A rendering of Building 7 at Bridge Point 78, a planned six-building, 3.85 million-square-foot industrial park in Phillipsburg and Lopatcong — Courtesy: Bridge Development Partners
By Joshua Burd
Bridge Development Partners has landed a major tenant at a six-building, 3.85 million-square-foot industrial park now under construction in Warren County, inking its largest lease to date with the Japanese clothing maker Uniqlo.
The developer announced that Uniqlo will occupy a new warehouse within its Bridge Point 78 complex, which straddles the towns of Lopatcong and Phillipsburg. The companies did not disclose the square footage or terms of the deal, only noting that Uniqlo will take “significant space” in the park’s second-largest building and the largest in the initial phase of the project.
Bridge broke ground last fall on about 2 million square feet within the project’s first phase. The firm reportedly was preparing to deliver its first building of about 975,000 square feet by year-end, while three more buildings that would add another 1.2 million square feet were due to come online by next spring before the start of the second phase.
CBRE’s northern New Jersey and Lehigh Valley teams represented Bridge in the lease, while Adam Citron of JLL represented Uniqlo. The agreement marks Bridge’s largest lease to date nationally across its five-market portfolio.
“In developing Bridge Point 78, we sought to catalyze the local economy by delivering a state-of-the-art complex that would attract industrial occupiers of a global caliber,” said Jeff Milanaik, a partner for the Northeast region with Bridge Development Partners. “Uniqlo’s decision to establish a major warehouse here is significant validation of this vision, and reflects the unique location and quality advantages that Bridge Point 78 affords.
“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to create a transformational project that will bring jobs to both Phillipsburg and Lopatcong Township, and look forward to welcoming additional star tenants to the complex in the coming months.”
Uniqlo’s new warehouse will feature 40-foot clear ceiling heights and ample trailer and truck parking, while enabling cross-docking, Bridge said in a news release. As with the other buildings at the site, the new warehouse will provide easy access to Interstate 78 and Route 22 along with direct, toll-free access to Port Newark-Elizabeth.
Construction on the second phase of Bridge Point 78 will begin next summer and will encompass 1.65 million square feet across two buildings. In the news release, Bridge cited the importance of local officials who have stewarded the project — which is transforming a sprawling former Ingersoll-Rand manufacturing complex — by helping to secure the approvals and tax incentives that made it possible.
Those officials include Lopatcong Mayor James Mengucci and Phillipsburg Mayor Steve Ellis.
“Uniqlo is one of the world’s leading retailers that was looking for a larger warehouse facility for its expanding business,” Citron said. “The brand will benefit from cost savings due to reduced transportation costs as well as the area’s abundant labor pool.”
New Jersey project will be this year’s top industrial delivery, report says
