Karis Cold, based in Schaumburg, Illinois, is evaluating the development of a 265,264-square-foot cold-storage facility on 24.29 acres at Westlake Industrial Park.
Senior Director Ken Verne said Oct. 7 that Karis Cold hopes to buy the land in the first quarter of 2023 and start construction soon after for completion in the first half of 2024.
“We are building the project on spec however we have several potential tenants that have already expressed interest,” he said by email.
Verne said Newmark Phoenix Realty Group President John Richardson and Senior Vice President Bryan Bartlett are the brokers who will be representing Karis.
Colliers International Northeast Florida Executive Director Guy Preston and Associate Director Seda Preston represent the landowner, Westlake Land Management Inc., a property ownership affiliate of railroad company Norfolk Southern Corp.
“We have had our eyes on Jacksonville for over a year due to the proximity to the port and Jax being a gateway to the eastern coast of Florida along with great access heading north,” Verne said.
Westlake Industrial Park is off Pritchard Road in far West Jacksonville. It is accessible to the interstate, port and rail system in Northeast Florida.
“We wanted to find a unique site that offered great access along with being rail served to help provide the operators the best opportunity to successfully serve their customers. Whether by truck, rail or sea, this site will provide them those opportunities,” Verne said.
Verne said the timing is important.
“Similar to the other projects that were recently completed or just getting underway, we recognized the need for modern cold storage facilities that can help keep up with the demand for food storage in the region,” he said.
Karis Cold wants to buy Parcel 38, which is near Suddath, Southeast Toyota Distributors and BJ’s Wholesale Club centers.
A conceptual site plan for Karis Cold show two suites with a future rail dock along a Norfolk Southern rail line.
The site plan lists Primus Builders Inc. of Woodstock Georgia, as the builder.
KarisCold.com says the company develops, builds and owns cold storage facilities for operators and users.
It offers build-to-suit projects, sale-leaseback financing and redevelopment of existing facilities.
It lists properties in California, Colorado, Illinois, New Jersey and Tennessee.
