RJW Signs Major Build-To-Suit Industrial Lease: The Chicago Deal Sheet
RJW Logistics Group signed a 1.2M SF build‑to‑suit lease at Karis Park West in Montgomery.
RJW committed to a 10-year lease for the facility, which will be built on 73.21 acres within the development. Construction is scheduled to begin this month on the 200‑acre, master‑planned site and complete in 2027.
JLL's Kate Coxworth and Tara Torbik represented Karis in the transaction. Dominic Carbonari, executive managing director, represented RJW Logistics Group in the lease.
“This lease reflects how industrial demand is heading toward large, efficient, purpose-built facilities in locations that can support speed-to-market,” said JLL Senior Managing Director Kate Coxworth in a press release.
PEOPLE
JLL hired Alex Diaz as president, enterprise portfolio solutions. This newly created role is part of JLL's strategy to better serve the world's largest occupier clients by increasing integration across service lines. In his role, Diaz will spearhead JLL's enterprise client strategy by weaving together elements of brokerage, transaction management and advisory capabilities into integrated offerings.
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DarwinPW Realty/CORFAC International added industrial real estate specialist Clyde Purmort to its team as an associate. Purmort brings more than six years of commercial real estate brokerage experience. He will represent owners, tenants, buyers and sellers of industrial real estate.
SALES
Marquette Cos. acquired Forest Pointe, a 236-unit apartment community at 29533 N. Waukegan Road in Lake Bluff, for an undisclosed price. The community features seven three-story buildings with a clubhouse and leasing center. Marquette plans to renovate unit interiors to update finishes and appliances; add a grilling area, seating area with a fire pit, and dog park; and update its fitness center.
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TradeLane Properties acquired a fully leased single-tenant building in Lockport for an undisclosed price. The tenant is a leader in the specialty plastics industry. The 120K SF building was built in 2000. Core Industrial Partners' Matthew Lee and Nick Krejci represented TradeLane.
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Stocking Urban paid $7.3M for 1755 N. Damen Ave., a 13-unit, mixed-use building next to The 606 trail in Bucktown. The residential units were fully occupied at the time of sale. Interra Realty's Joe Smazal and Mark Dykstra represented the buyer and the seller in the off-market deal.
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A private investor paid $41M for the retail portion of 500 N. Michigan Ave. along the Magnificent Mile. The 22K SF retail space is fully leased to tenants including Bank of America, Chick-fil-A and Vans. Newmark Senior Managing Director Keely Polczynski represented the seller in the transaction.
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Trinity Christian College is preparing to sell its 60-acre campus at 6601 W. College Drive in Palos Heights. The property will be fully vacant in Q3 2026 following the college's planned closure at the end of the 2025-26 academic year. It includes 22 buildings totaling 467K SF. CBRE’s Matt Ishikawa, Tom Svoboda and Anne Rahm are marketing the property on behalf of the college.
LEASES
The National Confectionery Sales Association picked Chicago as the permanent home of the Candy Hall of Fame Experience, a 60K SF, multilevel destination at 830 N. Michigan Ave. along the Magnificent Mile. The location was picked after a national evaluation that came down to Chicago, Orlando and New York City. The experiential store is expected to open in summer 2027
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Formic Technologies signed a long-term 48K SF lease at 309 E. Crossroads Parkway in Bolingbrook. The manufacturing facility has immediate access to I-55 and I-355. Core Industrial's Matthew Lee and Noel Liston represented the tenant.
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Perla Foods USA signed a 51K SF lease extension at 1456 Brewster Creek Blvd. in Bartlett. The company will use the location for the preparation and production of antipasto foods.
