Warehouse Space in Doraville, Gwinnett & Northeast Atlanta

Metro-wide industrial vacancy: 8.6-9.0%

Small-bay vacancy (under 50,000 SF): 3.9-5.2% depending on submarket

Key insight: Large warehouse vacancy is high. Small, flexible space is scarce everywhere—and extremely tight in desirable locations.

Northeast Atlanta / I-85 Corridor

Includes: Doraville, Chamblee, Tucker, parts of DeKalb County

Vacancy: 3.9% for small-bay—among the tightest in metro Atlanta

Rental rates: $8.50-11.00/SF base (above metro average)

Why Businesses Choose Northeast Atlanta

Location advantages:

• Central to north metro population
• I-85/I-285 interchange access
• 15-25 minutes to Buckhead, Midtown
• 20-35 minutes to Alpharetta, Johns Creek
• Near Hartsfield-Jackson via I-85 South

Infrastructure:

• Assembly Studios (Doraville) drives film industry presence
• MARTA access at Doraville and Chamblee stations
• Mix of older industrial and newer flex space
• Strong small business density

Who Northeast Atlanta Works Best For

• E-commerce: Good carrier coverage, central location
• Contractors: Quick access to affluent north Atlanta residential
• Film production: Close to Assembly Studios, Third Rail
• Professional services: Modern facilities for client meetings

Northeast Atlanta Trade-offs

• Higher rents than south or west Atlanta
• Very limited availability—spaces lease fast
• I-85 congestion during peak hours

Doraville Warehouse Space

Vacancy: Tight—limited inventory

Rental rates: $9.00-11.50/SF base

Character: Transitioning from older industrial to mixed-use. Assembly Studios has transformed the area.

Doraville Specifics

Advantages:

• Walking distance to MARTA (Doraville Station)
• 10-15 minutes to Assembly Studios
• Diverse, international business community
• Active redevelopment bringing new amenities

Considerations:

• Gentrification pushing some industrial out
• Limited large-format options
• Premium pricing for newer space

Best for: Film production support, businesses wanting MARTA access, those serving Buckhead/Midtown clients

Tucker and Stone Mountain Area

Vacancy: Moderate—more options than Doraville

Rental rates: $7.50-10.00/SF base

Character: Established industrial area with mix of building ages

Tucker Specifics

Advantages:

• Stone Mountain Industrial Park offers variety
• Lower rents than closer-in locations
• Good I-285 access
• Major employers nearby (PepsiCo, others)

Considerations:

• Further from Midtown/Buckhead
• Older building stock in some areas
• Less “hip” than Doraville

Best for: Businesses prioritizing value over location prestige, those serving east DeKalb

Gwinnett County Warehouse Space

Includes: Norcross, Duluth, Lawrenceville, Suwanee, Buford

Vacancy: Moderate—more inventory than inside Perimeter

Rental rates: $7.00-9.50/SF base (10-20% below Northeast Atlanta)

Why Businesses Choose Gwinnett

Location advantages:

• Central to northeast suburban growth
• I-85 and I-985 access
• Near material suppliers and distributors
• Growing population base

Infrastructure:

• Gateway85 CID: 3,090 businesses, 47,400 employees
• Mix of newer flex and established industrial
• More available inventory than inside Perimeter

Who Gwinnett Works Best For

• E-commerce: More space for the money, good I-85 access
• Contractors: Central to Lawrenceville, Duluth, Suwanee job sites
• Distribution: Warehouse worker availability, highway access
• Light manufacturing: Larger spaces available at reasonable rates

Gwinnett Trade-offs

• Further from carrier hubs (earlier pickup cutoffs)
• 30-45 minutes to Midtown in traffic
• Less urban/walkable

Norcross Warehouse Space

Vacancy: Moderate

Rental rates: $7.50-9.50/SF base

Character: Established industrial hub with significant inventory

Norcross Specifics

Advantages:

• 46+ million SF industrial inventory
• Variety of building types and sizes
• Reasonable rents with good access
• Strong small business community

Considerations:

• Traffic on I-85 and Jimmy Carter Blvd
• Some older buildings need inspection
• Further from intown

Best for: Businesses needing more space at moderate cost, distribution operations

South Atlanta / Airport Area

Includes: College Park, East Point, Forest Park, Hapeville

Vacancy: Moderate

Rental rates: $6.50-9.00/SF base

Why Businesses Choose South Atlanta

Location advantages:

• Closest to Hartsfield-Jackson (world’s busiest airport)
• UPS, FedEx, USPS major facilities nearby
• Latest carrier pickup windows (5-7 PM)
• Central to entire metro via I-75/I-85/I-285

Infrastructure:

• Heavy logistics and distribution presence
• Airport-related businesses concentrated here
• Warehouse worker availability

Who South Atlanta Works Best For

• E-commerce: Best carrier access, latest pickup cutoffs
• Distribution: Logistics infrastructure, airport proximity
• Import/export: Customs and freight forwarding nearby

South Atlanta Trade-offs

• Industrial feel—less suitable for client meetings
• Further from affluent north Atlanta
• Can feel rough in some areas

Fulton Industrial District

Includes: Fulton Industrial Boulevard corridor, West Atlanta

Vacancy: Higher than other submarkets

Rental rates: $5.50-8.00/SF base (lowest in metro)

Why Businesses Choose Fulton Industrial

Location advantages:

• Best value in metro Atlanta
• Near lumber yards, building suppliers
• I-20 access to west metro
• Large spaces available

Who Fulton Industrial Works Best For

• Budget-conscious operations: Maximum space, minimum cost
• Set construction/scenic: Large footprint needs
• Building trades: Near material suppliers
• Storage-heavy operations: Cost matters more than image

Fulton Industrial Trade-offs

• Older buildings—inspect carefully
• Not suitable for client-facing businesses
• Further from north Atlanta job sites
• Can feel industrial/rough

Warehouse Neighborhood Comparison