(Read more on the industrial market.)

TORONTO-In one fell swoop, nearly half of the massive AMBProperty Corp. distribution center under development here has beenpreleased by Vitran Corp., a supply chain services provider thatwill use the park to expand operations for an existing client. The1.1-million-sf Airport Road Distribution Centre is AMB's latestentry into the Toronto industrial market, one in which the SanFrancisco-based REIT now controls 2.7 million sf of industrialproduct.

“We are pleased to welcome Vitran Logistics to the facility,”says Jay Cornforth, AMB's managing director for the east region.Besides a presence near the Pearson International Airport, thecomplex provides quick access to the Trans-Canada Highway andintermodal rail yards, he relays. All of those elements factoredinto Vitran's decision to commit to the property, according to thefirm's president of Canada and US Logistics, Michael Glodziak, whoalso cited the quality of the real estate being constructed.