When it came to landing a lease for the Eastport Distribution Center in Summerville, South Carolina, the deal involved the old real estate adage of location, location, location.
In one of the biggest leases for Charleston in 2023, Aero Logistics, a distribution and freight-forwarding company that works with the airline industry and handles cold shipments, signed a five-year lease at the Eastport Distribution Center.
The property involves an industrial facility spanning 80,914 square feet on a more than 24-acre lot at 240 Deming Way in Summerville, South Carolina. The location was important for the tenant because it's the closest large infill site in Charleston to the Port of Charleston, a 15-minute drive away, and only 2.5 miles from Charleston International Airport.
The deal was selected by a panel of judges made up of commercial real estate professionals as the 2024 CoStar Impact Awards winner for the lease of the year for Charleston/N. Charleston. The company's presence could help attract other businesses looking for distribution services, the judges said.
"Aero Logistics is a great tenant to bring into the industrial corridor here in Charleston," said Kacky Teston, marketing specialist at Bridge Commercial. "This will influence the surrounding market."
The owner, Dalfen Industrial, owns, operates and is developing 11.5 million square feet of industrial property in the Southeast.
About the Project: The property features 47 dock doors and 2 drive-in bays.
What the Judges Said: The lease was selected because of the "overall effect" on "the area community," said Carter-Haston Real Estate Regional Vice President Chris Carter. In addition, Coldwell Banker Commercial Atlantic Vice President and Principal Michael R. Rose said the deal was significant, in part, because it involved an industrial building lease with a company that serves the aeronautical industry.
They Made It Happen: Landlord representatives from JLL in Charleston were Tyler Smith, Lee Allen and Kevin Coats. The tenant representative was Erik Schwetje of Mohr Partners in Winter Park, Florida.