A new industry building lease has been completed in the Russell Industrial Park for a local manufacturer that will move in this summer, relocating more than 200 jobs to Davenport.
JLL officials announced today, Wednesday, Feb. 18, that it has completed a lease deal for the 301,320-square-foot industrial space on behalf of the Russell company, a Davenport-based construction and development firm. (JLL is a leading global commercial real estate and investment management firm.)
Electro Freeze, a global leader in frozen treat machine innovation and manufacturing, will relocate its operations from 2116 8th Ave., East Moline, to the newly delivered Russell Industrial Park building. The move is expected to begin in July.
The 8440 N. Zenith Ave. location becomes the fourth of six buildings to reach full occupancy within the 95-acre Russell Industrial Park, a news release said.
“Relocating to Davenport allows us to operate within a single manufacturing facility while expanding our operational footprint,” Victoria Campbell, president of Electro Freeze, said in a recent company news release. “This opportunity positions us to better serve our customers, develop new products, and continue our expansion into the global market.”
Electro Freeze officials announced in December that the company will move to the Russell Industrial Park. The company stated at that time “this move represents the company’s commitment to growth, innovation and community partnership.”
“The relocation will more than double its production capacity, allowing Electro Freeze to meet rising customer demand for its innovative products and services. The relocation will also support the expansion of customer service, technical service and engineering facilities,” Electro Freeze stated in a December news release.
Park a ‘manufacturing hub’
Since manufacturing its first soft-serve ice cream machine in 1929, Electro Freeze – a division of H.C. Duke & Son – has become a leader in the world of frozen treat machines. It is now part of the international equipment manufacturer Ali Group. Today, Electro Freeze serves customers worldwide including in North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Australia.
The Russell Industrial Park site offers capacity for expanded operations and access to key transportation routes. Electro Freeze’s commitment brings more than 200 jobs to Davenport and adds to a tenant roster in the business park that includes: Ryder Logistics, Nestlé Purina, PODS, Crescent Electric and Tube and Solid Tire, according to a news release from JLL.
The building series totals nearly 1.5 million square feet, with more than 500,000 square feet still available for lease across the park’s two remaining buildings.
JLL leaders Senior Vice President Michael Minard, Executive Vice President Austin Hedstrom, Vice President Tanner Hedstrom and Senior Managing Director Marcus Pitts represented the landlord, Russell, in the lease transaction.
“Fully leasing the fourth building is a significant moment for Russell Industrial Park, and we’re proud to support Russell in bringing another high-quality facility to market,” Mr. Minard said in the release. “This commitment further strengthens Davenport’s position as a growing Midwestern manufacturing hub.”
“We are excited to welcome Electro Freeze to the park,” said Damen Trebilcock, vice president at Russell. “Over the next several months, we will be busy customizing the building to their needs. We look forward to starting construction on our next building.”
That fifth building, offering approximately 270,000 square feet, is scheduled to be ready for occupancy in the last quarter of this year, Russell said.
Russell park’s strengths
“As a foundational company with almost 100 years in the Quad Cities, we are excited that Electro Freeze is expanding their operations,” Peter Tokar III, president and CEO of Grow Quad Cities, said in the JLL release.
“As the region’s regional economic development agency, our number one priority on all business expansion projects is to retain the business locally in the Quad Cities and preserve and expand the jobs they provide to our Quad Citizens,” Mr. Tokar added.
Russell Industrial Park has established itself as one of the region’s premier industrial destinations, offering modern build-to-suit and speculative facilities designed for today’s manufacturers. Adjacent to both Davenport Municipal Airport and Quad Cities International Airport, the park provides immediate access to interstates, river barge transport and major distributor networks and sits within a few hours’ drive of Chicago, Des Moines, St. Louis and Iowa City.
The buildings feature 34 docks, 28- to 36-foot clear heights, LED warehouse lighting and state-of-the-art infrastructure that continues to attract high-quality occupiers.
Established in 1983, Russell is a regional and national provider of construction and development services, headquartered in Davenport, with offices in Iowa City, St. Louis, Kansas City, and Springfield, Missouri. Russell has delivered more than $7 billion in projects across 34 states.
