"We've taken space with our company's Texas operations," says company CEO Richard S. Allen. "We're getting everyone shoehorned into the existing office space." The lease at Chase Tower at 2200 Ross Ave. expires late summer 2009 and Allen says he'd like to see plans for Dallas Logistics Hub's first office building underway at that time.

"Our goal is to build the first office building on the DHL site," he comments. "But to do that, we need a major tenant. We're working on that and working with the local community to assist us on that." He tells GlobeSt.com that Allen Group would build a 50,000-square-foot building and take approximately 5,000 square feet with other tenants taking the remainder of the space.

Allen says Dallas was considered a logical site for the new headquarters because Dallas Logistics Hub is the company's largest and most important project. Additionally, a move from California was logical because the company's West Coast activity is slowing up.

"We still have major developments in California," Allen explains. "We're still building out a lot of those projects. But over the past three years, our new projects haven't been in California. They've been here, in Dallas, and in Kansas."

Furthermore, he continues, Texas has a very business-friendly climate. "The local politicians have been very supportive of our project, and this is where we have the majority of our land and investment," he adds. "It made sense to have the corporate team here."

Projects for the mixed-use Dallas Logistics Hub include a 200,000-square-foot build-to-suit auto auction complex for Adesa Inc. that broke ground during fall 2008 and a long-term container-yard lease with Bridge Terminal Transport signed in late November 2008. Additionally, Allen Group's sale of 198 acres to BNSF Railway Co. in May 2008 makes Dallas Logistic Hub the nation's first industrial park with two intermodal facilities.

Allen says there are other negotiations in progress for lease of the spec space and potential build to suits on the acreage. "We believe we'll be able to make other major announcements within the next 60 to 90 days," he adds. "We're seeing a lot of activity there."