Plant City will soon be home to a new project at Lakeside Logistics. A 1,400-acre development on Henderson Way is officially underway and is scheduled to provide half-day truck service to a large portion of Florida’s 21 million residents.
With the rise of e-commerce, companies are demanding same-day delivery for many of their goods and a massive warehouse for an industrial tenant helps combat that necessary market requirement.
“In close proximity to consumers, labor and a confluence of heavily-trafficked roadways, Lakeside Logistics is the perfect spot for an industrial tenant who wants easy access not only to Orlando and Tampa, but to just about any market throughout the state,” Moses Salcido, Principal of Development & Investment for Foundry Commercial, said. “The site is located within miles of two international airports, a shipping port and railways. We are delighted at the prospect of not only bringing Class A logistics facilities to the region and accommodating this demand, but in bringing new jobs to the region as well. This project was made more attractive by economic incentives from the local municipality, emphasizing the area’s pro-business stance, which we know is important to any new tenants who will occupy this space.”
Foundry along with Ascentris, a Denver-based real estate private equity firm, announced that development plans are officially underway. Phase I of the development will deliver a “36 foot clear, 500,000+ square foot, cross-dock warehouse distribution facility,” which is expected to be completed in early Spring 2020. Subsequent phases are loosely in the planning stages and will range from 100,000 to 1,000,000 square feet, with the expectation that Lakeside Logistics II, which is the project’s second phase, is to be delivered sometime in 2020.
Work has already begun as of this week and it will be a quick process from here to bring the facility to life. Bob Appleyard, with Sunrise Homes, said Plant City has really demonstrated a commitment to bringing development to town in the last several years, especially following the extension of utilities down County Line Road.
Thanks to the assistance of Jake Austin, president of the Plant City Economic Development Corporation, the company was able to work closely with City Manager Bill McDaniel on this project and they said the city welcomed the opportunity to have such a massive undertaking choose Plant City as its home base.
The I-4 corridor is primed as the perfect location to house a logistics facility as Orlando, Tampa, I-75, I-275 and many other major roadways are less than an hour away. It’s becoming increasingly difficult to restock Florida corporations, Salcido said, and the demand for in-state centers of this nature are on the rise.
“If you were to take the I-4 corridor and describe it as a state, that would be the fourth-fastest growing state in the nation,” Salcido said. “When you’re talking about that kind of growth, it is only natural that you ensure there is readily available access to sites like Lakeside Logistics Park.”
As ideal as the general location of Plant City is, the character of the community has long put it on the radar of Appleyard, who has done business in town for several years. The passion that is found in its citizens is unparalleled and he said it’s crucial the company remained plugged into the community and sensitive to the impact any development could have on the area.
James Proffitt, with Ascentris, agreed adding the goal is to create the ability to effectively serve Florida in the process of distribution. The companies have been eyeing the corridor for quite some time and when discussions began in Plant City they quickly realized they had found a hidden gem.
The major impact out the gate is simple: a massive wave of jobs is on the way.
The logistics park will tackle a few targets ranging from finished goods to restock to retail and possibly manufacturing. Staffing will come hand-in-hand with the development and Salcido said the “employment impact could be quite significant.”
“There’s so much, even in a city of this size, there’s always something going on,” Austin said. “The job potential alone that will come as a result of this project is something that is going to make a massive impact on the community. Our job at the EDC is to make sure there’s no issues along the way, to help the conversations flow between interested parties and the city.”
Jim Rufrano, of HGR Construction, said the team began working on the site this Monday. They estimated a 10-month timeline to complete Phase I. As the phases come into existence, the project is promised to serve as long-term economic growth for Plant City.
For a video tour of the upcoming project click here.