Browning Real Estate Partners Breaks Ground on 200,200-SF Speculative Industrial Project in Canal Winchester, Ohio
Browning Real Estate Partners Real Estate Partners broke ground June 22 on a 200,200-square-foot speculative industrial facility in Canal Winchester, Ohio, marking the firm's first ground-up development project in the state and adding to the growing inventory of logistics and distribution space in the Columbus metropolitan area.
The project, called Velocity Hill Road, is situated on approximately 16.33 acres within a planned industrial district, roughly 13 miles southeast of downtown Columbus. The development will operate under Browning's Velocity industrial park brand, a portfolio of logistics developments across the Midwest.
Groundbreaking Ceremony and Local Officials
A groundbreaking ceremony was held June 22 and included remarks from Browning Chief Development Officer Mark Susemichel and Senior Vice President Jon Rolwing, as well as Canal Winchester Mayor Joe Steager and a prepared statement from Fairfield County Commissioner Jeffrey Fix.
"We look forward to collaborating with the team at Browning throughout this project and its future management. Canal Winchester remains a business-friendly city, and we welcome this venture with open arms," Mayor Steager said.
Steager also noted the site's logistical advantages. "Canal Winchester offers exceptional industrial access to both Franklin and Fairfield Counties, Rickenbacker International Airport, and the City of Columbus. This new development will add to our industrial capacity, directly addressing the regional demand for logistics and industrial space while bringing vital jobs, tax revenue, and new business partners to our community," he continued.
Commissioner Fix echoed that sentiment in his prepared statement. "Fairfield County has a growing reputation as a logistics hub in Central Ohio, and the Velocity Hill Road development will add to our warehousing capacity and continue bringing jobs into our county," Fix said. "We also know that with these logistics opportunities, there will come manufacturing and other supply chain businesses that want to be close to both major manufacturing centers and the warehousing hub we are building."
Building Specifications and Sustainability
The facility is designed to accommodate manufacturing, logistics, warehousing, and distribution users. It will pursue LEED Silver certification upon completion. Key building specifications include:
- 1,500 square feet of speculative office space
- 10 dock doors equipped with 40,000-pound levelers
- Two 12-foot by 14-foot drive-in doors
- 32-foot clear height
- 50-foot by 50-foot column spacing
- 60-foot speed bay
- ESFR sprinkler system
- LED lighting throughout
- 2,000-amp, 480/277-volt electrical service
- Parking for 200 vehicles
Leasing and the Velocity Brand
NAI Ohio Equities will oversee leasing for the project. Curt Berlin, SIOR, Matthew Osowski, SIOR, Blake DeCrane, SIOR, and Kaydee Hurst are serving as exclusive leasing agents.
"Browning continues to be one of the most respected industrial developers in the Midwest, and we are excited to partner with them on the leasing of Velocity Hill Road," said Curt Berlin, SIOR, Executive Vice Chairman at NAI Ohio Equities.
"This project delivers the modern specifications tenants are demanding today — 32-foot clear height, ESFR, strong truck courts — and is strategically positioned along the U.S. 33 corridor with outstanding access to both labor and logistics infrastructure. Velocity Hill Road sits squarely in that sweet spot, and we believe this will be a highly competitive offering," Berlin continued.
Browning's Velocity brand has previously attracted tenants including Walmart.com and UPS at Velocity 65 in Shepherdsville, Kentucky. The firm's broader development portfolio has served companies including Amazon, Daimler Trucks North America, Reebok, Subaru, Kohl's, and Logisco/PepsiCo, according to the company.
Submarket Context and Market Conditions
Canal Winchester spans both Franklin and Fairfield counties and has drawn industrial and logistics investment in recent years due to its proximity to Rickenbacker International Airport, regional highway connectivity via the U.S. 33 corridor, and access to a regional workforce.
Browning cited market data indicating that the broader Columbus industrial market currently has approximately 7.1 million square feet of speculative space under construction, with an overall vacancy rate of 5.6%. By contrast, the Southeast U.S. 33 Corridor — where Velocity Hill Road is located — currently has no speculative industrial product under construction and maintains a vacancy rate of 4.3%, according to the firm.
Prospective tenants can find leasing information through NAI Ohio Equities' property listings for Velocity Hill Road.