When Browning/Duke LLC, a joint venture between Browning Investments and Duke Realty Corporation, created a partnership in 2006 to develop 920 acres of land in Plainfield for the development of AllPoints Midwest, their decision was based on the growing importance of transportation costs and options in companies' real estate decisions. The Hendricks County parcel offered a three-pronged appeal to businesses wanting to maximize transportation options, while minimizing transportation costs: its location just off I-70 and immediate access to major interstate systems; its close proximity to Indianapolis International Airport where FedEx has a hub and other air cargo transporters are located; and its direct adjacency to the CSX Intermodal Terminal, a rail yard with the capacity to process 100,000 container shipments per year with room to expand.
With the recent announcement that a new rail route from the West Coast directly to the CSX Intermodal Terminal is now in service, AllPoints Midwest offers additional benefits to third-party logistics providers, manufacturers, and retailers who receive shipments from the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, the busiest container ports in the United States. Since West Coast shipments now come directly to the CSX Intermodal Terminal, clients who are located in AllPoints Midwest have immediate access to their incoming shipments since the terminal is right next door, rather than incurring the costs and delays associated with trucking freight to and from Chicago rail yards.
'When we purchased the land adjacent to the CSX Intermodal Terminal for the development of AllPoints Midwest, we knew that efforts were being made by Conexus Indiana, the state's advanced manufacturing and logistics initiative, the Indiana Economic Development Corporation, and others to get direct service from the West Coast and were confident that they would get the deal done,' said John Hirschman, Director of Real Estate Development with Browning Investments. 'With this new direct connection right out our back door, high volume importers and exporters located at AllPoints Midwest can cut hundreds of dollars in freight charges per container shipment and improve transit time too. In some cases, the transportation cost savings alone might equal a user's entire annual real estate costs.'
'The inland port concept is becoming increasingly attractive to companies that must find ways to improve supply chain sustainability and reduce costs. A train can move a ton of freight more than 400 miles on a single gallon of diesel fuel,' said Charlie Podell, Senior Vice President of Duke's Industrial Group. 'Businesses are looking at transportation options from the seaport to inland locations and are seeking sites that give them immediate access to rail shipments, air cargo transport, and highways. AllPoints Midwest gives clients a complete package of logistics options, as well as a business-friendly community with a solid workforce.'
Development at AllPoints Midwest includes Building 1, a 1.2 million square foot warehouse/distribution center, which is 100 percent leased to Prime Distribution Services. Building 2, a 533,520-square foot modern, bulk distribution warehouse facility is under construction and is expected to deliver yet this year.
