Link Logistics Brings Modern Warehouse Space to South Florida

Ironwood Commerce Center I stands as a bold testament to innovation in South Florida’s logistics landscape. Rising from a 28.3-acre site once occupied by an auto auction business, this four-building, 505,440 square foot development redefined what’s possible for Opa-locka. With Link Logistics at the helm, the project transformed a previously underutilized property into a vibrant hub of commerce, integrating modern design and features to serve warehouse and retail customers seeking flexible size configurations.

Recognizing Opa-locka’s potential, Link Logistics collaborated with city officials and community leaders to reimagine the site’s future. Ideally suited for industrial redevelopment, the property offered a significant upgrade in land use, job creation and tax revenue. While Opa-locka originally envisioned this busy corridor for retail, Link used proprietary data and market insights to demonstrate the long-term economic and job benefits of logistics and warehousing facilities. Ironwood Commerce Center I exerted a two-fold effect: It brought Class-A industrial and warehouse space to the market and retained and attracted jobs that might otherwise have migrated to neighboring regions. The success of Phase I laid the groundwork for continued investment and long-term value creation in Opa-locka’s evolving economic landscape.

Link Logistics set out to create buildings that would appeal to a wide range of customers. Configured for both retail and warehouse customers, Ironwood Commerce Center I became the first institutional logistics development approved by the City of Opa-locka in 20 years. By incorporating high-demand features and technologies into the project, Link secured leases across a variety of industries, with customers drawn to the development’s prime location and functionality. To complement Opa-locka’s historically significant Moorish Revival architecture, Link partnered with officials to align design features and incorporate a Moorish pattern onto building facades, giving the development a unique, local feel.

Construction of Ironwood Commerce Center I began in 2021 amid pandemic-related materials scarcity and price increases. Link Logistics teams found novel ways to meet the broader needs of the market and offer key business requirements specific to retail customers. As an example, Link teams adjusted the site plan to expand parking capacity and added more windows and store front entrances to street-facing elevations. This approach paid off as the park’s first customer had a retail component along with manufacturing and distribution. In late 2024, Link Logistics sold Ironwood Commerce Center I in one of South Florida’s largest commercial real estate transactions of the year, demonstrating successful value creation from acquisition through development and disposition.

South Florida serves as the gateway between the Americas, with Ironwood Commerce Center I offering access to the Port of Miami, international airports, major highways and rail lines. Just 12 miles from downtown Miami, Ironwood Commerce Center I is a catalyst for economic growth and community revitalization.

“The flexible size configurations at Ironwood Commerce Center I accommodate diverse operational requirements for local and regional distribution networks as well as manufacturing, while Moorish Revival design features honor Opa-locka’s historic character and demonstrate Link’s commitment to integrating within the community while delivering modern logistics infrastructure.”

— Tony Nelson, Senior Vice President, Development