Industry News

Ford Motor Co. is considering building a parts distribution center in Mebane, N.C.  Ford's preferred site is the North Carolina Industrial Center, a 550-acre Alamance County business park developed by Samet Corp. Ford plans to lease a minimum of 225,000 sf, which could expand up to 930,000 sf in the next two years. Ford dealerships within a 250-mile radius would be serviced by the distribution center, which could require from 50 to 70 acres of land. Cost of the project, which could include two buildings, is estimated as high as $35 million.

Kinetic Concepts Inc. (KCI) has relocated its national call center, credit, billing, accounts receivable and third-party payer operations to the 58,000-sf KCI Advantage Center at the University Park Tech Center IV in San Antonio. The health care products maker previously housed these operations in 28,000 sf adjacent to the KCI Tower across the street. KCI's 290 employees were relocated in early March to the new facility, which was dedicated on April 5.

The Guadalupe Valley Electric Cooperative Inc. (GVEC) is building a Lineman's Training Facility on 11 acres of company-owned land in Gonzales. The Texas Electric Cooperatives, an Austin trade association, has partnered with GVEC to share building costs. The facility, slated for completion in August, is GVEC's third Texas site where journeyman linemen can benefit from educational programs and safety training. The first training facility opened in Levelland in 2001; GVEC is now building a Northeast Texas training facility in Henderson.

Catellus Development Corp. of San Francisco has preliminary approval from the Austin City Council to redevelop the Robert Mueller Municipal Airport. The 709-acre site will house a massive mixed-use project including office, retail, residential, and civic buildings. The 20-year project is estimated to cost between $80 million and $146 million. Ground may be broken on the first phase of construction early next year.

Having received approval from the Boston Redevelopment Authority, Suffolk University will begin building a new 386-bed dormitory adjacent to its Beacon Hill campus in late spring of 2002.