Global logistics firm expands with Inwood lease

ECMS Express, a global logistics solutions provider, leased 25,868-square-feet of industrial space in Inwood. 

The company leased the space at 95 Inip Drive, one of 10 buildings in the 500,708-square-foot Inwood Logistics Center.  

A partnership of Woodbridge, N.J.-based Onyx Equities and Starwood purchased the long-held portfolio of Inwood industrial properties for $146 million in Sept. 2023. The Inwood portfolio, located on a combined 18.38 acres not far from JFK International Airport, had been owned and operated by the Elias family for the last 50 years. 

Ownership has ongoing renovations and capital improvements planned at the property to appeal to logistics, light manufacturing, and airport-adjacent users. Planned improvements include new roofing, LED lighting, infrastructure upgrades and new loading capabilities, according to a statement from Cushman & Wakefield, which brokered the leases. 

“We are thrilled to welcome ECMS Express to Inwood Logistics Center, further solidifying our vision for this portfolio as a go-to destination for premium industrial tenants near JFK,” Matthew Flath, Onyx Equities’ senior vice president of Asset Management, said in the statement. “Our ongoing investments in renovations and property enhancements are designed to meet the evolving demands of the market, ensuring long-term value for our tenants and partners.” 

Founded in 2013, ECMS Express is a global logistics company that provides end-to-end international air express, freight forwarding, contract logistics and more. ECMS services major trade markets, including mainland China, Hong Kong, Singapore, U.S., United Kingdom, Europe, South Korea, and Japan. The company, which delivers more than 50 million parcels annually, has more than 1,200 employees worldwide, according to its website. 

The ECMS lease is the latest of more than 125,000 square feet of deals signed under the new ownership, according to the C&W statement. Among the recent leases are a 36,651-square-foot lease with Horizon Air Freight, a global marine logistics leader, at 475 Doughty Blvd.; a 25,000-square-foot lease with pastry manufacturer Pidy Gourmet, Inc., at 90 Inip Drive; a 28,000-square-foot lease with Kennedy Transport Services, LLC, a licensed freight carrier and broker at 95 Inip Drive; and a 10,000-square foot lease with Laundrylux, a commercial laundry equipment manufacturer and distributor, at 461 Doughty Blvd. 

Rusty Smith of Cushman & Wakefield’s Los Angeles office represented ECMS Express, while Cushman & Wakefield’s Rico Murtha, Helen Paul, Sonny Singh, Thomas Deluca, David Frattaroli, John Giannuzzi and Joseph Hentze, Jr. represented the landlord in the lease negotiations and are responsible for the leasing and marketing of the full portfolio. 

“The leasing momentum at Inwood Logistics Center highlights the strength of Onyx as an owner and investor, as well as the adaptability and prime location of the portfolio itself,” Murtha said in the statement. “ECMS Express’ lease reaffirms the value of these properties in serving JFK-focused logistics and operational needs. These buildings can accommodate a variety of users, from end-to-end logistics companies to light industrial manufacturers, and the proximity to JFK is second to none.”