Power Technology Center Update

I read this article in the AZ Republic today, and ended up feeling a little bit confused about the message concerning businesses moving out of industrial parks in Gilbert:

Floratech isn't the only Gilbert company to move to Westech.

Scott Tonn, president of Essco Wholesale Electric Inc., said his company was one of the first to build in the center and moved there from a nearby Gilbert industrial park last year. An electric supply wholesaler, Essco wanted to relocate from leased space to a company-owned building but didn't want to move too far and inconvenience workers, he said.

Greg Tilque, Gilbert's economic development director, said the town always is working with companies and brokers to try to fill vacant spaces. Tilque also said the town attempts to stay in contact with companies already there, but it isn't easy.

"With all the growth we've had, we can't contact all of them," he said.

For nearly two decades, the 130-acre Westech Corporate Center, northeast of Warner Road and Arizona Avenue, just west of Gilbert, has grown little more than weeds behind elaborate monument entry signs.

The Chandler site is sprouting buildings, businesses and jobs.

This sounds like Chandler is getting the buildings, businesses and jobs, and Gilbert is losing them. So I asked The Mister for an interpretaion and an overview of the industrial land situation in Gilbert.

He says that there is no net move of businesses from Gilbert to Chandler, and if the reporters wanted to, they could have featured other businesses moving into Gilbert. There are two parks in Gilbert with virtually the same story as this article: they sat vacant for years and now they are approaching buildout. So the fact that it is happening in Chandler does not mean it isn't happening in Gilbert.

Much of the industrial space along I-10, the Price Freeway and US 60 is now occupied, so Gilbert's (and Chandler's) industrial parks are starting to get some action. This also drives interest in the industrial zoned ground along Power, Sossaman, and the SanTan freeway, even though the freeway isn't yet opened.

So Morrison Ranch has seen some new interest in its industrial ground as well. We are actually beginning to get calls of interest for something other than residential or commercial projects. The Power Technology Center at Morrison Ranch is on the west side of Power Road from the power lines north of Elliot to Warner. The town has brought sewer service out there. We have brought water out there because of our other communities; so the infrastructure is already there.

We are currently working on putting together a joint venture agreement with a company that is very experienced in industrial park development. So one of these days in the not too distant future Power Technology Center will be more than just a name on our map.