An independent Cold Storage Feasibility Study evaluating a 125,000 SF airport-integrated cold storage center in Kenner, Louisiana.
KENNER, Louisiana — Wert-Berater, Inc., an independent feasibility study consulting firm serving lenders and government agencies since 1998, has completed a Cold Storage Feasibility Study in Kenner, Louisiana.
Wert-Berater served as independent feasibility consultant to the lender and USDA Rural Development. Party names are withheld consistent with the confidential nature of underwriting and capital-advisory work; figures represent the project as evaluated at the study date.
A Phase I cold storage and logistics facility integrated with the region's international airport, evaluated under USDA Regulation 5001 across six alternative building programs from 110,000 to 250,000 square feet using a 90+ tab financial model. The recommended 125,000-square-foot configuration carries a total project cost of $33,656,250 ($269.25/SF), reaches 84 percent stabilized utilization in Year 2 with a 41.7 percent EBITDA margin, and supports 65–85 permanent jobs with $3.2–4.5 million in annual payroll.
Temperature-controlled warehouse and logistics space with ammonia refrigeration, 72-hour backup diesel generation, building design exceeding local wind-load standards, and full regulatory compliance programs (EPA Risk Management Plan, OSHA Process Safety Management), supported by a 10 percent construction contingency of $2,923,296.
$17,481,604 senior secured loan (51.9% of TPC) at 9.50% on 25-year amortization, sized to a Year 2 DSCR floor of 1.40x; equity of $16,174,646 (48.1%).
Three challenges shaped the determination. First, leverage discipline in a 9.50 percent rate environment: at the 1.40x DSCR floor, a 5 percent revenue shortfall thins coverage to 1.07x and a 10 percent shortfall breaches it — the study sized the loan at 51.9 percent of cost rather than maximizing proceeds. Second, Gulf Coast hurricane and flood exposure, addressed through hardened design, comprehensive windstorm/flood coverage, and FEMA zone analysis. Third, ammonia-system regulatory compliance, budgeted explicitly at $75,000–150,000 initial and $30,000–50,000 annually.
Wert-Berater, Inc. is an independent feasibility study consulting firm founded in 1998, providing lender- and agency-facing feasibility studies, highest-and-best-use analyses, and capital-advisory support. The firm has completed more than 4,000 engagements across all 50 states and internationally, evaluating over $40.2 billion in project value for SBA, USDA, EB-5, conventional, and institutional financing decisions. In every engagement, fiduciary duty runs to the lender and the applicable agency.
Media contact: Donald Safranek, MSc, President, Wert-Berater, Inc. — +1 310-857-2443 ext. 800. Press inquiries only; client, lender, and property identities remain confidential.
President, Wert-Berater, Inc. — independent feasibility study consultants since 1998. More than 4,000 feasibility studies completed across all 50 states and internationally, evaluating $40.2 billion in project value for SBA, USDA, EB-5, conventional, and institutional financing decisions. Fiduciary duty runs to the lender and agency in every engagement.
+1 310-857-2443 ext. 800 · email · 1968 South Coast Hwy, Ste 2382, Laguna Beach, CA 92651 · 111 Town Square Pl Ste 1238 PMB 657834, Jersey City, NJ 07310 · 539 W. Commerce St #8486, Dallas, TX 75208
Schedule a ConversationIndependent feasibility studies since 1998 — 4,000+ engagements, $40.2 billion in evaluated project value. Standard delivery in 10 to 15 business days. Fiduciary duty to the lender and agency.