A retailer known for casual work shirts and boots is opening a largely automated distribution facility 60 miles north of Atlanta.

Wisconsin-based Duluth Trading Co. is planning to build a $53M distribution facility at Georgia North Logistics Park, an industrial campus owned by Ashley Capital in Adairsville, Gov. Brian Kemp announced. The facility, described as a “first-of-its-kind automated distribution and fulfillment center” for Duluth, is expected to employ more than 300 people once it opens.

Georgia North will encompass four distribution centers and more than 3M SF once built out, according to Ashley Capital's website. Duluth Trading is planning to occupy the 500K SF 400 International Parkway building, according to the release. Duluth Trading operates one Atlanta-area store in Kennesaw.

Georgia Department of Economic Development Project Manager Mellissa Takeuchi spearheaded negotiations on the deal with Duluth, which involved the Cartersville-Bartow County Department of Economic Development, the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, Georgia Power and Georgia Quick Start.

DEVELOPMENTS

A Texas-based apartment developer is taking steps toward a mixed-use project off Howell Mill Road. AC Residential Partners filed an application for land disturbance at 965 Howell Mill Road to make way for a 16-story residential tower with ground-floor retail. The permit was filed by the engineering consulting firm Kimley Horn. AC Residential was identified as the developer in a What Now Atlanta report. The site sits between Ninth and 10th streets.

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Rockefeller Group has filed a land disturbance permit to begin work on what is planned to become the tallest residential tower in Atlanta. Engineering firm Eberly & Associates filed the application Aug. 3 with the city to begin site work at 1072 West Peachtree, where the U.S. Post Office previously had its Midtown operations. Rockefeller wasn't named specifically in the application, which is seeking to add utilities, sidewalks and other streetscapes.

Rockefeller is planning to build a skyscraping 61-story residential and mixed-use tower with 350 apartment units and 212K SF of office, Urbanize Atlanta previously reported.

Tamarack Investments has received the green light from the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners to begin construction of a 55-acre business park off Settingdown, Church and Martin roads in North Forsyth. The project is slated to include five buildings totaling more than 630K SF.

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InLight Real Estate Partners broke ground this week on Rex Distribution Center, a two-building distribution campus on 21 acres along Moreland Avenue in South Atlanta. One building will be 131K SF and the other nearly 140K SF, both sharing a truck court, according to a press release. Delivery is slated for April of 2023.

PERSONNEL

Veteran Atlanta office broker Craig Mendel has joined Franklin Street as a senior director. Mendel, who began his career in 1999 as an analyst with JDN Realty, has served as an office tenant representative for many of Atlanta's marquee brokerage firms, including Cushman & Wakefield, Colliers and Cresa. Most recently, Mendel was senior vice president with ICON Commercial Interests.