GlobeSt.com UPDATE: WaMu's Plan Still Includes DFW

Citing the strength of its multifamily business line, a WaMu corporate spokesman tells GlobeSt.com that the plan is to grow the North Texas-based division even more. Earlier this month, WaMu bought a 123,750-sf, class A call center with 46 abutting developable acres in Irving that seemingly leveled the playing field in the bid for the nation's largest job creation in recent years. "It will help with future growth in our national operations," the spokesman stresses. "It will be good to be able to have the available space." The immediate focus, though, is on MCI's 75-acre campus at 20855 Stone Oak Parkway in North San Antonio.

In 30 to 90 days, the Seattle-based WaMu will start the hiring process for the first wave of jobs, which will total 4,200 over the next seven years. The three seven-year-old buildings, totaling 405,000, are still being evaluated for modifications, the spokesman says, adding the team's also jumped into discussions about a campus expansion. Key to the deal is the site's build-out capability of one million sf.

Under the deal terms, the Clinton, MS-based MCI Communications Corp., part of WorldCom Technologies Inc., is keeping a 500-employee operation in place at one of the three buildings. WaMu's spokesman confirmed a lease has been signed, but neither side will talk about how much space or how long the group's planning to stay.

The Texas Enterprise Fund kicked in $15 million for the WaMu win. San Antonio and Bexar County anted up the economic incentives with another $3.6 million for training, renovation and site acquisition, according to the spokesman. As for the final price, buyer and seller are mum. The property, though, is assessed at $27.4 million by Bexar County. For previous story, click here.