Ever driven down the New Jersey Turnpike near Exit 9 and wondered where all those "last mile" packages actually live before they hit your doorstep? Most folks just see a blur of grey siding and corrugated metal. But if you’re looking at the Joyce Kilmer Logistics Center in New Brunswick, you’re looking at one of the most strategic chess moves in Jersey real estate right now.
Honestly, people tend to think all warehouses are the same. Giant, boring boxes, right? Not exactly. The Joyce Kilmer Logistics Center—specifically the project located at 701 Joyce Kilmer Avenue—is a specific response to a massive problem in the Northeast: there's literally nowhere left to build.
Why This Spot?
Location isn't just a buzzword here; it's the entire point. The site is a joint venture between Faropoint and Deugen Development. They aren't just building for the sake of building. They’re targeting a very specific "micro-location" in the Exit 9 corridor. If you know New Jersey, you know Exit 9 is basically the holy grail for logistics. You’re minutes from I-95, Route 1, and Route 287.
It’s about proximity.
You’ve got millions of customers in New York City and Philadelphia within a one-hour drive. That’s the "golden ticket" for e-commerce.
Joyce Kilmer Logistics Center: Not Your Average Warehouse
What makes this place different? Scale.
Usually, developers want to go as big as possible—think million-square-foot behemoths. But the Joyce Kilmer Logistics Center is actually leaning into the "small-to-mid-sized" market. The total footprint is roughly 195,421 square feet across two buildings.
- Building A: Approximately 109,799 square feet.
- Building B: Approximately 85,622 square feet.
This is a smart play. There is a massive shortage of "Class A" (fancy real estate talk for brand new and high-spec) industrial space under 100,000 square feet. Most of the older buildings in New Brunswick are, frankly, falling apart or have low ceilings that modern forklifts hate.
The Specs That Matter
If you’re a logistics nerd, the Clear Height is what gets you excited. This center features 36-foot clear heights.
Why does that matter?
Because you can stack higher. If you can stack four pallets high instead of three, your rent-per-pallet drops significantly. It’s basic math that makes a huge difference for a company's bottom line. The project also includes 32 total loading positions and enough parking for 97 cars, including 8 spots specifically for electric vehicles (EVs).
It's actually kind of cool—they’re building for the 2030s, not the 1990s.
The $33 Million Bet
Back in mid-2025, Cushman & Wakefield helped secure a $33 million construction loan from Bank Hapoalim for this project. That’s a lot of cash, and it shows that even when the economy gets a bit shaky, people still bet on New Jersey dirt.
Faropoint, the investment manager behind this, is known for being "tech-enabled." They use data to find these weird little pockets of land that everyone else ignores. In this case, they’re replacing old, outdated industrial buildings with something modern. It’s basically a glow-up for the New Brunswick industrial sector.
Addressing the Misconceptions
Some people think these centers bring nothing but traffic and smog. But here's the reality: these "infill" projects often replace older, more polluting industrial uses. By building the Joyce Kilmer Logistics Center right near the major highways, it actually keeps trucks off the smaller local roads.
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The design also uses a central truck court. This means the loading docks are tucked away and largely hidden from public view. It's a lot cleaner than the chaotic industrial parks of the past.
What Happens Next?
The project is currently on track for a late 2026 delivery. If you're a business owner looking for space, you're probably already too late—demand for this kind of "Class A" flex space is through the roof.
The suites can be "demised" (split up) into 40,000 to 50,000 square foot chunks. This is perfect for mid-sized distributors or specialized manufacturing. You aren't competing with Amazon for space here; you're competing with the next big regional player.
Actionable Insights for Local Stakeholders:
- For Business Owners: If you need modern specs (36' clear) in Central Jersey, start looking at pre-leasing options now. The Exit 9 submarket is nearly at 0% vacancy for new builds.
- For Investors: Keep an eye on Faropoint and Deugen. Their strategy of "infill redevelopment" (taking old stuff and making it new) is the only way to grow in a state as crowded as New Jersey.
- For Job Seekers: Construction is ongoing through 2026, and once open, these facilities typically house between 100-200 logistics and administrative roles.
Keep your eyes on the 700 block of Joyce Kilmer Avenue. By the end of 2026, this site is going to be a very busy hub for the local economy.