New Warehouses, Office Building Planned for Lacey, Wash.

April 11, 2006
Commercial real estate developer Panattoni to build out growing industrial park

Apr. 4--LACEY -- A California developer has proposed more warehouse buildings for the growing industrial park known as Meridian Campus.

Commercial real estate company Panattoni Development of Sacramento, Calif., plans to build three buildings on 7 acres on the south side of Commerce Place Drive Northeast, according to a site plan review application filed with Lacey's community development department.

Also known as Summit Corporate Park, the three buildings would total more than 127,000 square feet, including two warehouse and distribution centers and a 10,000-square-foot office building. Tenants are to be decided at a later date, according to the site plan.

The proposed project isn't affected by the moratorium passed by the City Council, which prohibits the building of distribution centers 200,000 square feet or larger.

A spokesman for Panattoni's Lacey project could not be reached for comment.

The developer would like to break ground in July, begin work on the buildings in September and finish the project next April, according to city Associate Planner Ryan Andrews, who cited information that was completed as part of the company's environmental checklist.

If the project moves forward, the Panattoni development would join other Meridian Campus tenants such as Shipwreck Beads, the Spring Air mattress company, Ideal Furniture and Lumbermens, which opened its corporate headquarters last year.

Meridian Campus, which has been part of the city's master plan since 1986, has proven to be a popular destination for companies because of its proximity to Interstate 5 and the ports of Tacoma and Olympia, according to Jerry Litt, director of Lacey's community development department.

(The Olympian (Olympia, WA)(KRT) -- 04/05/06)