MAHWAH, N.J. — The Sitex Group is developing a 271,195-square-foot speculative industrial building located at One Sharp Plaza in Mahwah. Situated on 20.7 acres, the warehouse will feature 36-foot clear ceiling heights, 36 dock doors, ESFR sprinklers, two drive-in doors and parking for 25 trailers and 184 cars. Completion is slated for the end of first quarter 2018. The Sitex Group has retained Kenneth Lundberg and Patrick Lennon of NAI James E. Hanson to broker the lease of the facility.
INDIANAPOLIS — Plymouth Industrial REIT Inc. (NYSE: PLYM) has acquired two Class B industrial properties in Indianapolis for $16.9 million. Located in Shadeland I-70 Business Park near I-70 and I-495, the portfolio consists of a 562,497-square-foot building and a 44,374-square-foot building. The properties are 94 percent leased to five tenants including Pratt Visual Solutions and MicroMetl. Boston-based Plymouth currently owns and manages 20 properties spanning approximately 5 million square feet of space in six states.
AUSTIN, TEXAS — Equitable Commercial Realty (ECR) has negotiated a 25,505-square-foot industrial lease at 5910 Techni Center Drive in Austin. Ryan Wilson and Matt Fain of ECR represented the undisclosed landlord in the lease negotiations. Davis Bass of HPI represented the tenant, Kasita Operations LLC, a producer of tiny, prefabricated homes.