Hartford Business Journal

HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM | AUGUST 25, 2025 13 tion. "Specifically on the East Coast, the closer you are to the customer, the better the performance of the business will be." On-site building inspector Currently, Uline is servicing its New England territory out of an Allentown, Pennsylvania distribution center, and the company had been on the hunt for a strategic location in the region for some time. Massachusetts and Providence, Rhode Island, were also on the short list for the new facility before Plainfield won out. "It truly is one of the best locations in New England. And then obviously once we got to know the Plainfield commu- nity, we absolutely fell in love with it," Dukhan said. He cites Plainfield's position close to the core markets of Boston, Hart- ford, Rhode Island, New York City and upstate New York. The facility was approved by the town's Planning and Zoning Commission in April 2024, and Dukhan says the town of about 15,000 residents has been easy to work with. One thing that First Selectman Cunningham says he offered to both Amazon and Uline is an on-site building inspector who works with the company on a daily basis to sign off on aspects of construction, speeding the time to completion. Some limitations Not every Connecticut town has been on board with building mega ware- houses. Just a few years ago, residents in Willington and Cromwell rejected plans for distribution centers, and there was organized opposition to similar plans in Ashford and Middlebury. Planners in Windsor Locks have also rejected warehouse plans in the recent past, and the town of Enfield has faced lawsuits from residents. The concerns mostly center on noise, light pollution and potential congestion from truck convoys. Construction noise on the Uline site has prompted some complaints in Plainfield. Cunningham said there's a limit to how many warehouses Plainfield can handle, particularly in terms of trucking volumes. For now, though, he welcomes the boost to economic development and the town's grand list. "In our town we have one grocery store," he said. "I'm looking to promote and market another couple of areas in town for another grocery store to come in." He's also hoping the influx of employ- ment will stimulate more housing development in town. He points to a potential deal to sell the old Wauregan Mill building, on South Walnut Street, where a developer is interested in creating 230 apartments. Report: Central CT's industrial vacancy rate rises amid weakest quarterly leasing in five years W hile the town of Plain- field is experiencing an increase in warehouse development, central Connecticut's broader industrial real estate market has slowed down. The region's vacancy rate rose to 4.2% in the second quarter of 2025, its second straight quarterly increase, according to data from real estate services firm Cushman & Wakefield. The analysis includes both the Hartford and New Haven markets, covering 142.3 million square feet of industrial real estate space. The only new warehouse to debut this year was a 185,600-square-foot facility in Windsor, at 205 Baker Hollow Road, which is now the leased home of Marvin Windows. Year-to-date leasing totaled nearly 1.2 million square feet in central Connecticut, up 16.1% from mid-2024, but second-quarter demand was weak at 170,000 square feet — the lowest mark in five years, according to Cushman & Wakefield. Macy's 508,000-square- foot sale-leaseback deal in South Windsor drove much of the leasing volume. Meanwhile, overall asking rents fell 56 cents per square foot compared to the first quarter of 2025 to $8.34 per square foot, but stayed 58 cents above last year. High-tech industrial rents rose $1.72 year-over-year to $11.91 per square foot, Cushman & Wakefield data shows. A rendering of Uline's Plainfield warehouse, which is expected to be completed next June. Contributed Image Connect with our team or easily apply online. TorringtonSavings.Bank/Mortgages (860) 496-2152 You have your heart set on your dream home, but you're wondering how to get there. Our experts have deep local roots and build lasting relationships by providing trusted guidance. From your first home to your forever one, we're here to help you feel right at home. NMLS #404919 Feel at Home Every Step of the Way JUMP FOR JOY! NOMINATIONS ARE NOW OPEN! NOMINATE TODAY DEADLINE 10/3 | SCAN HERE

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