Industrial expansion drives economic growth in KC's Northland

JLL has been selected to oversee leasing for Building C at the Platte International Commerce Center, a premier industrial facility developed by VanTrust Real Estate in Platte City, Mo. Offering 526,502 SF of industrial space, the property provides flexible leasing opportunities starting at 130,000 SF, with the potential for future expansion to 1.1 million SF. This new phase follows the full lease-up of Building B, a 748,833 SF speculative project now occupied by Central Power Systems & Services.

JLL executives Phillip Algrim, managing director, and Kevin Wilkerson, senior managing director, lead the leasing strategy for Building C.

“The Kansas City metro remains a critical hub for supply chain and logistics operations,” Algrim said. “Its strategic position in the Northland submarket, proximity to a top-tier airport, and excellent transportation connectivity make Platte International Commerce Center an attractive option for many tenants. We look forward to helping businesses capitalize on these advantages.”

Strategically located within the Kansas City metro area, the center boasts direct access to interstates I-29 and I-435, offering seamless connectivity to key markets. Kansas City’s central location allows companies to reach most U.S. destinations within a two-day drive. The facility is within a 12-hour drive of significant freight hubs, including Chicago, Dallas, Denver, and St. Louis, making it ideal for e-commerce and logistics operations.

VanTrust Real Estate designed the Platte International Commerce Center to meet modern business needs, emphasizing state-of-the-art facilities and logistical convenience.

“This development represents our dedication to creating high-quality distribution centers that drive economic growth in the Kansas City region,” said David Rezac, vice president of development at VanTrust Real Estate. “Partnering with JLL allows us to provide a seamless leasing experience and ensure tenants thrive in this prime location.”

The project’s design and construction were executed by a team that includes Whiting-Turner Contracting Company, Olsson Engineers, and M+H Architects.

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Header Image: The main entrance to Building C at the Platte International Commerce Center in Platte City, Mo. Image credit: M+H Architects

Pharmaceutical and e-commerce companies continue to thrive in SubTropolis

Less than a year after locating in SubTropolis, pharmaceutical company Nostrum Laboratories and online retailer FarmFoods have expanded their respective footprints a combined 52,000 SF within the world’s largest underground business complex.

Nostrum Laboratories more than tripled the size of its distribution facility while FarmFoods increased its footprint six-fold.

“We can deliver Class-A industrial space to our tenants in as little as 120 days, allowing companies like Nostrum and FarmFoods the ability to capitalize on the growth of their business,” said Mike Bell, senior vice president of commercial development at Hunt Midwest.

As an Energy Star-rated facility providing 24/7, year-round security, company leaders at New Jersey-based Nostrum Laboratories recognized the value proposition SubTropolis offered in meeting their climate-controlled requirements for product safety and quality control.

“The consistent control room temperature ranges in the underground allow us to efficiently meet these  requirements. Onsite security staff provide an additional level of security and peace of mind to our team,” said Teneshia Powell, senior production manager at Nostrum Laboratories. 

A soaring increase in online grocery shopping triggered the need for FarmFoods, an online retailer of fresh, farm-to-table food, to quickly expand its packaging and distribution facility to keep up with consumer demand.

“As a nationwide distributor, timely delivery of our products to consumers is critical. Locating in SubTropolis has allowed us to reach 90% of the United States within two days and in these uncertain times, quick, reliable food delivery is more important than ever,” said Janna Land, co-founder and chief operations officer at California-based FarmFoods.

Earlier this year, Hunt Midwest completed construction of 400,000 SF of speculative Class-A industrial and warehouse-logistics space, bringing the amount of leasable space in SubTropolis to more than 6.5 million SF.

With more than 7.5 million SF available for development and its adjacency to robust highway infrastructure, SubTropolis continues to offer an ideal option for growing e-commerce companies.