US-1 North Commerce Center breaks ground in Franklin County
A new ‘business park’ is coming to Franklin County. That means more space for more businesses in the area.
The new US-1 North Commerce Center will feature 4 or 5 buildings on 1.4 million square feet, according to Summit Real Estate Group founding partner Mark Billeaud. Summit and Foundry Commercial are leading the project.
“It’s a generational opportunity,” he said.
The facility is located on Long Mill Road, just off U.S, Highway 1, in Youngsville. The commerce center is close to the Raleigh-Durham International Airport, Research Triangle Park and other major roadways.
“Franklin County is on a path of growth,” Billeaud said.
County manager Kim Denton says she’s glad to see projects like this one come to fruition.
“It’s been talked about for a while in terms of industrial growth and business growth coming to the county, but now, it’s a reality. We can see the dirt moving,” she said.
The property encompasses more than 100 acres of land. Billeaud said it will be able to hold about 6 to 8 companies, depending on how much space each one needs. According to developers, the facilities will primarily serve companies in manufacturing, distribution and industrial industries. That could mean anywhere from 400 to 600 jobs.
“The interest we’re getting is coming from businesses that are already in the community and need additional space in order to stay in the community,” Billeaud said. “They’re out of facilities, and we’re here to help with that.”
Denton said this also gives people the opportunity to come and stay in the county.
“[It’s] a chance to live nearby, work nearby, contribute to your community…and not necessarily have to make a long commute to make a living,” she said.
WRAL asked Billeaud if the vision is to be similar to Research Triangle Park.
“It’s only 100 acres, so it won’t be RTP, but it will be on the same quality-level of RTP,” he responded. “It will be a class A facility that will attract Fortune 500-type users.”
Billeaud said the hope is to finish the project in the next three to five years. It has a three-phase construction plan. Phase 1 is expected to be complete next spring. When its first phase is finished, the property will have two multi-tenant warehouses with building depths of 210’ – 260’ and 185’ truck courts that include trailer spaces, according to developers.
