By Lauren Ratcliffe
lratcliffe@scbiznews.com
Published May 31, 2012

JAS Forwarding USA, an international freight forwarder and logistics provider, will be the first tenant in Crosspoint I, a distribution facility in North Charleston.

Childress Klein Properties and Jamestown Properties are developing the site as a partial speculative build. The site is located at the Palmetto Commerce Park.

The 305-acre mixed use, industrial development site provides JAS with easy access to the interstates, Port of Charleston and the Charleston International Airport.

Jamestown Properties acquired the property through transactions in 2007 and 2008 before entering into a partnership with Childress Klein.

“We are excited about JAS Forwarding’s move from its existing facility in Charleston to be a part of Crosspoint at Palmetto Commerce Park,” said Jamestown CEO Matt Bronfman. “The park’s optimal location is perfect for JAS and we’re pleased that this international company will be a part of Crosspoint’s future tenant mix.”

JAS will occupy 78,000 square feet of space; the facility will contain an additional 104,000 square feet of spec industrial space. The building will be ready for occupancy in early 2013.

Tommy Hughes of Hughes Commercial Real Estate in Atlanta represented JAS Forwarding with Hagood Morrison and Simons R. Johnson of Colliers International in Charleston. The developer was represented by Mike White of CB Richard Ellis/Carmody of Charleston.

“With Class ‘A’ vacancy of less than 3% in Charleston and a strong anchor tenant in JAS, we felt comfortable taking some leasing risk to attract other prospective tenants,” Childress Klein partner Matt Harper said. “We find that many of these groups are struggling to find viable Class ‘A’ space in Charleston, and we can certainly satisfy their needs in this building or through future build-to-suit opportunities within our park.”