The basics:
- New $82M FreezPak facility in Elizabeth will span 146,000 square feet
- Elberon Development Group, Saoud Development acquired 8.3-acre site in 2025
- Project could create 50–75 permanent jobs, 175–225 construction jobs
- Delivery expected in the fourth quarter of 2027
As newer buildings continue to draw demand in the cold-storage space, FreezPak Logistics is underway on its latest facility in Elizabeth.
Elberon Development Group and joint venture partner Saoud Development recently broke ground on the project, NJBIZ has exclusively learned. The work will establish the third-party logistics and cold-storage company’s seventh facility in its home state. The 146,000-square-foot, build-to-suit cold storage facility will rise on the corner of Amboy Avenue and South Front Street in the Union County Seat.
Saoud Development is the real estate development arm of FreezPak Logisitics. The latest marks the second bespoke project for the JV development team. It’s also FreePak’s second location in Elizabeth. Elberon worked on that refrigerated warehouse project, too.
The new facility will offer a strategic location near the Goethals Bridge. It will also provide immediate access to the New Jersey Turnpike at Exit 13 and is less than 5 miles from the Port of Elizabeth.
The new FreezPak will sit on an 8.3-acre site, which Elberon and Saoud acquired from Phelps Dodge Industries in 2025.
The City of Elizabeth granted final site plan and planning board approvals for the work in May. In July, it approved a long-term tax exemption for the project. According to the agreement, the project will provide an annual service charge of approximately $705,985 with incremental increases and the possibility of future tax assessment. The ordinance anticipates total project costs at about $82 million.
It also says the development will create approximately 175–225 skilled construction jobs, along with 50–75 permanent jobs upon delivery.
The new ice age
Elberon Development describes the Union County project as one of its most ambitious cold storage developments, featuring up to 9.85 million cubic feet of temperature-controlled capacity. The building will include cold storage, container plugin, cross-docking, container unloading, transportation, repacking, e-commerce fulfillment and USDA Food Safety Inspection Service inspections.
And that newness makes a big difference. Newmark noted a split when it comes to what’s leasing in its 1H 2026 U.S. Cold Storage Market Overview. According to the report, facilities delivered after 2020 have captured nearly all recent demand. Meanwhile, legacy properties – which still represent the majority of vacant space – have sustained negative absorption figures since 2022.
“We are thrilled to be working alongside our friends at FreezPak on another state-of-the-art project,” said Elberon CEO Dave Gibbons. “Not only will the new facility accommodate FreezPak’s growing operations in New Jersey, but it also reinforces Elizabeth’s reputation as the premier industrial and logistics market in the Tri-State area.”
Delivery of the Elizabeth FreezPak building is expected in the fourth quarter of 2027.
Elberon’s regional industrial portfolio encompasses more than 3 million square feet.
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Senior Vice President Terry Armstrong noted the area represents one of the most competitive markets nationwide, “especially for sourcing large land sites for highly specialized facilities.”
He credited Elberon Development’s longstanding relationships for presenting strategic opportunities. The third-generation family-run business dates to 1920.
“The NAI [James E.] Hanson team was an outstanding partner throughout the competitive bid process and was instrumental in the project’s overall success,” Armstrong said.
Family-owned FreezPak Logistics is based in Avenel (Woodbridge) and got into cold storage logistics in 2001. Started by Ray Saoud in the 1960s, the company offers frozen, cooler, and dry storage paired with industry-leading logistics services. Beyond New Jersey, FreezPak has locations in Florida, Illinois, Texas, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Massachusetts and California. The company says it plans to announce additional locations in other major port markets this year.
The post Exclusive: FreezPak building 146K-square-foot Elizabeth facility appeared first on NJBIZ.
