As national and regional brands grow their footprints, many turn to build-to-suit (BTS) development to create facilities tailored to their operations and long-term needs. This model enables companies to scale efficiently while maintaining control over brand standards, facility design, and operational requirements.

At CMK Properties, we’ve built our reputation on partnering with leading brands to deliver high-quality, purpose-built facilities through a programmatic, predictable development process. Let’s take a closer look at these projects.

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What Is a Build-to-Suit Development?

A build-to-suit development is a customized real estate project designed and constructed to meet a specific tenant’s operational needs. Instead of leasing or retrofitting an existing space, a company partners with a developer to design a property from the ground up, built precisely for their use.

Under a BTS arrangement, the developer:

• Acquires and entitles the land
• Manages design and construction
• Delivers a turnkey facility to the tenant under a long-term lease
  
  

The tenant, in turn, secures a brand-new, purpose-built location without tying up capital in land or construction costs. The developer retains ownership, and the tenant enjoys a facility tailored to their exact needs.

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What is the Build-to-Suit Development Process?

While every project is unique, most build-to-suit developments follow a proven process designed to minimize risk and streamline execution.

1. Site Selection: Identifying a location that meets market, demographic, and operational criteria for the tenant
2. Design Collaboration: Working closely with the tenant’s team to align on building layout, brand specifications, and functional requirements
3. Entitlement and Permitting: Managing local approvals, zoning compliance, and development timelines
4. Construction and Delivery: Overseeing construction to ensure on-time, on-budget completion
5. Lease Commencement: Initiating tenant occupancy under a long-term lease, often structured as a triple-net (NNN) lease
   
   

The result is a property that supports the tenant’s business operations while offering investors of the development a stable, income-producing asset.

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What Are the Advantages of Build-to-Suit Development for Tenants?

For national brands, build-to-suit development offers a path to efficient, strategic growth without the heavy capital expenditure that comes with owning real estate. Key advantages include:

• Speed to Market: Partnering with an experienced developer enables faster site delivery in competitive markets.
• Customization: Every aspect—from layout and design to signage and parking—is tailored to the tenant’s needs and brand standards.
• Capital Efficiency: Tenants can preserve liquidity for operations and expansion while still securing prime real estate locations.
• Consistency Across Markets: Programmatic development ensures each location aligns with brand identity and operational consistency nationwide.

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What Makes Build-to-Suit Properties a Strong Investment?

From an investor’s perspective, build-to-suit assets combine the benefits of stability, predictability, and long-term value.

Because these properties are typically leased to creditworthy national tenants under long-term NNN leases, they deliver highly reliable income with limited management responsibilities. Investors gain exposure to essential retail and service industries without the volatility that often accompanies multi-tenant or speculative developments.

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Examples of Build-to-Suit Developments

CMK Properties has partnered with several leading national brands through build-to-suit development. While these projects can span from restaurants to retail to healthcare and more, here are two examples from the CMK portfolio:

• Tractor Supply: CMK has completed multiple Tractor Supply locations through a programmatic model focused on site quality, brand standards, and predictable delivery.
• The Learning Zone: CMK’s build-to-suit approach ensures each early childhood education facility meets strict operational, safety, and design standards while aligning with long-term lease stability for investors.
  
  

Each project reflects our commitment to predictable performance, disciplined execution, and strong relationships, the core principles that drive lasting value for both tenants and investors.

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Your Build-to-Suit Development Partner

At CMK Properties, our mission is to be the premier single-tenant net lease developer for the nation’s leading brands. For tenants, we deliver turnkey build-to-suit solutions that enable efficient expansion, brand consistency, and long-term operational success. For investors, we create access to institutional-quality single-tenant assets backed by essential businesses, predictable returns, and a proven development process.

To learn more about upcoming opportunities or partnership possibilities, contact us today.