By Bill Condon, Executive Vice President, Colliers The most significant impact to Seattle’s industrial market this year comes from outside the market. Inflation resulting in raised interest rates has stymied sale activity but done little to slow leasing activity. Tenant demand has remained high, particularly among third-party logistics (3PL), ecommerce and aerospace companies. Logistics remains the main driver for activity and development in submarkets from Tacoma south. This year alone, Holman Distribution leased 353,000 square feet in Frederickson and Maersk leased 246,000 square feet in Lakewood. Both of these cities only had sporadic activity prior to 2020. For 3PL companies, the south Puget Sound/Tacoma area is attractive due to its proximity to the Port of Tacoma and the desirable labor pool in Pierce County. Closer to Seattle, Blue Origin leased 172,000 square feet in Kent, furthering the legacy of aerospace activity in Puget Sound. The rapid rise in interest rates has created a difference in expectations between sellers and buyers, whose interest rates have nearly doubled since the start of this year. This disconnect between the seller’s value and buyer’s ability to purchase is likely to delay transactions until there’s more stability in capital markets nationally. While tenant demand remains robust, there …
