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A little less than a year after breaking ground on a 54,113-square-foot industrial development in Woodbridge, Woodmont Industrial Partners is celebrating the completion of work—and securing a tenant for the new asset.

The joint venture between Fairfield-based Woodmont Properties and Romark Logistics of Westfield announced Oct. 10 a long-term lease with R.A.S. Logistics for the entire Class A industrial building located at 51 New Brunswick Ave.

The milestone was celebrated with an event at the property that brought out Woodbridge Township Mayor John McCormac as well as Woodmont executives, including CEO Eric Witmondt, Principal Marc Lebovitz, and Executive Vice President and General Counsel Stephen Santola.

“We’re incredibly proud to stand with Woodmont Industrial Partners to announce yet another milestone accomplishment with the construction and lease of their second world-class distribution center that has established long-lasting economic benefits to the Hopelawn section of Woodbridge Township,” said McCormac.

In 2021, Woodmont completed the sale of a more than 101,000-square-foot distribution center, located down the road at 85 New Brunswick Ave., to EverWest Real Estate Investors.

“We’d like to officially welcome R.A.S. Logistics to Woodbridge and look forward to a continued partnership,” McCormac continued.

Based in Indiana, R.A.S. Logistics is a full-service logistics provider. The location marks the company’s first in New Jersey and 28th overall.

Leasing was led by Cushman & Wakefield Vice Chairs Mindy Lissner and Jason Barton, Executive Vice Chair Charles Fern and Executive Director David Gheriani.

“We are thrilled to welcome R.A.S. to this best-in-class property,” Gheriani told NJBIZ in a statement. “The building proved to be an ideal fit thanks to its optimal size, strategic location, Class A features and immediate availability.”

Situated on the border of Fords and Hopelawn, the property at 51 New Brunswick Ave. offers 32-foot clear height ceilings, eight exterior dock doors and one drive-in door as well as build-to-suit office space.

The location in the central part of the state is a draw, offering easy access to the New Jersey Turnpike, Garden State Parkway, and Routes 9 and 440.

“With tenant demand remaining strong for well-located properties with access to major roadways and ports, we’re proud to play a role in contributing to the market’s inventory that will shape the future of the region,” said Woodmont Executive Vice President Anthony Amadeo.

Though vacancies have ticked up in the sector, looking ahead, building that inventory could put Woodmont in a good position in the longer term. While economic headwinds and other obstacles keep construction starts down, ongoing developments stand to benefit as demand persists, and potentially bounces back.

“With the completion of construction at 51 New Brunswick Ave. and execution of a quality long-term tenant, we’ll continue to seek out value-add opportunities in prime locations across the Northeast and Southeast United States.”

Woodmont Industrial Partners already has other active projects nearby, as well. The JV is working with EverWest on a fourth pairing to renovate and expand a 145,000-square-foot industrial site in South Brunswick. Meanwhile, in South Amboy, work to build a Class A warehouse development with Lawrence Township’s Joseph Jingoli & Son Inc. kicked off in May 2022.

According to Woodmont, the company has more than 7.5 million square feet of industrial space in its active pipeline for development and/or renovation across the Northeast and South.