ROSEMONT, IL . – Solideal USA has recently assumed occupancy of its 122,596-square-foot space at 2700 McDonough, Joliet, IL .  Vernon F. Schultz, SIOR, Executive Vice President in Colliers Bennett & Kahnweiler’s Industrial Services Group, represented both developer Higgins Development Partners and Solideal in negotiating the 10-year lease transaction.  

2700 McDonough is a 645,817-square-foot warehouse building originally constructed in 1969 for Caterpillar but undergoing a full renovation.  The space occupied by Solideal features 20’ clear ceiling height, 10 new exterior, depressed truck docks, a new drive-in door, and 8 new trailer parking stalls.  It is also crane equipped. 

Solideal is a manufacturer and distributor of solid rubber tires.  The vertically integrated firm has R&D facilities based in Europe and Asia; manufacturing in Europe, North America, and Asia and over 100 distribution and service locations throughout the world.  The Solideal group employs more than 9,000 people worldwide. In Chicago, the expanding company decided to consolidate its Harvey, IL and Rockford, IL locations into one facility and chose 2700 McDonough for its ideal location because of its close proximity and easy access to I-55 and I-80.

An ownership entity controlled by Chicago-based Higgins Development Partners purchased 2700 McDonough in February 2007 and immediately began its extensive renovations.

“We are obviously pleased with Solideal’s decision to relocate to our facility,” said Kevin D. Matzke, senior vice president with Higgins Development Partners.  “We feel that the renovations we have completed bring this facility up to the standards of new industrial warehouse product and when combined with the 10 acres of paved parking we already have around the building, will only attract more tenants going forward.”

Higgins Development Partners has announced the acquisition of approximately 45 acres of industrial land in southwest Ontario for the development of HDPark Ajax.  The development comprises a total of 600,000 square feet of build-to-suit and speculative industrial space within 6 buildings in a master-planned industrial business park setting.  HDPark Ajax is located approximately 30 miles east of Toronto within close proximity to Highways 401 and 407, offering excellent accessibility to GTA and Quebec markets.  Construction on HDPark Ajax’s first phase, a 150,000 square foot speculative building and a 60,000 square foot build-to-suit opportunity, is expected to get underway in the spring of 2008.