Texas Medical Center Snags 627,000-SF Bakery for Lab and Office Space

HOUSTON-Texas Medical Center is paying about $15 million for the old 627,000-sf Nabisco bakery to be redeveloped into office and laboratory space. The 51-year-old plant was vacated by Nabisco Inc. last year when it shifted production to facilities in other parts of the nation.

A variety of cookies, Ritz crackers, graham crackers, Chips Ahoy and Cheese Nips snacks were baked in massive ovens there over the years. The Nabisco plant, which is situated on a 21-acre site, is located at the corner of Holcombe Boulevard. and Almeda Road, near the Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

Texas Medical Center owns about 650 acres where a number of hospitals, medical schools and other institutions are located. The Nabisco site is one of the only large tracts of land that have been available in the area. Any significant property that goes on the market is likely to be purchased–or at least closely examined–by the Texas Medical Center, which is planning for long-term growth. The redevelopment of the Nabisco plant could encourage more development on the eastern side of the medical center. Colliers International real estate firm handled the sale.