ATLANTA—Sealy & Company is betting big on Greater Atlanta? How big? The commercial real estate investment and operating company acquired Northwest Business Center in Marietta, GA for Sealy Strategic Equity Partners (SSEP).

“The Marietta submarket continues to demonstrate the fundamentals for a sustained pro-business environment and provides a catalyst for increasing rental rates in the area,” says Scott P. Sealy, Jr. “We are encouraged by the improving vacancy rates and positive absorption in the Northwest Atlanta market and find this portfolio to be an excellent addition to SSEP.”

Northwest Business Center includes 12 warehouse and flex/light industrial buildings totaling nearly 472,000 square feet. With the new Atlanta Braves ballpark project nearby and fast access to Interstate 75 and Interstate 285, Sealy expects the portfolio find plenty of occupiers. The company specifically pointed to “stimulated needs for local development and distribution.”

What's more, the Marietta submarket is located in a state of Georgia Opportunity Zone. With state programs to fuel employment, invest in roadways, and connect the area to nearby universities and job centers, Sealy is betting this area is positioned to grow. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“Atlanta is very competitive, much like other larger metro areas,” Steve Martin, managing principal at SDP Partners in Atlanta, tells GlobeSt.com. “The distresseddeals we all bought in the past three or four years are all gone—there's no more low-hanging fruit. The bar has been raised with the margin for error reduced. If one wants the higher yields, they most likely need to look to development.”