Robinson Weeks Partners, a leading developer of master-planned industrial parks across the Southeast, announced today it has launched construction on Gillem 700, a 169,520-square-foot, single-load speculative distribution building at Gillem Logistics Center in Forest Park, Georgia. Gillem 700 is the ninth project to be developed at the park by Robinson Weeks Partners and is scheduled for completion in March 2023.
“GLC offers a playbook for successful infill development that drives economic growth for local communities and delivers a high caliber experience for users,” said David Welch, President and CEO of Robinson Weeks. “Gillem 700 checks all of the boxes for today’s e-commerce and logistics providers that need proximity to Metro Atlanta’s population and major highways so they can quickly expand operations in a rapidly evolving market. Momentum at the park is as strong as ever and we look forward to launching the next phase of our master development plan.”
Featuring spec office space, 40 dock high loading doors, two drive-in doors, 34 trailer spaces and 175 auto spaces, Gillem 700 is designed to meet the needs of a wide range of users seeking Class A industrial space in the South Atlanta submarket as demand ticks up. Prioritizing flexibility, the facility also features an efficient site layout that can accommodate multiple tenants or a single user.
With an unrivaled location, Gillem 700 is 4 miles to I-285, 5 miles to I-75, 10 miles to I-20 and less than 1 mile to I-675, delivering ideal ingress and egress options for freight transport. Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport is within 5 miles, the Norfolk Southern Intermodal facility is within 20 miles, and the Port of Savannah is 233 miles away, making all easily accessible.
“Across the existing and under-construction industrial pipeline, Gillem 700 faces limited competition in the way of first class distribution facilities” said Tyler Jones, SVP of Acquisitions
and Development at Robinson Weeks. “The building is strategically located in an area with strong population growth and access to major interstates, which positions it as the premier move-in ready option for prospective tenants with quick occupancy needs.”
In Atlanta, under construction industrial product now totals nearly 46 million square feet — the highest volume in market history — with vacancy rates hovering around 3%, according to recent Cushman & Wakefield data. As competition heats up for available supply, more developers are pouring time and resources into speculative projects, which often lease up several months before the end of construction.
“Robinson Weeks has remained nimble and been proactive to expedite the development process of Gillem 700, despite supply chain delays and increased material costs,” said Matt Davis, Robinson Weeks’ SVP of Leasing and Development. “GLC has proven to command top industrial tenants, and with heightened demand for well-located, high quality speculative facilities, we’re confident leasing interest will be just as strong for this latest facility.”
Cushman & Wakefield’s Pat Murphy, Ray Stache, Ryan Bellows and Andrew Thurman are managing leasing for Gillem 700.
Located approximately 12 miles south of Downtown Atlanta, GLC is a 1,168-acre master-planned industrial development featuring more than 8 million square feet of industrial space and 500,000 square feet of mixed-use facilities. With close proximity to major transportation arteries and Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, GLC is attractive for its relative ease of access and opportunities for expansion. Robinson Weeks was selected to be the master developer for the project in 2007 and began construction on the first project at Gillem Logistics Center in 2015.
ABOUT ROBINSON WEEKS PARTNERS
Robinson Weeks Partners is an Atlanta based development and acquisitions firm, whose partners have developed and acquired more than 100 million square feet representing $5 billion of industrial properties across the United States since 1979. The boutique real estate firm structures ventures with public and private entities to develop master-planned industrial parks, and also creates exceptional build-to-suit programs across the country for clients needing a trusted and experienced advisor to acquire and develop their facilities. Its target markets include Atlanta, Memphis, San Antonio, Charleston, Memphis, Charlotte and Florida.
