Heavy Hitters: Key details about Charlotte’s top real estate developments
By celebrating the best of Charlotte’s CRE development community, we are also recognizing the industry’s ability to adapt to challenging expectations and changes in the way we work, live and play.
This year’s Heavy Hitters finalists and winners were honored at The Westin Charlotte on Oct. 16. Headlining that event was Beacon Partners co-founder Pete Lash, who received the Pillar Award — an honor bestowed on a titan of the industry who has played an integral role in building up the region.
In addition, there were two dozen development projects named as finalists in categories ranging from office and manufacturing to apartments, hospitality and entertainment. The profiles contained in this special report highlight each of the finalist projects and note the winners of each category.
There was no shortage of companies and projects to celebrate this year. Here’s how we identified the Heavy Hitters finalists and winners: CBJ sought nominations for developments completed or substantially completed between July 1, 2024, and June 30 of this year in the 16-county Charlotte region. Each project nominated was then judged based on contributions to the local business community, the design and execution, and the economic impact.
Specifically, judges considered the following criteria:
- How has the building enabled the developer, owner and client or tenants to successfully achieve their business objectives and implement their strategies?
- How was the development process outstanding in terms of quality, value, size, importance to the community, professionalism, service, overcoming obstacles, taking advantage of opportunities, creativity, flexibility and uniqueness?
- The long-term value of the development on the Charlotte region’s landscape, quality of life and economy.
A six-member CBJ judging panel scored each nomination based on those criteria, and developments were then ranked by their total points.
This year’s honorees have done much to push Charlotte’s growth in new and interesting directions. Most importantly, the completion of many of these developments sends a signal that Charlotte not only remains open for business but is a thriving, growth-oriented community that is ready for what’s next.
Image Credit: The Silverman Group
85 North Logistics Center
WINNER: TOP WAREHOUSE DEVELOPMENT
By Collin Huguley
Macy’s Inc.’s massive fulfillment center in China Grove was a transformational project for the Charlotte region.
The Silverman Group initially announced 85 North Logistics Center in 2021 as a speculative project of over 1 million square feet. That was before Macy’s the following year announced plans for a 1.4 million-square-foot fulfillment center there. The total square footage is now 2.5 million, including a 1.4 million-square-foot building footprint and additional space on a second level. The facility, representing a $640 million investment, opened in October.
Macy’s has said it plans to create over 1,300 full-time jobs there.
The project was pioneering in that it helped push big industrial activity farther out into the region along Interstate 85. It was a catalyst for the growth of Rowan County’s standing in the industrial market as well. The county has since landed projects from Chick-fil-A Supply and Fortune 500 company Jabil Inc. The Macy’s project is one of the region’s largest industrial deals of the decade.
Read original article here.
