“This lease signifies a breakthrough for a submarket that has recently recorded double-digit vacancy rates, while other Houston markets are in the mid-single digits,” Talhelm notes.

Talhelm tells GlobeSt.com that he and his team have been working on Jacobson deal since September 2010. “The deal actually began with RFPs from four different logistics companies that were competing for a contract,” he explains.

The initial RFPs called for buildings that could offer at least 300,000 square feet, as well as on-site parking for up to 150 tractor trailer rigs (without blocking any doors). There was a preference for a cross-dock configuration and a location close to both container terminals, Barbours Cut Container Terminal and the Bayport Container Terminal, because of the drayage and fuel costs involved in moving a large number of containers to and from the terminals. Security was also an issue.

Talhelm says the Interport facility initially competed with four other buildings, but ended up competing against only one other building when the requirement expanded to more than 400,000 square feet.

Not only did the 732,000-square-foot Interport facility offer adequate space, it also boasted 177 tractor trailer spaces with the ability to expand, a pure cross-dock configuration, T5 lighting in the parking lot and easy egress and ingress. Moreover, the facility, which is located at 13031 Bay Area Blvd., is equidistant to both container terminals.

Currently, Jacobson is the first and only tenant in Interport Distribution Center - Building Two, which was delivered in 2009; about 296,000 square feet is still available.