Weeks Robinson, Pattillo Going Spec
With the success of Kroger behind them, execs with Weeks Robinson are spearheading a spec warehouse at Fort Gillem. Weeks Robinson's David Welch (here with daughter Ella on Spring Break in Vail) tells us the firm has already begun site work—including asbestos removal—to develop an 847,500 SF cross-dock warehouse at the former Army base that's just a half mile from I-675 and a couple of miles from both I-285 and I-75, key interstates for logistical companies.
The folks at Weeks Robinson are riding high on the market after securing the debut project there late last year—Kroger Co's massive 1.2M SF refrigerated warehouse that's well underway now. David tells us his firm is confident on spec given the momentum in the market with a variety of prospects, especially given how close Fort Gillem is to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Numerous industrial sources tell us there are in excess of 7M SF of tenant prospects in the market right now, with such big names as ConAgra and Whirlpool among the companies seeking industrial ops here. David also says it helps that Fort Gillem, being in Clayton County, has the ability to offer a $4k/per job/per year tax credit for companies.
The prospect activity also is spurring Pattillo Industrial Real Estate into further spec mode. The firm plans to develop a 265k SF spec warehouse in Cartersville Business Park in Bartow County, just a half mile off I-75. The facility is the first phase of a master planned industrial development that can ultimately accommodate up to 1.7M SF, says Pattillo's Larry Callahan. And Pattillo, like Weeks Robinson, is highlighting potential tax incentives for tenants: marketing the site at 100% freeport tax exemption with Bartow, Larry says.
