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TYNGSBOROUGH, MA-Providing a boost to the Interstate 495 North industrial market, Beacon Power has signed a 103,000-sf lease at the former Hussey Plastics plant. Beacon Power will use the facility at 65 Middlesex Rd. to design, develop and operate energy storage systems that provide frequency regulation services in US electricity markets.

Situated just off Route 3 on a 17.7-acre parcel, 65 Middlesex Rd. offers a variety of pluses for industrial tenants, according to officials at the Stubblebine Co., the commercial real estate firm that represents landlord GFI Partners. Besides ceiling heights reaching 24 feet, the building is adaptable for uses ranging from warehouse to hi-tech manufacturing, of benefit to Beacon's multi-level platform, relays Stubblebine. Freight rail access to the complex was deemed another reason the facility won out in the space search. Relocating from Wilmington, Beacon Power needed room for expansion as well, explain the brokers, who included David and James Stubblebine and Ellen Garthoff for GFI. Lenny Owens of McCall & Almy in Boston served as broker for the tenant.

The commitment by Beacon Power is among the largest industrial leases in the region in 2007, and was especially welcome given a dearth of activity seen for much of the year to date. Siegel Egg taking 170,000 sf in Billerica, and Sterling Corp. securing 70,000 sf in Chelmsford were the only substantial deals in Q2, says Richards Barry Joyce & Partners in its regional review. The northern tier of I-495 has a 16.4% vacancy rate, says RBJ.