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300,000-square-foot building is Oakwood park’s last major industrial site
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Oakwood’s reputation as an industrial hub can be traced largely to Oakwood South Industrial Park, which began developing about 20 years and is now close to building out with the construction of a 300,000-square-foot building on 38 acres off Rafe Court. Completion of the building is expected in the spring.

Grading is underway on a 300,000-square-foot building in what is the last major development in Oakwood South Hall Industrial Park off McEver Road in Oakwood.

The building at 5511 Rafe Court should be completed in April, said Benjamin W. Stafford, vice president of new Investments for Pattillo Industrial Real Estate in Atlanta.

“It’s available, and we’re marketing the building for users seeking 150,000 square feet up to 300,000 square feet,” he said. “We could put a wall up and create a two-tenants scenario or we could do a single-tenant scenario.”

The park, started more than 20 years ago, helped ignite an industrial boom in Oakwood. 

Later, Oakwood would build H.F. Industrial Parkway, starting at Rafe Banks Drive, or at the park’s entrance, and running to Thurmon Tanner Parkway, home of Tanners Creek Business Park.

H.F. Reed will cross Interstate 985 as part of the new Exit 14 project under construction. The interchange is expected to be completed by fall 2019.

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Work has started on the new Exit 14 project off Interstate 985 in Flowery Branch. The new connecting road will be at the intersection of H.F. Reed Industrial Parkway and Thurmon Tanner Parkway. - photo by Scott Rogers

“Pattillo has been a great corporate partner over the years,” City Manager Stan Brown said. “It’s been a win-win for both parties.” Stafford said, “The initial park was a public-private partnership. We, as a company, have enjoyed a thoroughly beneficial relationship with the city of Oakwood and Hall County. We have partnered with them, with the idea of making the grounds fertile for industry and business recruitment.”

He added, “The list is long as regards to the employers the partnership has been able to recruit over the last 20-plus years. It has provided tremendous employment opportunities (for residents).”

Pattillo has developed 16 industrial buildings over the years and now has about 15 tenants, including ZF and TRW.

“We still have a few sites for retail and then there’s one smaller site in the back of the park where we could develop a 50,000-square-foot industrial building,” Stafford said.