First Industrial Realty Trust Inc., an owner, operator
and developer of industrial real estate based in Chicago, launched First 33
Commerce Center, a two-building 584,760-square-foot development in Northampton
County.
The buildings are being built on spec and expected to be
completed by the end of the year, said Jeff Thomas, senior regional director
for First Industrial Realty Trust and market leader for Pennsylvania, Maryland
and Virginia. Total investment for the project is expected to be about $44
million, Thomas said this morning.
The 42-acre development will be on 58 acres at the
southbound interchange of Route 33 at Route 248 in Lower Nazareth Township. The
remaining acres are going to be marketed for other users, Thomas said.
Plans for the First 33 Commerce Center call for building
a 341,400-square-foot facility and another at 243,360 square feet. Both
buildings will feature 32-foot-clear height ceilings and interior and exterior
energy-efficient lighting systems.
Though weather can be a challenge, the changing climate
conditions are making it positive for a year-end construction completion,
Thomas said.
Blue Rock Construction Management of Upper Macungie
Township is the construction manager for the project, Thomas said.
Directly off Route 33, the center offers easy access to
Interstates 78 and 80 and to one-third of the U.S. population and one-half of
the Canadian population within one day’s drive, an advantage that drew First
Industrial to buy the property.
“As far as location, the quick access to the highway, the
infrastructure, mid-Atlantic population centers and eastern Canadian
populations should be able to capture demand,” Thomas said.
Prologis has a development of distribution centers across
the street from this site.
Though the First 33 Commerce Center property is being
marketed as two distribution centers, Thomas said it could fit for
manufacturing use as well, citing the strong power and infrastructure
requirements already in place.
“Certainly with the design of our buildings, we try to
cast as wide a net as possible to capture as many users,” Thomas said. “I think
our location is set up well for manufacturing.”
Both buildings are divisible to meet the needs of
multiple tenants, with the larger building divisible to 100,000 square feet and
the second building divisible to 54,000 square feet.
Thomas, whose main office is in Harrisburg, is leading
First Industrial’s team for the development of First 33 Commerce Center, along
with Jim Knopka, senior director of construction.
“[There are] no tenants are lined up yet, but we are
seeing interest from the market,” Thomas said.
Mark Chubb, senior vice president/principal, Michael
Zerbe, senior vice president/principal, and Mike Capobianco, senior vice
president, all of Colliers International, will work with First Industrial on
leasing First 33 Commerce Center.
Source: LVB.com
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