April 5th, 2024

“Real estate cannot be lost or stolen, nor can it be carried away. Purchased with common sense, paid for in full, and managed with reasonable care, it is about the safest investment in the world.” 

  • Franklin D. Roosevelt

As the Greater Toronto industrial market continues to evolve, changing dynamics bring into focus different strategies for both owners and occupiers.

Per our previous newsletters, we have seen the stabilization of industrial rents due to a cooling in inflation, as well as an uptick in vacancies. One could also say that it was a matter of time as the after-effects of the economic lockdowns, insatiable demand for logistics space, and supply chain issues worked their way through the system. In any event, we find ourselves settling in to a more predictable market for industrial values.

Meanwhile, sales volumes have fluctuated as a result of sustained, higher interest rates; albeit we have seen some enormous portfolio sales and outright acquisitions of REITs themselves. That said, on a property-by-property level, industrial sales have become more difficult due to borrowing costs. In addition, because of elevated property values, as well as the cost to construct, there may be a lingering issue of spread between what an owner wants and what a buyer would be willing to pay; further slowing down the process.

Finally, when we examine the inventory of industrial product, we notice that relatively few small- and mid-bay space opportunities exist due to their scarcity, as well as the scale of new projects. It is this specific group of industrial users which, throughout the ‘golden era’ of ‘Big Box’ warehousing, has been the most underserved. Existing options tend to be older or obsolete, while modern specs require premium rents with size minimums.

And thus, another option has become more popular, with numerous developers bringing product to market. And that is: purchasing industrial condominiums.

Although they are more expensive than a freestanding building on a per-square-foot basis, they offer ownership and the resulting benefits, while providing many modern features, such as: clear heights up to around 28 feet, loading docks, access for 53’ trailers, moderate- to high-power, and size flexibility.

With that said, for this week’s newsletter, we will revisit the topic of industrial condo developments within the Peel Region submarkets of Brampton, Mississauga, and Caledon, while taking a look at some of the major projects underway.

Peel Region – Industrial Condos – 2024 Update

For more details, availabilities, and pricing on any of the industrial condos discussed, please contact our team.

Featured Industrial Condos

  1. Heart Lake Industrial Condos – 20 & 25 Newkirk Court, Brampton – Berkshire Axis/Fiera Real Estate
20 & 25 Newkirk Court, Brampton. Source: Berkshire Axis.
As part of its Heart Lake Business Park, Berkshire Axis and Fiera Real Estate constructed two industrial condominiums adjacent to its five industrial warehouses. Both 20 and 25 Newkirk Court are Class ‘A’ industrial buildings comprised of 26 units totalling 107,000 SF with 28’ clear heights and truck-level loading. All units have sold out.
  1. Airport Corporate Centre – 5250, 5260 & 5270 Solar Drive, Mississauga – Business Point
Airport Corporate Centre – 5250, 5260 & 5270 Solar Drive, Mississauga. Source: Business Point.
Business Point is constructing 3 industrial condos located at 5250, 5260, and 5270 Solar Drive in Mississauga. The buildings will total 51 industrial units ranging in size from approximately 2,000 SF to 12,000 SF and with clear heights from 16 to 27 feet. Phase 1 at 5250 Solar Drive was built in 2020, while Phase 2 at 5260/5266 Solar Drive was completed in 2023. 

Conclusion:

If you are looking to acquire small- or -mid-bay industrial space within the GTA Core, then an industrial condo may be your best option. While there are several great offerings on or coming to the market, these assets sell quickly, and at a premium to traditional industrial facilities.

On the development or conversion side, industrial condos are attractive as they can be constructed in infill sites, proximal to the Core’s consumer and economic base. With industrial vacancies still at relative lows, and with rental rates having increased so dramatically over the past 5 years, there are many industrial users who would welcome the opportunity to own well-located space.

If you are looking to break ground and move in sometime in 2024, you will need to engage with municipalities as soon as possible and if not then it is probably already too late, however, it is never too late to begin planning and exploring.

For a confidential consultation or a complimentary opinion of value of your property please give us a call.

Until next week…

Goran Brelih and his team have been servicing Investors and Occupiers of Industrial properties in Toronto Central and Toronto North markets for the past 30 years.

Goran Brelih is an Executive Vice President for Cushman & Wakefield ULC in the Greater Toronto Area.

Over the past 30 years, he has been involved in the lease or sale of approximately 25.7 million square feet of industrial space, valued in excess of $1.6 billion dollars while averaging between 40 and 50 transactions per year and achieving the highest level of sales, from the President’s Round Table to Top Ten in GTA and the National Top Ten.

Specialties:
Industrial Real Estate Sales and Leasing, Investment Sales, Design-Build and Land Development

About Cushman & Wakefield ULC.
Cushman & Wakefield (NYSE: CWK) is a leading global real estate services firm that delivers exceptional value for real estate occupiers and owners. Cushman & Wakefield is among the largest real estate services firms with approximately 53,000 employees in 400 offices and 60 countries.

In 2020, the firm had revenue of $7.8 billion across core services of property, facilities and project management, leasing, capital markets, valuation and other services. To learn more, visit www.cushmanwakefield.com.

For more information on GTA Industrial Real Estate Market or to discuss how they can assist you with your real estate needs please contact Goran at 416-756-5456, email at goran.brelih@cushwake.com, or visit www.goranbrelih.com.

Connect with Me Here! – Goran Brelih’s Linkedin Profile: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/goranbrelih

Goran Brelih, SIOR

Executive Vice President, Broker
Cushman & Wakefield ULC, Brokerage.
www.cushmanwakefield.com

Office: 416-756-5456
Mobile: 416-458-4264
Mail: goran.brelih@cushwake.com
Website: www.goranbrelih.com

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