Ackerman to Kick Off Atlanta-Area Industrial Park

By Keith Loria

Rendering of Rockdale Technology Center in Conyers, Ga.

Ackerman & Co. will develop the Rockdale Technology Center, a planned, three-Class A-industrial-building complex, totaling 470,000 square feet, in Conyers, Ga. Construction is set to begin in April and completion is scheduled for the first quarter of 2019. Ackerman & Co. Senior Vice President Brett Buckner and Vice President Chris Miller will be in charge of leasing duties.

Located at 2430 Dogwood Drive, the development will feature build-to-suit opportunities and flexible space options ranging from 10,000 to 185,000 square feet. The facilities will feature six-inch concrete slab flooring, white TPO roofing and high-efficiency LED lighting. Also planned is a 550,000 square-foot cross-dock facility. 

“Ackerman & Co. has been very active in the Atlanta industrial market, acquiring and developing nearly six million square feet in the past three years, much of it shallow-bay space,” Buckner told Commercial Property Executive. “This project fits right in with our goal of expanding our presence in the Atlanta market with this product type.”

Situated on 92 acres, the buildings will be just 28 miles east of downtown Atlanta, less than a mile from the Interstate 20 interchange at Salem Road. The property also sits adjacent to a CSX Transportation rail line, providing distributors strong access to the entire Atlanta metro area, the Southeast and the Port of Savannah.

“These will be state-of-the-art facilities offering key features, including 30-foot clear heights, that will enable modern distributors to maximize efficiency,” Buckner said.

Last June, Ackerman teamed up with The Yates Group and JAC Real Estate Investments to prelease the upcoming Braselton Logistics Center, a 1.1 million-square-foot Atlanta-area distribution center.

A growing market

Brett Buckner, senior vice president

Being in Rockdale County allows companies to take advantage of numerous local and state business incentives, such as the Opportunity Zone designation, which qualifies tenants for tax credits of $3,500 per employee. Additionally, Rockdale County offers a 100 percent Freeport Inventory Tax Exemption for qualifying businesses. Current big-box corporate tenants in the Rockdale/Conyers marketplace include Baxter International, 21st Century Fox, Pratt Industries, Golden State Foods and Solo Cup Company.

“The Rockdale/Covington submarket, part of the broader Interstate 20 East submarket, is extremely tight with vacancy levels around two percent,” Buckner said. “The Conyers-Rockdale Economic Development Council has offered support throughout the planning process for this project and we feel they will continue to be an excellent partner.”

Images courtesy of Ackerman & Co.