Kinston's Global TransPark in North Carolina may have narrowly missed being an EADS finalist, but there is plenty of transport-related development occurring in the state. In the background, state legislators are weighing measures that would loosen weight restrictions for trucks travelling to construction sites on state highways. And, in a twist on the usual course of airport-related industrial development, a 1,000-acre (405-hectare) research park proposed by UNC-Chapel Hill may involve the closing of Horace Williams Airport to make room.
      The latter project is currently in the midst of a transportation study. But the study period is over in the Piedmont Triad, where the spinoff from the recently announced Dell assembly plant continues. In May, APL Logistics was in the final stages of lease negotiation on a facility near the Dell plant, which is located in Alliance Science and Technology Park.
      The supplier logistics center, similar but on a bigger scale than the one APL operates for Dell in Nashville, will be based in a 500,000-sq.-ft. (46,450-sq.-m.) warehouse scheduled to begin operation in mid-September. It will handle the inventory for some 50 suppliers that provide parts to Dell. APL will initially occupy just 20 percent of the space, but will ramp up to full capacity and some 50 full-time employees over the next three years. Additional labor of up to 100 seasonal and temporary staff is also anticipated.
      The industrial trend of underutilized properties throughout the Carolinas, following the move of so much of the region's textile work, has prompted at least one company to form to do something to herd the white elephants. Based in Charlotte, ForSite Development Partners, LLC, is aiming to renovate and turn around properties — and with them turn around an economy.
      "There have been exceptional real estate opportunities over the past three years as a result of the number of plant and distribution center closings throughout the region during the economic slowdown," said co-founder Patric Zimmer, formerly an incentive negotiation and site selection consultant. "Our overall objective during this improving economy is to identify, purchase and lease industrial properties in the Charlotte region and beyond."
      The company's first two acquisitions were a 250,000-sq.-ft. (23,225-sq.-m.) facility in Monroe formerly owned by Square D Corp., and a 240,000-sq.-ft. (22,296-sq.-m.) facility in Morganton formerly owned by Rexnord Industries. Zimmer's partner Tom McKittrick was formerly a senior vice president with Indianapolis-based industrial developer Lauth Property Group.
      But even with the vacant space, just up I-85 in Kannapolis, MarkPiercePool Properties is building a $2.5-million, 57,600-sq.-ft. (5,351-sq.-m.) spec building at the Gateway Business Park, formed in partnership with the city in 2000 and located at the juncture of a state highway 73 and I-85. The park's first spec facility, of exactly the same size, was leased in its entirety to Novant Health in June 2004. The new project is driven in part by query activity.
      "Eighteen industrial prospects have looked at the Gateway Business Park this year, and their interest ranges from small parcels to the entire back acreage," said Patrick Pierce, partner, MarkPiercePoole, Inc. "We feel the market is right to build a second spec building."
      I-85 and I-77 proximity also was key when lubricated bearing company Oiles North America located in the International Business Park in nearby Concord in the late 1980s. Oiles recently completed its third expansion since that time.