Rethinking the Limits of Adaptive Reuse in Cold Storage

As cold storage development becomes increasingly specialized, existing industrial properties can offer opportunities beyond traditional ground-up development.

At CREDA's I.CON Cold Storage conference in Dallas, Westmount Realty Capital Founder and Chairman Cliff Booth joined industry leaders to discuss different approaches to modern cold storage. Booth shared Westmount's experience transforming Garland Logistics Park, an aging distribution center in Garland, Texas, through a strategic approach to adaptive reuse.

Seeing Opportunity in an Existing Asset

Westmount acquired the approximately 1.1 million-square-foot Garland Logistics Park in 2012. Originally developed by Safeway and later operated as a Tom Thumb food distribution center, the 60-acre property included some existing cold storage but consisted largely of traditional dry warehouse space.

Its location along LBJ Freeway, access to major transportation infrastructure and proximity to food manufacturing created an opportunity to reposition the property.

Rather than pursuing a single large-scale redevelopment, Westmount took a phased approach, converting sections of approximately 40,000 to 80,000 square feet into refrigerated space as opportunities emerged.

Adapting Around the Tenant

One of the most significant opportunities came through a third-party logistics tenant serving Kraft, which operated a nearby manufacturing facility.

Westmount developed a direct relationship with Kraft and ultimately expanded the company's footprint at Garland Logistics Park from approximately 260,000 square feet to 450,000 square feet of cold storage under a new 15-year lease.

To accommodate the tenant's operational needs, Westmount raised approximately 150,000 square feet of the building's roof, increasing the clear height from 20 feet to 35 feet. The completed facility included approximately 150,000 square feet of freezer space supporting Kraft's nearby manufacturing operations.

Looking Beyond Existing Limitations

Garland Logistics Park demonstrates how adaptive reuse can go beyond simply working within the constraints of an existing building.

By focusing on the needs of the end user, Westmount was able to leverage the property's location, infrastructure and existing footprint while making significant improvements to support a long-term tenant.

The project reflects a broader approach to industrial real estate: looking beyond what an asset is today and identifying what it has the potential to become.

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