19 Commerce Court West in South Brunswick — Courtesy: Sagard Real Estate
By Joshua Burd
Sagard Real Estate has acquired a nearly 65,000-square-foot industrial building in South Brunswick, with plans to upgrade the property beyond a series of improvements completed just last year.
The firm, formerly EverWest Real Estate Investors, paid an undisclosed sum for the facility at 19 Commerce Court West. It announced the deal this week while touting its location off New Jersey Turnpike Exit 8A and 32 miles from Port Newark-Elizabeth, detailing features such as 22-foot clear ceiling heights, rear loading, full HVAC in the warehouse space, LED lighting and a newly installed roof.
The deal marks the second investment in Sagard’s new moderate value-add, open-end fund, which targets seaport industrial, attainable rental housing and other niche property sectors in supply-constrained and high-growth markets the firm believes will outperform in the coming years.
“We’re excited to add 19 Commerce Court West to our portfolio as we continue building a foundation of high-performing assets in markets with strong growth potential,” said Tyler Williams, managing director at Sagard Real Estate. “We continue to seed the portfolio with proof-of-concept investments that advance our fund’s strategy.”
Built in 1985 and renovated in 2024, the property spans 64,700 square feet on an 8.6-acre site, according to a news release. Sagard’s value-add plan includes improving the property’s functionality through targeted upgrades, such as additional dock-high doors, newly constructed office spaces and an upgraded sprinkler system, allowing it to create a modern, high-performing industrial property that aligns with the growing demand across the region’s key distribution hubs.
Meantime, it noted that the shallow-bay configuration provides flexibility to service single or multiple tenants, while another two acres of excess land can support a future building expansion.
“This acquisition perfectly aligns with our focus on investing in properties that combine strong market fundamentals with meaningful opportunities for value enhancement,” said John Maurer, head of equity at Sagard Real Estate. “We’re eager to implement improvements that will enhance its functionality and provide long-term value for tenants and investors alike.”
