The boom in e-commerce has developers focused on converting large shopping mall anchors (think Neiman Marcus, JC Penny, etc) to warehouses. The proximity to highways and parking beautify the transition. Below are some key factors to assess whether your property would be a good fit for a conversion:
Building Height: Industrial tenants typically require 50-60 ft to safely store products on racking.
Utility Capacity: Water demand and flow requirements must meet fire suppression system requirements.
Truck Circulation: Truck volume depends on the tenant – circulation redesign may be necessary.
Loading Dock Height: Large trucks may not meet loading dock height designed for retail stores.
Pavement Material & Strength: Paving may need to be upgraded to handle higher loads and increased truck traffic.
Offsite Traffic Conditions: Increased road traffic to handle more employees and truck loads may lead to a jurisdiction requiring roadway improvements.
All of these factors should be taken into consideration prior to embarking on a transformation. Let an experienced team of real estate experts help you navigate this decision. Contact GE Grace @ 646-312-6800 or grace@gegrace.com when considering repositioning your retail facility.