Work Pace Ratchets Up at $200M Port Crossing

LA PORTE, TX-The developers of the $200-million Port Crossing Commerce Center, which will eventually be built out to four million sf, are ready to add more industrial space. The project, slated for a formal groundbreaking Tuesday, has a 250,000-sf build-to-suit nearly done and work about to begin on another 959,905 sf.

As reported by GlobeSt.com in March 2006, the 295-acre project is the brainchild of a joint venture between Chicago-based ML Realty Partners and local developer and investor National Property Holdings. The 250,000-sf build-to-suit is being done for Frontier Logistics LP. National Property Holdings vice president Russell Plank tells GlobeSt.com that preliminary dirt work has begun on a 300,000-sf build-to-suit for Arizona Tile LLC, which will be completed in the summer. And construction will get under way in early February on two spec buildings, a 247,240-sf front-load, rail-served design and a 412,665-sf cross-dock distribution center. Both spec buildings also are penciled for completion in the summer.

"We think it's important to keep some kind of spec product out there for those large national and international tenants," Plank says. "They want to see things either under construction or nearing completion. As we lease these buildings, we'll continue putting similar buildings right at or adjacent to these."

Port Crossing's plans call for office and retail space to go up as well. Plank says it's too soon to be specific about the additional product type. "We're waiting for a little development to get on the ground and get recognized before we begin serious negotiations on retail and office," he explains.

Dallas-based Cadence McShane Corp. is the general contractor on the project. Local architect Munson Kennedy Partnership is handling design work for all but Frontier's building. CB Richard Ellis' Billy Gold is in charge of project leasing.