JLL leasing GTIS Partners’ East Tampa industrial development
Authors
Yudi Fernandez Kim
Paola Colberg
Victoria Cela
Tampa, FL (July 1, 2026) – JLL announced today that it has been selected by GTIS Partners to lead leasing efforts for 4Ward Logistics Center, a new Class A industrial development currently under construction in East Tampa. The project will feature two rear-load distribution buildings totaling 382,500 square feet with expansive floor plans that can fit a variety of business requirements.
JLL Executive Managing Directors Peter Cecora and John Dunphy, along with Vice President Olivia Brock, will oversee leasing for the development on behalf of ownership. Founded in 2005, GTIS Partners is a global real estate investment firm in the Americas that manages $5 billion in gross assets and is active across a wide range of real estate sectors, including single family and multifamily housing, office, industrial/logistics and hospitality as well as opportunity zone investments.
Located near the intersection of Interstate 4 and Interstate 75, 4Ward Logistics Center is strategically positioned to serve regional, statewide, and national distribution needs. The development will offer modern industrial space designed to accommodate a range of logistics, e-commerce, manufacturing, and distribution users seeking access to one of Florida’s fastest-growing markets.
“4Ward Logistics Center represents the type of institutional-quality industrial product that continues to attract strong interest throughout the Tampa Bay region,” said Peter Cecora, Executive Managing Director at JLL. “Occupiers today are prioritizing facilities with modern specifications, efficient loading capabilities, and immediate access to major transportation corridors. Combined with Tampa Bay’s continued population growth and expanding logistics infrastructure, 4Ward is exceptionally well-positioned to meet that demand.”
Designed to meet the needs of modern logistics, e-commerce, manufacturing, and distribution users, the development will offer best-in-class specifications, including 36-foot clear heights, ample trailer and auto parking, ESFR sprinkler systems, expansive truck courts, and multiple points of ingress and egress. The project's strategic location provides direct access to Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville, and South Florida, positioning tenants to efficiently serve both regional and statewide distribution networks.
The development also marks GTIS Partners’ continued investment in high-growth Sun Belt markets and further expands the firm's industrial portfolio throughout the Southeast. 4Ward Logistics Center is located within a designated Qualified Opportunity Zone and is capitalized by the GTIS Opportunity Zone Fund II, an investment fund raised by GTIS to develop high-quality assets in undercapitalized areas across the United States.
“Florida continues to be one of the most compelling industrial markets in the country, driven by sustained population growth, strong business migration trends, and increasing demand for modern logistics infrastructure,” said Lee Lineberger, Vice President at GTIS Partners. “4Ward Logistics Center reflects our conviction on the Tampa Bay market and our commitment to delivering high-quality industrial facilities that meet the needs of today's tenants. We are excited to partner with JLL as we bring this project to market.”
According to JLL’s latest Tampa Bay Industrial Insight report, the market continued to strengthen in the first quarter of 2026, recording 191,200 square feet of net absorption and marking its fourth consecutive quarter with more than 150,000 square feet absorbed as demand remained robust among logistics, construction, and food and beverage users. Vacancy declined year-over-year to 6.6%, reflecting tightening availability across the region, while average asking rents climbed 8.6% to $7.93 per square foot. Meanwhile, approximately 1.7 million square feet of industrial space remains under construction throughout Tampa Bay, much of it already preleased, underscoring continued confidence in the region’s long-term growth prospects.
About JLL
JLL (NYSE:JLL) is a leading global commercial real estate services and investment management company with annual revenue of $26.1 billion, operations in over 80 countries and a global workforce of more than 113,000 as of March 31, 2026. For over 200 years, clients have trusted JLL, a Fortune 500® company, to help them confidently buy, build, occupy, manage and invest across a variety of industries and property types, including office, industrial, hotel, multi-family, retail and data center properties. Driven by our purpose to shape the future of real estate for a better world, we help our clients, people and communities SEE A BRIGHTER WAY. Powered by rich global datasets and leading technology capabilities, we provide coordinated, end-to-end delivery of real estate services for a broad range of global clients who represent a wide variety of industries. Through LaSalle Investment Management, we invest for clients on a global basis in both private assets and publicly traded real estate securities. For further information, visit jll.com.
About GTIS Partners
GTIS Partners is a global real estate investment firm in the Americas, headquartered in New York with offices in São Paulo, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Charlotte, Phoenix, Dallas, Houston, Savannah, and Munich. The firm was founded in 2005 and is managed by President and Founder Tom Shapiro and partners, Rob Vahradian, Joao Teixeira, Tom Feldstein, Ed McDowell, Robert McCall, Peter Ciganik and Maristella Diniz. The firm manages $5 billion in gross assets and is active across a wide range of real estate sectors including single family and multifamily housing, office, industrial/logistics and hospitality as well as opportunity zone investments. The firm invests at various points in the capital structure including credit, common equity and structured equity. In the US, GTIS has invested in 246 assets across almost 50 unique markets including growth areas such as Miami, Phoenix, Dallas, Houston, Denver, Atlanta, Tampa and Charlotte. In Brazil, GTIS is among the largest real estate private equity firms with holdings including office, residential, logistics, and hospitality investments. Marquee assets developed by GTIS Partners in São Paulo include the Infinity office building and Palácio Tangará, a five-star resort style hotel. For more information, please visit www.gtispartners.com.