Originally published on high-profile.com
Construction is well underway on the Blackstone Distribution Center project, located at 1 Moshassuck St. in Pawtucket, for developer JK Equities. The project broke ground in June 2025, with foundations being completed in December 2025. Steel erection is in progress with roof installation starting in February. The project is expected to be completed in August.
The 159,562sf industrial facility includes 25 loading docks, 128 parking spaces, and trailer storage for 28 units. The design included a strong focus on logistics and truck functionality. Significant attention was given to truck circulation, access, and staging. Tractor-trailers will be able to turn around on site, utilize a dedicated off-site truck parking area across the street, and access I-95 efficiently. In coordination with the city, a new turn lane onto Main Street was added, designed to improve traffic flow and eliminate unsafe turning movements that previously existed.
“In real estate, it comes down to location, and Blackstone Distribution Center benefits from a highly differentiated, infill position,” said Jordan Karlik, principal at JK Equities. “The project is located directly off I-95, less than one mile from the Providence border and approximately 10 minutes from the Massachusetts state line. This strategic location places it at the center of regional distribution demand while offering immediate highway access. Upon completion, the Blackstone Distribution Center will be one of Rhode Island’s few Class A, institutional-quality distribution facilities, filling a notable gap in the state’s industrial inventory.”
Michael Ciummei is leading JLL’s leasing team on the project, with New England Construction and Ci Design serving as general contractor and architect, respectively. DiPrete Engineering is serving as the civil engineer of record and permitting lead, providing land surveying, site design, state and local permitting, utility design, stormwater management, and construction phase support.
“Designing and permitting the Blackstone Distribution Center during the height of the COVID-19 shutdown added an entirely new layer of complexity to an already challenging urban redevelopment. Our team had to rethink how we collaborated – learning to work remotely, coordinate with multiple agencies from home offices, and participate in public hearings over Zoom,” said Sheryl Guglielmo, principal, DiPrete Engineering. “Despite these hurdles, our engineers, partners, and permitting agencies came together to make it happen. The result is a project that not only overcomes difficult site constraints, but also reflects the resilience and adaptability of the entire team.”
The site includes significant grade changes – over 30 feet of elevation change – and is bordered by narrow roadways, a municipal sewer line that bisects the property, and multiple major utilities including National Grid gas regulator stations located immediately adjacent to the building area. The project required designing and permitting 400 linear feet of new off-site drainage infrastructure within Moshassuck Street, ultimately discharging to the Moshassuck River. Utility coordination was extensive and included sewer relocation, water service upgrades, and continuous interface with NBC for sewer connection approvals and updates. The project successfully obtained a Special Use Permit, Dimensional Variances, Master and Preliminary Plan approvals, RIDEM Insignificant Alteration and RIPDES/UIC permits, NBC Stormwater and Indirect Sewer permits, and Pawtucket Water approvals.
“We are extremely excited about the Blackstone Distribution Center. Despite meaningful economic and financing headwinds, we successfully capitalized the project and advanced construction. This achievement reflects the strength of the project fundamentals and the collaborative effort of our development partners, including New England Construction and DiPrete Engineering. We have also appreciated the partnership with the City of Pawtucket, QDC, and Rhode Island Commerce, whose support has been instrumental in bringing this project to fruition,” said Karlik.
