504,000 square feet of industrial space planned just off I-94.

November 1, 2023

BATTLE CREEK, MICH – Battle Creek Unlimited (BCU) has sold 34 acres of land to Industrial Partners USA (IPUSA) for the construction of a new spec building. The property is located on Watkins Road along Interstate 94, just off exit 92. This will be the developer’s second spec building in Battle Creek. IPUSA began work on the project the last week of October.

The new building will have 504,000 square feet of industrial space and will be built in two phases. The first half of the building is expected to be ready in autumn 2024. The building will feature 32’ ceilings with columns spaced at 50’ x 50’. Plans call for the building to have 34 dock doors, with additional knockouts for future development. IPUSA expects to invest approximately $20 million for the entire 504,000 square feet complex.

The 34-acre parcel was owned by the Battle Creek Tax Increment Finance Authority (BCTIFA), which is managed by BCU. BCTIFA acquired the property in 1997 and has since leased it for farmland.

This new investment is the next phase of a project that began in July 2020, when BCU sold 55 acres to IPUSA. The developer built a 270,000 square foot spec building on the site, which has since been completely leased. The developer also sold 5 acres to Consumers Energy, which will be used for a future substation.

IPUSA is a joint venture between Clark Logic and Great Lakes Capital. Clark Logic is based in Portage, Michigan and provides warehousing, real estate management, and transportation & logistics services. The company was established in 1969 and owns more than 45 properties in Calhoun, Kalamazoo, and St. Joseph counties, totaling more than 2 million square feet of space. Great Lakes Capital is a private equity firm established in 2005 in South Bend, Indiana. The company invests in office, industrial, retail, medical office, multifamily and mixed-use space. Its portfolio includes seven industrial spec buildings in northern Indiana, home to companies like Amazon, AM General, and Borg Warner.

Jeff Smoke, Managing Director & Principal at Great Lakes Capital, said, “We are excited to continue the momentum of our 270,000 SF Phase 1 building in Battle Creek. BCU has been a great partner as we seek to add modern, cross-docked industrial space to the Fort Custer Industrial Park. This 252,000 square-foot building, which can be expanded to 504,000 square feet, will be completed in September of 2024. We are ready seeing significant tenant interest for Q3 2024 delivery.”

“This new building will be a great addition to Battle Creek, which continues to have an acute shortage of industrial space,” said BCU President & CEO Joe Sobieralski. “There is a lot of interest in Battle Creek, especially given our proximity to the Ford BlueOval Battery Park site, just 14 miles east of this site. There is a huge demand for turn-key buildings that are move-in ready. This kind of facility will bring new jobs and additional investment to our region. We greatly appreciate IPUSA’s continued investment in Battle Creek.”

In support of the spec building project, BCU partnered with the City of Battle Creek to upgrade Watkins Road, which provides access to the site. The road was resurfaced and widened to add a dedicated turn lane. The intersection at Watkins Road and Mercury Drive was also widened. The road improvements were completed in 2022 at a cost of approximately $1.6 million.

Proposed building layout for Watkins Road Phase 2 Spec Building in Battle Creek.

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ABOUT BATTLE CREEK UNLIMITED
Established in 1972, Battle Creek Unlimited (BCU) is a private, non-profit corporation which serves as the economic development arm for the City of Battle Creek and manages the Fort Custer Industrial Park. The Fort Custer Industrial Park is home to over 80 businesses, including 25 international companies, and employs over 13,000 people. BCU’s mission is to build a strong community by driving strategic investment and job creation. Visit BCUnlimited.org for more info.

MEDIA CONTACT
Joe Sobieralski
President & CEO
Battle Creek Unlimited
www.bcunlimited.org
TEL 269-962-7526
sobieralski@bcunlimited.org

Greg Dilone, Jr.
Director of Development
Industrial Partners USA
www.industrialpartnersusa.com
TEL 313-461-8674
greg@clarklogic.com