According to a recent study by JLL, 47% of the US population, and 33% of the Canadian, lies within a 10-hour drive of Columbus. Although that is comparable to Indianapolis, another giant in the distribution business, Columbus-area facilities can service the East Coast and the Southeast more efficiently.

Since 2010, the vacancy rate among industrial properties here sank from 12.4% to around 6.0%, a decline that far outpaced the national average.

Rickenbacker 717 offers tenants 32' clear height, cross-dock configuration, 70 dock doors expandable to 139, ESFR Fire Protection, 135' truck court depths, 50' by 60' column spacing, a lot of auto parking and 69 trailer stalls with land available for an additional 86 stalls.

“Hillwood is a strong believer in the Columbus industrial market due to its centralized location, superior transportation infrastructure and pro-business environment,” says Tom Fishman, executive vice president, acquisitions and dispositions. “This acquisition is consistent with our strategy to acquire and develop high-quality, functional industrial real estate in major US markets.”

COLUMBUS—This region continues to draw interest from both developers and major investors. Hillwood, a Perot company, has just acquired Rickenbacker 717, a class A distribution center totaling 717,717 square feet in suburban Groveport, which has become one of the most prominent distribution corridors in the country.

Located on 35 acres at 3099 Rohr Rd., Rickenbacker 717 was recently completed by Van Trust Real Estate LLC, and sits close to Rickenbacker International Airport, Port Columbus International Airport and the Norfolk Southern intermodal yard. The location also provides quick access to the I-270 interchange, I-70 and I-71.

As reported in GlobeSt.com, in 2015 Hillwood acquired the 484,216 square foot Rickenbacker 8, another just-completed vacant speculative structure, also in Groveport. Buying vacant warehouses illustrates just how strongly the Dallas-based company believes in this burgeoning area.

“We are excited to have another building in the Southeast Columbus industrial submarket,” says Don Schoenheider, senior vice president and Midwest market leader. “We can provide multiple options for companies looking for 250,000 to 725,000 square feet of class A distribution space. Groveport provides excellent incentives for new businesses such as the 100% tax abatement available to any future customer at Rickenbacker 717.”

According to a recent study by JLL, 47% of the US population, and 33% of the Canadian, lies within a 10-hour drive of Columbus. Although that is comparable to Indianapolis, another giant in the distribution business, Columbus-area facilities can service the East Coast and the Southeast more efficiently.

Since 2010, the vacancy rate among industrial properties here sank from 12.4% to around 6.0%, a decline that far outpaced the national average.

Rickenbacker 717 offers tenants 32' clear height, cross-dock configuration, 70 dock doors expandable to 139, ESFR Fire Protection, 135' truck court depths, 50' by 60' column spacing, a lot of auto parking and 69 trailer stalls with land available for an additional 86 stalls.

“Hillwood is a strong believer in the Columbus industrial market due to its centralized location, superior transportation infrastructure and pro-business environment,” says Tom Fishman, executive vice president, acquisitions and dispositions. “This acquisition is consistent with our strategy to acquire and develop high-quality, functional industrial real estate in major US markets.”