United Properties breaks ground on new industrial facility for Distribution Alternatives, Inc.

New 402,000 sq. ft. facility significantly increases company’s local footprint

 MINNEAPOLIS (August 22, 2016) – United Properties has signed a 402,000-sq.-ft. lease with Distribution Alternatives, Inc. for an industrial build-to-suit facility on a 30-acre site near the intersection of Interstate 35E and County Road 14 in Lino Lakes, Minnesota. Distribution Alternatives, a third party logistics firm based in Lino Lakes, plans to move into the new building in fall 2017. Site work commenced last week.

“This is one of the largest industrial build-to-suit leases in our market in recent years,” said Brandon Champeau, vice president for Bloomington—based United Properties. “We appreciate the opportunity to work with Distribution Alternatives on this forward-thinking facility which keeps them in the City of Lino Lakes.”

The building will be constructed with a 32’ clear ceiling height, making it ideal for cubic storage capacity. The new facility includes a cross-dock layout, outside trailer storage, excess power capacity for future automation and Gresser Concrete’s Prime Composite jointless floor slab – all features that give Distribution Alternatives an ‘e-commerce ready’ retail distribution facility.

“The demands of today’s e-commerce consumer are putting pressure on retailers and logistics providers to streamline the supply chain network. The distribution center plays a central role in this system, so our team worked collaboratively to design a facility that helps Distribution Alternatives meet their clients’ evolving requirements,” Champeau said.

“We are thrilled to be in the position to grow and move our headquarters operations into this new facility, while at the same time remain in the city of Lino Lakes,” said Distribution Alternatives executive vice president Len Thurmes. “This new facility will serve us, our supplier partners, and our growing customer base for many years to come.”

 United Properties has also secured an option with landowner Rehbein Properties to develop approximately 100 acres of commercial and industrial land around the new facility, named Clearwater Creek Business Park.

In addition to United Properties, the project team includes Jon Rausch of Cushman & Wakefield Northmarq, building design by Lampert Architects and general contractor RJ Ryan. Rob Davidson of The Davidson Companies, Inc. represented Distribution Alternatives in the transaction. DLR Group designed the company’s interior improvements.

About United Properties

Formed in 1916, United Properties acquires, develops, manages, finances and disposes of the company’s real estate investments, which include nearly 50 office, medical, industrial, mixed-use and retail assets in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois and Colorado. United Properties also provides development services for the retail, residential, office, medical and industrial sectors. In addition to a large presence in the Minneapolis-St. Paul market, United Properties’ Denver office develops retail, office and industrial buildings. For more information, visit www.uproperties.com or follow on Twitter at @UPDeepRoots.

About Distribution Alternatives, Inc.

Founded in 1935 in St. Paul, Minnesota, we have been distributing merchandise for over 80 years to the retail trade. Initially as Scholls Inc., we worked as a wholesale company delivering a variety of goods directly to our customer’s door. After 50 successful years of servicing the mass, grocery and department stores, due to changing demands, we evolved into Distribution Alternatives a 3rd Party Logistic Company. As a full service 3PL we contract with over 60 companies supplying warehousing and fulfillment services, and managing their distribution strategies using our 80 years of supply chain experience.  For more information, visit www.daserv.com.

sheila.thelemann@uproperties.com