Rhode Island’s First Urban Spec Industrial Development Advances in Pawtucket

JK Equities broke ground in spring 2025 on the Blackstone Distribution Center – a 160,000 SF Class A industrial facility in Pawtucket – developed by JK Equities, designed by CI Design with structural engineering by H+O, and built by New England Construction. The project marks Rhode Island’s first urban speculative industrial development, sitting directly between I-95 and Route 1, less than three miles north of Downtown Providence.

JK Equities Principal Jerry Karlik described the project as “a strategic investment in both the city’s economic future and the evolving needs of today’s industrial users.” JLL Senior Managing Director Michael Ciummei, leading leasing for the project, called it “setting a new benchmark for urban industrial space in Rhode Island.”

What the Building Delivers

The facility is built for flexibility. Tenants can occupy anywhere from ±50,000 to 160,000 SF – viable for distribution, manufacturing, and e-commerce users alike.

Building specs:

• 32-foot clear heights
• 25 loading docks with concrete dolly pads and generous truck court depths
• Up to 28 trailer stalls
• 100+ parking spaces
• 1 acre of outside storage
• ESFR sprinkler system
• Motion-detected LED lighting
• A dedicated truck turn lane connecting 1 Moshassuck Street to Main Street

The site’s position at I-95 and Route 1 gives tenants direct access to two of the Northeast’s most heavily trafficked freight corridors between Boston and New York City.

The Site Up to Today

The 10.44-acre site at 1 Moshassuck Street is the former home of the Microfibres mill, a vacant industrial property. JK Equities acquired the site in spring 2021. Getting to groundbreaking required environmental review, city planning approval, state permitting, and a multi-source financing structure.

Demolition and cut-and-fill site work were completed ahead of construction. Foundation work began in fall 2025. Roof and enclosure are targeted for April 2026. With substantial completion targeted for August 2026, Blackstone Distribution Center is on track to deliver the first Class A urban industrial spec product Rhode Island has seen.

Structure costs are rarely measured during design, which means most developers are overspending on large industrial projects without knowing it. H+O’s Cost Index gives you the data to make informed decisions before they’re locked in. Developers and architects who work with H+O regularly save $500K or more per project. Contact us today to find out what savings you can capture on your next project – and take back control of your pro forma.