Going intermodal: Among the many quality industrial real estate options available to Tucson businesses, with its rail-served warehouse and manufacturing facilities, Century Park Research Center stands out as a unique option.
What differentiates this park?
It begins with hyperlocal, on-site ownership: the hands
on difference. Alan Levin moved his family from Kansas to Tucson in 1969 where, beginning in 1988, the Levins invested both financial resources and sweat equity in infrastructure supporting his community vision in several real estate developments and business ventures.
One key result was Century Park Research Center in Tucson. Located on the Union Pacific Rail Main Line, this Levin family and community asset provides alteratives to businesses not found elsewhere. Key attributes include:
- Large, highly functional buildings: Industrial buildings have a 30’ clear height and are fully fire sprinklered. For manufacturers needing inventory movement on site and to/through varied transportation methods, Century Park is Tucson’s only location with a combination of existing buildings up to 360,000 square feet (SF) and excess available land for nearly unlimited, flexible growth. Using in-house construction, the owner will also build to a user’s specifications (“build to suit”).
- Family-owned business: With local ownership, business decisions are made quickly and decisively — no time-consuming boards and committees. As an example, if a business needs temporary space to warehouse a shipment, the answer is forthcoming immediately. The family has ensured that multiple generations are highly involved in key business aspects such as construction, logistics, and marketing, allowing continuity for years to come.
- Intermodal container handling: Branded the Port of Tucson, this facility accomodates inbound and outbound product by rail which is served by local, on-site, skilled movement of goods in the yard. From transload and reload services to container yard storage, tenants are assured skilled movement of goods in a setting unique in the market place.
- Rail-served commercial real estate: Few, if any, properties in Tucson are truly rail served. Only at Century Park and thanks to Alan Levin’s foresight, can true rail-served space be delivered directly off the main line. Intermodal services provide rail benefits to all of the Park’s buildings. This amenity ensures seamless, cost-effective shipping for Park tenants.
- Preferred status: Backed by both Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) and Enterprise Zone status, qualifying operators who import good for manufacture or distribution enjoy lower inventory costs, reduced tariffs, and tax incentives. Many Century Park tenants, such as Kimberly Clark‘s Avent division and Macsteel, capitalize on close proximity to manufacturing and assembly operations in Sonora Mexico.
- Cold storage solutions: Tucson Frozen Storage, the site’s fully-operational cold storage operation, supports businesses with cost effective product storage and shipping benefits in concert with the FTZ.
- Property ownership: In addition to space for lease, rail-served lots have been designated for purchase or lease in Century Park Phase II.
Firms doing business at Century Park Research Center include MTD Distributors, Biagi Bros., SupplyOne and Boeing. These companies have matched competitive site advantages to their business strategy and have paved the way for others to join them.
Russ Hall joined PICOR in 1992 after a nine year tenure.jpg)
with Grubb & Ellis. He is a company principal and consistent top producer, specializing in addressing the leasing and sales objectives of project owners and developers, selling of investment properties, assisting users in site selection, and identifying and promoting prime development opportunities. Russ represents space for lease and sale in Century Park Research Center.
Video credit: Tucson Regional Economic Opportunities (TREO).
Photo credits: Levin Family, Port of Tucson, Gary Rumack Photography
