The Freeport VII bulk distribution-warehouse building, beingpositioned on 17.2 acres, will get under way in January 2001,shooting for an August completion. The structure will complementfive other Duke-Weeks buildings totaling 1,048,000 sf in the park,of which 344,000 sf is under construction in two structures.

And, there's plenty of room to grow. Duke-Weeks has just boughtan extra 141 acres that can support up to another 2.5-million sf ofsimilar projects, Jeff Turner, Duke-Weeks Dallas Group's seniorvice president, tells GlobeSt.com.

Turner says talks are ongoing with "five or six solid prospects"to lease Freeport VII, which boasts a flex design suited for singleor multi-tenant use. The newest undertaking will cost $11 million,based on a per sf cost of $30, says Turner. Aside from its design,the structure's biggest selling factor is the Triple Freeportexemption recently been approved by the City of Coppell and itsindependent school district. The exemption means significantsavings to large users with high inventory value.