Charlotte’s First Cold Storage Spec Facility Set to Deliver in Q1 2024

Karis Cold, a Florida-based developer of cold storage facilities across the United States has announced a 277,785-square-foot industrial cold storage facility currently under construction in Rock Hill, South Carolina. The project marks the first cold storage spec facility in the region. Expected to deliver Q1 2024, the facility will provide York County with the ability to attract a variety of users in the food industry. Encompassing warehouse and build-to-suit office space across 40 acres, the state-of-the-art multi-tenant facility is equipped with convertible freezers, 50’ clear heights, 28 dock doors with two drive-in doors, 47 trailer parking stalls and 147 regular parking spaces.

Strategically located along the I-77 corridor, the facility reaches the entire Southeast and beyond, connecting the site to millions of customers. Just 27 miles south of Charlotte, North Carolina, the building is located in Rock Hill, the largest city in York County and the fifth-largest city in South Carolina. As one of the fastest growing regions in the United States, York County’s transportation and warehousing industries are booming with roughly 50 transportation, distribution and wholesale companies employing nearly 4,300 people. The park is positioned near multiple logistics facilities including Exel Logistics, Elite Logistics, DHL and many more.

York County features an extensive, reliable and convenient infrastructure network that includes 22 miles of interstate highway access along I-77, 20 miles distance to one of the nation's busiest international airports (CLT), an intermodal facility at CLT, two Class I railroads operated by Norfolk Southern and CSX, and convenient access to the Port of Savannah and the Port of Charleston – two of the nation’s largest seaports (York County Economic Development). South Carolina employs more than 47,500 people in the distribution, warehousing, and logistics sector, making Karis’ investment in the facility a highly strategic one.

“Charlotte has been on our radar since 2018 as it continues to cement itself as a top industrial hub in the United States. We saw a strategic investment opportunity to develop the region’s only speculative cold storage facility and add to the economic development of the area while strategically being down I-77 in South Carolina to benefit from state and local employment resources,” said Jake Finley, Founder and CEO of Karis.

JLL has been awarded the exclusive leasing assignment for the facility. JLL Managing Directors Spencer Yorke and John Cashion and Vice President Rich Grieder will lead marketing and leasing efforts on behalf of Karis Cold.

“The development of this facility comes at a time of unprecedented growth in Charlotte’s industrial market, and this is an incredible opportunity to further solidify York County as a desirable and competitive submarket in the area,” said JLL’s Spencer Yorke. “Karis is one of the country’s leading developers of cold storage facilities, and we’re confident that the building’s strategic location, access to talent and close proximity to the Port of Charleston will be incredibly attractive to logistics users interested in expanding or establishing their footprint in metro Charlotte.”

According to JLL Charlotte’s Q4 Industrial Insight, York County has over 1.2 million square feet of warehouse and distribution space currently under construction, showing the continued investment in the rapidly growing market. With growing demand for cold storage facilities and York County’s well-positioned location, JLL predicts that new deliveries and increased interest in the area will provide the edge many occupiers and high-growth logistics users need when expanding into a new market.