Construction has begun on Congress Logistics Center 634, a $35 million endeavor that will bring approximately 634,000-SF of industrial space in close proximity to the Kansas City International Airport (KCI).
The industrial spec building - the latest in a stream of Class-A, spec industrial warehouse buildings - will sit on a massive, 65 acres of land located at the northwest corner of Northwest 112th Street and North Airworld Drive in Kansas City, Mo.
Close airport access will suit the logistics center well, as KCI leads the transport of air cargo in the six-state region. In addition to the project’s location, the development will offer a 16-year tax abatement through Port KC.
The building features include 63 dock doors equipped with levelers, bumpers and seals, 36-foot clear height, insulated tilt walls, drive-in doors and on-site trailer storage.
On behalf of VanTrust Real Estate, LLC, JLL announced the firm has been selected as the exclusive leasing partner for the project.
Previously, VanTrust completed projects at 167th and Lone Elm in Olathe, Kan. and Woodend Industrial Park in Edwardsville, Kan.
GBA, who has partnered with VanTrust on previous projects, has joined again as the designer for the Congress Logistics Center. New to the design-construction team are civil engineers, Olsson, and general contractor, Fogel-Anderson Construction.
“Since the COVID-19 pandemic hit, GBA has experienced an increase in requests for design of buildings like this one, as well as data centers and pharmaceutical projects considered essential to the impacted economy. Which is why it is great to have KC-based developers like VanTrust to invest the capital in this region,” said Heidi Thummel, director of business development for GBA.
According to JLL’s latest Industrial Outlook, the industrial construction pipeline and absorption continues to remain strong, despite delays as a result of the pandemic.
In Kansas City, the second quarter leasing velocity remained steady with total vacancy rate decreasing from 5.1% in Q1 to 4.9% in Q2; 99% of all 2019 modern distribution deliveries have been leased; and YTD 40% of distribution center buildings under construction have had leases consummated.
JLL’s Phil Algrim is leading the marketing and leasing effort for the project.
“With KCI’s new, one million square foot terminal set to deliver by 2023, Congress Logistics Center is terrifically positioned to provide a central US logistics solution near one of the top locations for air cargo and distribution in the US,” said Algrim.
The project is on track for a Q2 2021 completion date.