Construction slated for next warehouse near Amazon along Route 33

A nationwide real estate investment trust is gaining a significant presence in the Greater Lehigh Valley with its latest property.

Next month, Duke Realty Corp. in Conshohocken will start construction of 33 Logistics Park 1611, a speculative, 628,475-square-foot bulk warehouse in Palmer Township.

Once built, it will become the second Duke Realty-owned property in the industrial park at Chrin Commerce Center, which covers 800 acres off Route 33.

The spec building will be adjacent to Duke Realty’s recently completed and fully leased 1.1 million-square-foot warehouse on Van Buren Road, which Amazon occupies. It is the e-commerce giant’s first Northampton County warehouse.

Duke Realty also is planning to build a third industrial property, behind 33 Logistics Park 1611. A site plan shows this third property would be slightly more than 1 million square feet.

As construction nears on 33 Logistics Park 1611, prospective tenants are showing interest.

“I think there’s high demand in the Valley as a whole for additional warehouse/distribution facilities,” said Jeff Palmquist, senior vice president of Duke Realty’s northeast region.

Upon completion, the building will be an attractive solution to distributors looking for a large block of modern space and superior highway access where they can begin operations immediately, Palmquist said.

Construction on 33 Logistics Park 1611 should be completed in June. In addition to a 36-foot high ceiling, the building will have 64 dock doors, two drive-in doors and parking for 110 trailers and 350 automobiles.

Tenants can build out office space to their specifications.

CBRE Inc., which has an office in Upper Macungie Township, is leasing agent. Harris Architects of Chicago is the architect, and Duke Realty uses its own construction firm to build the warehouses.

“The Lehigh Valley continues to be one of the nation’s most in-demand distribution hubs because of its proximity to the highly populated New York City metropolitan area,” Palmquist said, noting its access to Interstates 78, 80 and 81. “The location of 33 Logistics Park 1611 will … be within a day’s drive of more than 40 percent of the population of the United States and Canada.”

Duke Realty also owns two industrial properties in West Hills Business Center in Weisenberg Township, Lehigh County. The 230-acre industrial park is off Exit 45 on Interstate 78 West and includes three other properties under construction.

Source: LVB