JLL inks 81,700-square-foot sublease at The RailYard South End

CHARLOTTE (September 10, 2021) – JLL Charlotte’s Tenant Representation team today announces that Moody’s Investors Services (Moody’s) will sublease 81,700 square feet of office space at The RailYard South End, an urban mixed-use development in the heart of Charlotte’s South End district. JLL’s Chase Monroe, Bryan White and Jaime Boast represented Moody’s in the deal.

Moody’s is the credit rating and research arm of Moody’s Corporation, which was recently named to the Fortune 500. Moody’s opened its first Charlotte office in 2019 at WeWork in First Citizens Bank Plaza and soon expanded to WeWork in Uptown’s Regions 615. Moody’s new space at The RailYard South End will span 4 floors in the development’s North Tower with the capability to accommodate over 500 employees. Moody’s will begin occupying the space in Q1 2022.

“Our team was thrilled to represent Moody’s in its search for additional office space in the Queen City that supports its future growth,” said JLL’s White. “Moody’s newest office at The RailYard South End solidifies its commitment to Charlotte’s booming fintech economy and creates an opportunity for the company to grow its local tech division in an energized and highly amenitized office environment.”

Owned by Cousins Properties, The RailYard South End is a mixed-use development that includes two Class-A office towers, each spanning 160,000 square feet, street-level retail, an outdoor plaza and rooftop park, state-of-the-art fitness facilities and a building bike-share program. Located one block from The LYNX's Bland Street Station, RailYard South End is in close proximity to numerous dining and retail options and offers seamless connectivity to Uptown and Dilworth. Notably, South End is the fastest-growing residential market in Charlotte and is a top live-work-play destination with 3.5 million square feet of office space and nearly two million square feet of retail.

“The RailYard South End is the perfect location for our next Charlotte office expansion and rapidly growing team,” said Tim Bhatt, Moody’s Chief Technology Officer. “We are grateful to find an expansive office space in a dynamic, amenity-rich district where our employees can experience the best of Charlotte, just steps away from the office. The RailYard South End provides our employees with unmatched flexibility and connectivity, and we look forward to this next chapter of growth for our team.”

According to JLL’s Q2 Charlotte Office Insight, leasing activity continues its upward trajectory post-pandemic, with most tenants favoring new construction in walkable, urban districts. South End’s construction pipeline remains healthy, with 825,000 square feet of office space currently under development. As corporate relocations and expansions dominate the market and companies strategize for the return to the office, JLL’s experts predict that demand for well-located, Class-A office space like The RailYard South End will continue to emerge as the ideal space solution for users.