By Taylor Boyd
A new 100,440-square-foot shell building was recently completed at Tract 2 of the Patrick Centre Industrial Park.
Mark Heath, president and CEO of the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corp. (EDC), said the facility is designed for modern manufacturing or upscale warehousing operations.
“It’s just now been completed, so we expect interest in it to pick up,” he said.
Heath believes one of the better aspects of the building is that it can be expanded to 400,000 square feet.
“There seems to be a trend in the marketplace now for larger existing or shell buildings, so we think that will help increase the amount of interest and traffic on the building,” he said.
The facility is on a 20-acre lot and has 32.5 feet clear ceiling heights and includes multiple loading docks, drive-in access, and room for potential expansion.
As it’s located at the Patriot Center, it has access to water, sewer, natural gas, electric, reliable fiber internet, and its own fire station.
The shell building is also located in an Opportunity Zone and New Markets Tax Credit Zone.
While he doesn’t know how long it will sit vacant, Heath said there’s been some serious interest in it from potential investors.
“Hopefully sooner than later,” it’ll be sold, “but we’ve had buildings that sold before the construction was finished, and we’ve had buildings that sat for four or five years. You just don’t know,” he said.
Heath said there are no plans to build another shell building until this one is sold.
“We’re excited to have it. It’s a good marketing tool, and the Patriot Centre is a great industrial park. We’re confident that it will pay off in the future,” he said.
