By Eva Richardson | The Logistic News
April 11, 2025
In a move that underscores the continued momentum behind Europe’s logistics real estate boom, Garbe Industrial Real Estate and a fund managed by BlackRock have jointly acquired a prime development site in Hirschaid, Germany, with plans to build a next-generation logistics facility.
Valued at €23 million, the project will transform a 27,500-square-meter plot into a 17,500-square-meter high-spec warehouse, strategically positioned within the Nuremberg metropolitan region—a key logistics artery linking southern Germany to major national and international trade routes.
Hirschaid: A Logistics Sweet Spot
Nestled between the cities of Bamberg and Nuremberg, Hirschaid offers proximity to major motorways such as the A73 and A3, making it ideal for both domestic distribution and pan-European freight flows. The location is increasingly sought-after by 3PLs and retailers looking to strengthen last-mile and regional delivery capabilities in southern Germany.
“This acquisition reflects our commitment to building logistics assets where they’re most needed—close to consumers, close to infrastructure, and ready for modern supply chain demands,” said a spokesperson from Garbe Industrial Real Estate.
Construction is expected to begin in Q2 2025, with the facility designed to meet BREEAM and DGNB environmental standards, aligning with the partners’ broader sustainability goals.
A Growing Cross-Border Portfolio
This is the latest in a series of strategic logistics investments by Garbe and BlackRock. In September 2024, the joint venture acquired a 200,000-square-meter brownfield site in Lower Saxony, where they are developing a 70,000-square-meter logistics complex tailored for industrial and retail distribution.
Their partnership, which spans Germany and France, focuses on high-quality logistics infrastructure in core markets and emerging regional hubs. The goal: to deliver flexible, future-proof warehousing solutions in high-demand corridors across continental Europe.
“Together, we’re building more than square meters—we’re building resilience into Europe’s supply chain,” said the BlackRock Real Assets team in a joint release.
Meeting Market Demand for Modern Logistics Assets
Germany’s logistics real estate market continues to experience high demand and limited supply, particularly for facilities that offer scalability, ESG alignment, and energy efficiency. The Hirschaid project directly addresses this gap, offering a versatile footprint suitable for tenants in e-commerce, manufacturing, and FMCG sectors.
With rising tenant demand for automation-ready, multi-functional warehouses, the new facility is expected to feature clear ceiling heights of 12+ meters, high dock density, and smart building infrastructure.
Sector Outlook: Institutional Capital Drives Logistics Growth
As capital continues to flow into the logistics sector, joint ventures like that of Garbe and BlackRock demonstrate how institutional investors are reshaping the industrial landscape. With a focus on location, design flexibility, and ESG performance, these assets are emerging as some of the most resilient and high-performing within commercial real estate portfolios.
“The logistics facility is no longer the ‘back of house’—it’s the nerve center of modern commerce,” said Laura Wendler, an industrial property analyst at MarketBeam Europe. “Institutional players are responding with long-term strategies that favor sustainable design and proximity to economic nodes.”
Looking Ahead:
As the e-commerce and manufacturing sectors demand faster, cleaner, and smarter distribution hubs, the Garbe–BlackRock alliance is positioning itself at the forefront of Europe’s logistics transformation. The Hirschaid development may be one project—but it’s part of a much larger push to build the backbone of a new-generation supply chain.
Eva Richardson is a senior correspondent for The Logistic News, specializing in logistics real estate, infrastructure strategy, and investment trends across Europe.
