Simone Development Companies is repositioning the former Johnson
& Hoffman factory in Nassau Country as a last mile distribution center.
The developer acquired the vacant single story-light property at 40 Voice Road in Carle Place this summer from Ansaco Properties LLC for $6.75 million. The property, built in 1962, had been the longtime home of Johnson & Hoffman, which closed down last November.
“As a developer, it is truly exciting to acquire such a
well-situated property and have the ability to convert it to meet the growing
need for quality last mile distribution space,” said Jim MacDonald, Vice
President of Leasing and Acquisitions at Simone Development.
“The demand for this type of space, particularly in Western
Nassau County where inventory is sparse, was accelerating rapidly even before
the COVID crisis. Today, as online purchasing has become a necessity rather
than a convenience, the demand is stronger than ever.”
Amazon is currently building two last mile delivery stations
on Long Island – one at the former Waldbaum’s a 2 Westbury Avenue in Carle
Place and the second at 100 Precision Dr. in Shirley, Suffolk County.
Simone said it plans to renovate its newly-acquired property to suit a single tenant, adding additional loading docks and developing 2.75 acres of additional paved parking to accommodate tractor trailer, delivery truck and additional vehicular parking.
The 60,000 square-foot property on four acres includes 5,000
s/f of office space, heavy power and currently has three drive-in bays, two
loading docks, 16-foot ceilings and parking for 90 standard vehicles.
“Industrial vacancy rates are approximately three percent in
Nassau County, but are virtually at zero for Class A distribution facilities,”
said Tom DiMicelli, Executive Vice President at JLL.
“Buildings with high
ceilings and exceptional loading of two docks per 10,000 SF are also
non-existent and are very desirable for the last-mile e-commerce users that are
emerging in our market. New and fully renovated product that can meet this
demand will do very well going forward.”
The property located near major highways and within 30
minutes of NYC airports and five minutes from LIRR Carle Place Station.
