The Birmingham industrial real estate market has remained relatively resilient compared to many U.S. markets, but recent trends show a shift in demand patterns with recent softness in the distribution sector compared to growing activity from manufacturing users. Overall market fundamentals remain stable. Birmingham continues to benefit from disciplined development and historically tight vacancies. Multi-tenant leased vacancy has generally remained well below national averages, hovering around the 5 percent range in the first half of 2025. Rent growth remains positive at about 3.5 percent annually. Renewing or vacant second-generation rents strategically lag new construction rents by about 15 to 20 percent. The second-generation base rent range is $6 to $7.50 per square foot depending on size, location and quality. Distribution and logistics demand has softened in recent months. Following the surge of warehouse construction and demand during the pandemic, leasing activity slowed by 2025. Approximately 1.3 million square feet of speculative space was delivered locally in 2022 and 2023, with asking rents at about $8 per square foot. The early deliveries benefited while the last projects to deliver were slower to lease as the economy stalled in the post-pandemic Biden era. Presently, 109,000 square feet of first-generation space delivered in …
GARLAND, TEXAS — New York City-based Dwight Capital has provided a $56 million HUD-insured construction loan for StoneHawk Rosehill, a 269-unit multifamily project in the northeastern Dallas suburb of Garland. The site spans more than seven acres, and the development will offer one- and two-bedroom units, 51 percent of which will be subject to income restrictions. Amenities will include a pool, clubhouse with fitness and business centers, an onsite leasing and management office and outdoor recreation areas, including a landscaped courtyard. Brandon Baksh and Brian Yee of Dwight originated the financing through HUD’s 221 (d)(4) program on behalf of the locally based sponsor, StoneHawk Capital Partners.
AUSTIN, TEXAS — A partnership between St. Louis-based developer Sansone Group and Principal Asset Management has broken ground on a 682,000-square-foot industrial project in Austin. The site is located 10 miles south of downtown Austin near the Tesla Gigafactory, and the project represents Phase II of a 134-acre development known as Austin Hills Commerce Center. Burton Construction is the general contractor for the Phase II, which will consist of a single building, and Stream Realty Partners has been appointed as the leasing agent. Phase I of Austin Hills Commerce Center comprised three buildings totaling 538,000 square feet. The development is ultimately planned to feature 1.3 million square feet across six buildings.
GRAND PRAIRIE, TEXAS — Bradford Commercial Real Estate Services has negotiated the sale of a 40,670-square-foot industrial building in Grand Prairie, located roughly midway between Dallas and Fort Worth. Situated on a 3.4-acre site at 1207 Farmers Road, the building was developed on a speculative basis in 2023 and features 16 dock doors, 24-foot clear heights and 100-foot truck court depths. Erik Blais of Bradford represented the the developer, Hamilton Commercial, in the all-cash transaction. The buyer was Dossun Truck Body Parts.
HOUSTON — BNY Mellon has signed a 26,849-square-foot office lease in downtown Houston. The bank is taking space at 811 Main, a 974,884-square-foot office building. Eric Anderson and John Heard of Transwestern represented the landlord, Atlanta-based Invesco Real Estate, in the lease negotiations. David Bale and Cody Little of JLL represented the tenant.
SECAUCUS, N.J. — CBRE has negotiated the $47.8 million sale of The Waverton, a 116-unit apartment complex in Secaucus, located across the Hudson River from New Jersey. Completed in 2022, The Waverton offers studio, one- and two-bedroom units, with roughly 20 percent of residences designated as affordable housing. Amenities include a fitness center with a private yoga studio, an outdoor lounge with grilling stations, sundeck, resident lounge with billiards and shuffleboard and a coworking and conference room. Jeffrey Dunne, Stuart MacKenzie, Eric Apfel and Travis Langer of CBRE represented the seller, a joint venture that included Canoe Brook Development as a minority partner, in the transaction. The buyer was not disclosed.
NEEDHAM, MASS. — A partnership between South Carolina-based owner-operator Greystar and the U.S. subsidiary of Japanese developer Haseko has broken ground on a 189-unit multifamily project in Needham, a southwestern suburb of Boston. The site at 100 West St. formerly housed an assisted living facility that has since been demolished, and the new apartment building will offer studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom units. Amenities will include a fitness center, library, lounge, package room with cold storage capabilities, a golf simulator, dog run, playground, community garden and two pocket parks. Completion is slated for fall 2027.
RANDOLPH, N.J. — Cushman & Wakefield has brokered the $4.5 million sale of a mixed-use development site in the Northern New Jersey community of Randolph. The site at 1192 Sussex Turnpike is approved for 25 townhomes, as well as a mixed-use building that will feature 4,055 square feet of retail space on the ground floor and 10 apartments on the second and third floors. Andrew Schwartz, Jordan Sobel, Andre Balthazard and Dan Bottiglieri of Cushman & Wakefield represented the seller, an entity doing business as Ludiro Inc., in the transaction and procured the buyer, OES Properties.
NEW YORK CITY — Perplexity has signed an office lease expansion in Manhattan’s Union Square area. The AI platform now occupies 22,000 square feet across two full floors within the adjoining buildings at 841-853 Broadway. Andrew Wiener, Robert Fisher and Henry Korzec represented the landlord, The Feil Organization, in the lease negotiations on an internal basis. Marcella LaHara, Derek Feinman and Adam Spector of Newmark represented Perplexity.
JOLIET, ILL. — Hyundai Translead, a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Co., has signed a 1.4 million-square-foot lease in Joliet. Industrial Realty Group LLC (IRG) owns the property, which was formerly Caterpillar’s main plant. In addition to the Joliet facility, Hyundai Translead will also move into a second Will County location at the former Lion Electric site. The two expansions will collectively create approximately 2,500 new full-time jobs and represent $450 million of investment. Onno Steger represented IRG on an internal basis. Jerry Sullivan and Ed Wabick of DarwinPW Realty/CORFAC International represented the landlord, while Shamus Conneely of John Greene Commercial represented the tenant.