Baltimore, MD — St. John Properties, Inc., a vertically-integrated and full-service commercial real estate development and management company, has acquired 24 acres of land in Salisbury, Maryland, with plans to develop Salisbury Exchange, a new mixed-use business community. The project is designed to include approximately 220,000 square feet of flex/R&D and 8,000 square feet of inline retail. Located along E. Naylor Mill Road, Salisbury Exchange represents St. John Properties’ second commercial development in Wicomico County, joining Westwood Commerce Park, a 16-acre business community at the intersection of Ocean Gateway (US Route 50) and Naylor Mill Road. The company plans to initiate speculative development on Phase I of Salisbury Exchange next spring, with deliveries anticipated in 2027.
“We are committed to a long-term presence in Wicomico County based on the region’s strong economic and demographic fundamentals, steady population growth, high-quality talent pool, and the continued influx of new industries,” stated Andrew Roud, St. John Properties’ Regional Partner for Southern Maryland. “We are encouraged by the area’s diverse labor market of more than 200,000 employees – a critical factor in real estate decision-making. Similar to our nearby Westwood Commerce Park, the speculative buildings at Salisbury Exchange will be designed to meet the needs of professional service and high-tech companies, as well as light manufacturing and distribution users seeking modern, flexible workspace configurations.”
The first phase of Salisbury Exchange includes two speculative flex/R&D buildings totaling approximately 75,000 square feet, with delivery slated for 2027. The buildings, with suite sizes ranging from 3,000 to 51,000 square feet, can be configured into fully customizable suites with flexible “part office/part industrial” layouts to accommodate a wide range of end-user needs. Each building will feature 18-foot clear heights, drive-in and dock loading capabilities, and free surface parking.
“St. John Properties develops places where businesses can hire local employees, contribute to the tax base and thrive and that is exactly what Wicomico County needs,” said Wicomico County Executive Julie Giordano. “Without these commercial flex buildings, companies have nowhere to go to establish themselves and the county misses out on economic development opportunities. We intend to partner with St. John Properties to help fill Salisbury Exchange, as well as Westwood Commerce Park, as quickly as possible.”
Salisbury Exchange is adjacent to The Centre at Salisbury, a nearly 900,000 square foot super-regional mall. The business community is situated three miles from downtown Salisbury, five miles from Salisbury University, seven miles from Salisbury Regional Airport, and just over 20 miles from Berlin, Maryland and Millsboro, Delaware. More than 400,000 people live in Wicomico County, including more than 66,000 residents within a five-mile radius of the site, and over 25,000 households with an average household income of approximately $98,000.
Last fall, St. John Properties initiated speculative development activities on two flex/R&D buildings, comprising more than 70,000 square feet of flex/R&D space at Westwood Commerce Center Park, with delivery expected later this year.
According to St. John Properties Leasing Representative Michael Tait, the company has seen strong demand for new flex space at Westwood Commerce Park, and anticipates being substantially leased by the time Salisbury Exchange delivers in 2027. “We are working with a wide range of local businesses who have lacked the opportunity to lease new, high quality flex space in this market for a long time,” stated Tait. “We are excited to deliver additional flexible commercial product to meet the market demand.” In addition to flex/R&D, Salisbury Exchange will include an inline retail building with drive through, and additional retail pad site opportunities.
Founded in 1971, St. John Properties, Inc. is one of the nation’s largest and most successful privately held commercial real estate firms. The company is distinguished by its commitment to customer service, achievements in green building, and top-rated workplace culture. Throughout St. John Properties’ 54-year history, the company has developed more than 25 million square feet of flex/R&D, office, retail, and warehouse space and has investments in over 3,000 residential units. The company proudly serves more than 2,700 clients in Colorado, Florida, Louisiana, Maryland, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Utah, and Wisconsin. For more information about the company, visit www.sjpi.com.
