Growing pressure on the last mile , the most complex and expensive part of the supply chain, is driving new real estate strategies in Mexico, and one of the companies that has invested in this segment is ProximityParks , which since 2017 has been developing industrial parks located within major cities to bring the distribution of goods closer to the end consumer.
According to Hugo Pérez, commercial director and partner of the firm , the current portfolio exceeds 430 thousand square meters (m2) distributed in 17 properties , with a marked concentration in Mexico City , where 13 developments are located, while in Monterrey and Guadalajara they complete the offer with three and one property, respectively.
Last-mile parks have become a critical link in sustaining the dynamics of e-commerce and omnichannel retail strategies .
According to Pérez, these spaces allow companies to reduce delivery times and transportation costs, in addition to contributing to emissions reductions by avoiding long journeys from peripheral industrial areas.
“Without spaces like this, it would be very difficult to sustain same-dayor next-day deliveries in places like Mexico City,” he explained in an interview with T21.
For this reason, the company is currently expanding to secondary cities such as León, Querétaro, Puebla, and Tijuana , in response to the increased demand for urban logistics spaces . On average, between five and 10 properties are added each year, with annual investments ranging from 1.5 billion to 2 billion pesos , from a fund backed by institutional investors and pension funds.
“Finding well-connected land with the necessary characteristics for logistical use is the main challenge,” Pérez said.
He also emphasized that the rationale behind their development differs from that of traditional industrial corridors such as the CTT (Cuautitlán, Tultitlán, and Tepotzotlán) , where costs and delivery times increase when operating from peripheral areas.
In this regard, in Monterrey, the company completed the construction of ProximityParks San Pedro , initially occupied by one of Mexico’s leading land parcel companies.
In addition, it is working on expanding its Monterrey Centro park with eight additional hectares, which would make it one of the largest last-mile complexes in Latin America.
In Mexico City, the Iztapalapa III project is being developed on Rojo Gómez Avenue, which seeks to meet the growing demand in the southeastern region.
The company’s strategy also includes energy efficiency and environmental impact reduction measures , such as the use of solar panels, water collection and recycling systems, and electric vehicle chargers.
These adaptations seek to respond to the transition the logistics sector is undergoing , with parcel delivery operators and traditional retailers increasing their presence in e-commerce and demanding infrastructure compatible with their sustainability and digital growth plans.
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