A rendering of Transport Commerce Center, located at 1400 Randolph Ave. in the Avenel section of Woodbridge — Courtesy: CBRE
By Joshua Burd
An investment manager has kicked off construction at more than 240,000 square feet of new industrial space in the Avenel section of Woodbridge, the firm said Tuesday.
The developer, Principal Real Estate Investors, joined local officials and brokers with CBRE to break ground on the new distribution center at 1400 Randolph Ave. Known as Transport Commerce Center, the property sits just west of New Jersey Turnpike Exit 12 and is serving to redevelop an abandoned industrial site, with an opportunity to tap into a still-thriving submarket.
“Transport Commerce Center is designed with efficiency and flexibility in mind,” said Rob Klinkner, managing director at Principal Real Estate Investors. “Furthermore, the center’s location is superb, offering direct access to the New Jersey Turnpike and to the key New Jersey ports.
“As the industrial market in New Jersey continues to tighten, we expect to see significant demand for the well-located product that we’re building.”
Principal has designated CBRE to serve as the exclusive leasing and marketing agent for the property, according to a news release. The leasing team includes Mindy Lissner, William Waxman, Steven Beyda, Kevin Dudley, Robert Pine and David Gheriani.
They are now marketing a property that will feature a 36-foot clear height, up to 108 spaces for car parking and up to 43 spaces for trailer parking, the news release said. The warehouse will also offer 40 dock doors and two drive-ins and is designed with 54-foot-by-54-foot column spacing with 60-foot speed bays.
The property will be built with insulated precast concrete panel construction
“This new distribution facility is situated in the heart of one of the world’s most lucrative consumer markets,” said Lissner, executive vice president with CBRE. “It’s ideally suited for end-users with a regional, national or global base of operations.”
Klinkner and other Principal executives were joined at the groundbreaking by Woodbridge Mayor John E. McCormac, along with township council members and other local dignitaries.
“Today’s groundbreaking represents yet another milestone toward achieving our goal that Woodbridge Township remains the center of commercial development in Central New Jersey,” McCormac said. “The 1400 Randolph Avenue warehouse development stands as the first phase of a significant redevelopment project that transforms a former abandoned industrial site into a productive commercially successful warehouse and distribution facility.
“It is important to note that this development would not have been possible without the partnership commitment of Principal Real Estate Investors, CBRE and the Woodbridge Township Redevelopment Agency.”
