12,000 SF Industrial Space Lease at Riverbend Industrial Park in East Fort Worth, Texas

By Brent Pennington, CCIM — Industrial Tenant Representation | Metroport Commercial Group

Metroport Commercial Group represented a growing industrial tenant in the successful lease of 12,000 square feet of industrial space at Riverbend Business Park, located in East Fort Worth, Texas.  This transaction demonstrates how industrial real estate decisions are driven by infrastructure constraints—not square footage alone, and why experienced tenant representation matters for both operators and property owners.

The Situation Industrial Tenant Expansion and Relocation in Fort Worth Texas

The tenant, a growing U.S. operation of an international industrial equipment company, needed to expand in the North and South Americas market to support increasing demand and service capacity.

They were not simply “looking for space.”
They were looking for operational continuity, infrastructure certainty, and room to scale without incurring unnecessary capital expenditures or downtime.

The Challenge Industrial Space Constraints Facing Growing Tenants in Fort Worth

The primary constraint was electrical infrastructure, not availability.

The tenant required:

• 277/480-volt, three-phase power  
• High amperage capacity sufficient to run multiple power-intensive machines simultaneously
• A building configuration that could support industrial equipment without costly retrofits

Most small- to mid-bay industrial buildings in Fort Worth either:

• Do not offer 277/480V power, or
• Offer voltage but lack usable amperage, creating hidden operational risk

Upgrading electrical service after lease execution would not be acceptable.  It could involve six-figure costs, long utility lead times, and production delays.  Risks the tenant explicitly wanted to avoid.

The Strategy Industrial Tenant Representation and Site Selection Strategy

Metroport Commercial Group approached the assignment as an operational diligence exercise, not a location search.

The strategy included:

• Translating equipment specifications and power draw into real-world building criteria
• Eliminating properties early where electrical capacity could not be verified
• Focusing on submarkets with established industrial utility infrastructure
• Prioritizing buildings that preserved future expansion optionality

This avoided wasted tours, compressed the decision timeline, and reduced execution risk.

The Location in East Fort Worth Industrial Submarket

East Fort Worth was selected as the optimal submarket due to its combination of infrastructure depth and logistical efficiency.

Key advantages include:

• Immediate access to Loop 820, SH-121, and I-30
• Proximity to DFW International Airport and regional freight corridors
• Established industrial utility networks capable of supporting higher electrical loads
• Access to a skilled industrial labor base across northeast Tarrant County and the Dallas Fort Worth Metroplex

Within this submarket, Riverbend Business Park stood out for its scale, functionality, and existing power capabilities.

Riverbend Business Park Overview

• Approximately 1.4 million square feet of multi-tenant industrial space
• More than 30 industrial buildings with flexible bay configurations
• A long history of manufacturing and service-industrial tenants
• Select buildings equipped with 277/480V power and higher amperage capacity
• Professional on-site management and established utility coordination

For this tenant, Riverbend provided immediate operational readiness with retrofits that were manageable for ownership.

The Results Industrial Tenant Expansion Successfully Executed in Fort Worth

• 12,000 + SF industrial lease executed in East Fort Worth
• Tenant secured existing 277/480V power with sufficient amperage
• No utility-side upgrades required
• Accelerated occupancy and production ramp-up
• Preserved capital for business growth rather than infrastructure fixes

The tenant obtained a facility that supports current operations and future scaling without introducing hidden constraints.

Why This Mattersfor Industrial Tenants and Property Owners

For Industrial Tenants

• Power limitations can limit functionality and services
• Verifying usable amperage is as important as confirming voltage
• The wrong building can create long-term operational obsolescence

For Industrial Property Owners

• Electrical capacity directly impacts leaseability and tenant quality
• Buildings with adequate power command stronger demand and durability
• Functional obsolescence is increasingly driven by infrastructure gaps, not age

This transaction highlights how infrastructure-ready industrial assets outperform commodity space in both leasing velocity and long-term value.

The Takeaway

• In industrial real estate, square footage is easy to find.
• Infrastructure that supports growth is not.
• Whether you are a tenant expanding operations or an owner evaluating asset risk, electrical capacity, submarket selection, and functional design are decisive variables not afterthoughts.  
• For owners, this same power constraint increasingly determines which assets attract durable industrial tenants and which face growing functional obsolescence.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Why is 277/480V three-phase power important for industrial users?

277/480V three-phase power is required for large motors, compressors, CNC equipment, pumps, and industrial control systems. Without adequate voltage and amperage, equipment performance and scalability are compromised.

How common is 277/480V power in 10,000–20,000 SF industrial buildings?

It is relatively uncommon. Many buildings in this size range were built with 208/120V or limited 240/480V service, often insufficient for modern industrial loads.

What happens if a tenant signs a lease without confirming amperage?

Common outcomes include:

• Equipment underperformance
• Unexpected electrical retrofit costs (often $75,000–$250,000+)
• Utility delays lasting several months
• Reduced operational capability and flexibility

What makes Riverbend Business Park attractive for industrial tenants?

Riverbend offers scale, flexibility, and existing infrastructure, including select buildings with high-capacity 480V power, and hands on ownership which reduced execution risk and accelerated occupancy.

Is power more important than square footage for industrial tenants?

For manufacturing and equipment-heavy users, power is often more important than square footage. A smaller building with sufficient infrastructure can outperform a larger building without it.