Albemarle County is proud to partner with Southern Development Group in expanding infrastructure to support industrial businesses in Albemarle County, with a new project on Northside Drive at Route 29. The project, led by Southern Development Group, will bring much-needed industrial space to the region and create opportunities for businesses in manufacturing, logistics, and research.

The new development will begin on a 9.2-acre parcel strategically located along Route 29, one of the few remaining undeveloped sites in the county zoned for heavy industrial use. The first phase of the project will develop a modern industrial building designed to serve multiple purposes. The 72,000 SF building is intentionally designed to be adaptable, with 50’ wide-increment bays that offer a customer-oriented front entry and a loading dock with truck travel ways in the rear, which will accommodate a variety of commercial and industrial user needs, including showroom and storage space for businesses with customer-facing needs, small-scale production areas, and flexible research and development space for start-ups looking to scale. It could also provide warehousing capacity for regional-scale businesses.

Industrial space is in short supply in Albemarle County, and this project addresses that gap. The property has carried industrial zoning for decades but has never been developed, making this project a long-awaited opportunity to unlock its potential and strengthen the region’s economic resilience.

To help make the project a reality, the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors and the Albemarle County Economic Development Authority (EDA) approved a performance-based incentive at their January 14 and January 20 meetings, respectively. The synthetic tax increment financing (SYNTIF) agreement will rebate 75 percent of property taxes generated by the new development for up to 10 years, capped at $350,000. Payments will only occur after the project is built and producing revenue. The agreement is contingent on Southern Development completing the purchase and development of the parcel by June 30, 2027, securing all necessary permits, providing quarterly progress reports, and remaining in good standing with Albemarle County and the Commonwealth of Virginia.

The Albemarle County Economic Development Authority also awarded this project a Building Reuse Grant award of up to $250,000 to support the extension of a sewer line to provide service access to this site. Adequate infrastructure is essential for light industrial activity.

The project aligns with Albemarle’s long-term economic developmentstrategic plan goals, including maintaining a pipeline of sites and buildings that meet the needs of key industry clusters. With its proximity to Route 29, Charlottesville Albemarle Airport, and Interstate 64, the Northside Drive site offers strategic advantages for businesses looking to grow in Central Virginia.