Robinson Weeks Partners Signs Inaugural Lease at New South Carolina Industrial Park

Auto part supplier MingHua USA to occupy more than half of newly built spec warehouse as Greenville industrial market sees heightened demand

DUNCAN, S.C. (Dec. 7, 2020) – Robinson Weeks Partners, a leading developer of master-planned industrial parks across the Southeast, today announced that it executed a 134,000-square-foot lease agreement with automotive parts maker MingHua USA, Inc. at Woods Chapel Crossing, a Class A speculative industrial development located in Duncan, South Carolina near Greenville. The deal is the first to be signed at the development. 

Headquartered in Greer, South Carolina, MingHua USA is a subsidiary of Chinese-based Jiangnan Mold Plastic Technology Corporation, and is one of the leading providers of plastic automotive parts and molds in the Southeast. It is the first tier-one automotive supplier in South Carolina and counts BMW as a major customer.  The lease at Wood Chapel Crossing, which is located less than one minute away from the company’s headquarters, allows MingHua to significantly ramp up operations as South Carolina’s thriving auto sector continues to boom. 

As young professionals flock to tertiary markets in search of less populated areas to settle down, the Greenville-Spartanburg metro area is experiencing a surge in growth, according to a recent Colliers International report. From 2010 to 2019, the U.S. Census Bureau recorded a population increase of 19.2% in Greenville, a trend which is fueling industrial activity that has been accelerated by the pandemic. Recently completed spec industrial projects in the region are on track to be quickly absorbed by corporations drawn to the Greenville area for its expanding population and skilled labor pool. Heightened demand for spec development has helped trigger more than 3 million square feet of new industrial product that is currently under construction, with an additional 1.9 million square feet proposed to come to market within the next several months. 

“Despite the challenges levied by the pandemic, the automotive industry is holding steady and flourishing in the Southeast region. As production regains momentum, the increased stream of manufacturing has required MingHua USA to conduct a swift expansion,” said Thomas Koehler, President at MingHua USA. “With Wood Chapel Crossing located right down the street from our headquarters, we jumped on the opportunity to occupy this state-of-the-art warehouse, which checks all of our boxes for kickstarting operations to meet the swell in demand. Robinson Weeks could not have been a better partner in facilitating our move and accommodating our need for speed.” 

“It was our pleasure to assist MingHua USA in broadening operations to better serve their base market here in the Greenville/Spartanburg market and beyond,” said David Welch, Chief Executive Officer at Robinson Weeks Partners.  “The proximity to critical transportation arteries, access to a strong labor force and favorable economic climate positions Wood Chapel Crossing for future growth and success. We look forward to engaging other users as we prepare to launch the second phase of development.” 

The first building at the master-planned Wood Chapel Crossing encompasses 243,280 square foot and is a cross-dock logistics facility. Building specifications include a 32 inch clear height, 58 dock positions, 60 inch speed bays, 201 auto parking spaces, 32 trailer parking spaces and several other necessary features to maximize operational efficiencies.  Developer Robinson Weeks Partners has slated an additional building for the master planned speculative project  — a 221,000-square-foot single load warehouse that will begin construction in the coming months.  

Wood Chapel Crossing is less than five miles from I-85, and in close proximity to I-26 and I-385. The development is just three miles away from Inland Port Greer, which recently had a record-breaking October after tallying more than 12,900 rail moves last month. Woods Chapel Crossing is also within a few hours drive of the Port of Charleston, which is poised for increased development as manufacturers opt for international shipments to the eastern seaport. 

Dillon Swayngim of Collier’s International represented the tenant. The landlord was represented by Kacie Jackson, Brian Young and Elliot Fayssoux of Cushman & Wakefield | Thalhimer.

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ABOUT ROBINSON WEEKS PARTNERS

Robinson Weeks Partners is an Atlanta based development and acquisitions firm, whose partners have developed and acquired more than 100 millions square feet representing $5 billion of industrial properties across the United States since 1979. The boutique real estate firm structures ventures with public and private entities to develop master-planned industrial parks, and it also creates exceptional build-to-suit programs across the country for clients needing a trusted and experienced advisor to acquire and develop their facilities. Its target markets include Atlanta, Dallas, San Antonio, Charleston, Memphis, Greenville, Charlotte and Florida.For more information about Robinson Weeks Partners, please call John Gaskin, Senior Vice President – Leasing and Build-to-Suit Development, at 678-516-4691, or visit www.robinsonweeks.wpenginepowered.com.