Keeping Company with GSW Industrial
Good year, good numbers keep companies at GSW

Less than five minutes from DFW International Airport, Great Southwest (“GSW”) Industrial Park has superior highway access in and out of the Metroplex via I-20, I-30, SH-360, SH-161 and Loop 12. Highway and road projects such as SH-161 in Grand Prairie and Interstate 30 in Arlington continue to move ahead thus contributing to land development and development potential. 

GSW Industrial Park

GSW consists of over 77 million square feet of industrial warehouse/distribution in over 900 different buildings.  Fifty years ago, Texas pioneer and visionary Angus G. Wynne, Jr., founder of the "Six Flags Over Texas" theme parks, created what was to be the nation’s largest master-planned business park.  GSW was implemented with a set of standards that developers throughout the country would envy and model after.  The park continues to see growth due to its central location and the ability for the occupants to service both Dallas and Fort Worth from one location.

Market Momentum

While industrial leasing activity as a whole is down from 2006 and 2007 numbers, the Dallas/Fort Worth industrial marketing continues to be somewhat insulated from the national economic downturn.  In general, the market is seeing less of the 250,000 plus square foot deals and experiencing steady activity from the local and regional companies occupying the midsize spaces.

As for the GSW Industrial Park, at the end of the second quarter 2008, the submarket was 88.6% occupied, slightly down from 90% at the end of the first quarter 2008.  Although several submarkets are experiencing negative absorption year-to-date, GSW has positive net absorption of 556,226 square feet as of the end of the second quarter.  Additionally, through the second quarter, the submarket has delivered 1,748,265 square feet of new construction and currently has an additional 2,914,323 square feet under construction.  This development activity ranks GSW as the second most active submarket in terms of product currently under construction.  South Dallas is the only submarket with more construction activity.

At a closer glance, the GSW flex sector and bulk warehouse projects both experienced positive absorption while the shallow-bay distribution projects experienced negative absorption.  Specifically, at the end of the second quarter 2008, the flex sector absorption was 102,434 square feet.  The bulk warehouse sector reported positive absorption of 727,323 square feet, and the shallow bay distribution market has experienced negative absorption of (273,531) square feet.

New Projects and Redevelopment

Crow Holdings Industrial is leading investment in Grand Prairie by building Trinity Overlook at GSW, a 305,000 SF distribution center on land purchased  along the Trinity Boulevard extension (completed last year to give transportation options to and from SH-360), along with Grand Lakes Distribution Center, a 636,000 SF facility currently under construction near IH-30 and MacArthur.  A future Crow project involves a land redevelopment opportunity on the former Safari Wildlife Park across from Lone Star Park.  With the help of TIF funding sources, the goal is to reclaim an estimated 158 acres of land from the Trinity River flood plain for development. 

GSW Industrial Association

Deed restrictions, designated sign criteria, architectural review committees, business crime watch committees and ongoing involvement and input of these issues and more by a concerned property owners association known as the GSW Association has helped to assure major corporations that the GSW Industrial Park is continuing to set the standard for industrial development. From the first deals in the late 1950's to the current developments, the GSW Industrial area has been an unqualified success thanks to the watchful eye of the Association.

By uniting property owners and businesses under one banner with a common goal, the Association continues to impact change, both politically and economically.  The cities of Grand Prairie and Arlington work closely with the Association to provide the necessary momentum to be successful and ensuring that GSW will continue to be one of the premier industrial developments in the nation.

Our Partnership

In providing the perfect combination of excellent location, abundant workforce, and pro-business community partnerships, GSW Industrial Park is your best choice.

Canon R. Shoults                                                         Terry Jones
GSW Marketing Director                                            Business Development Manager
Holt Lunsford Commercial, Inc.                               Grand Prairie Economic Development

Arlington Implements New District Standards

The City of Arlington recently adopted new design standards for the area surrounding Six Flags, Hurricane Harbor, the Ballpark and Cowboy’s Stadium, known as the Entertainment District.  The District is comprised of seven sub-districts, totaling 2,800 acres.  While the Standards apply to the Entertainment District in its entirety, each sub-district contains district/neighborhood-specific standards intended to compliment the look and feel of that particular area.  Portions of the Great Southwest Industrial District fall within the Brookhollow, Six Flags and Convention Center, Rail Corridor and 360 East Sub-Districts; meaning that any new or redevelopment of properties within this area will now fall under the purview of these standards. 

What do the Standards apply to?

• New development
• Redevelopment
• Expansion of Buildings
• Change of Uses

Because of the make-up of the Great Southwest (GSW) Industrial District, further information will focus on the expansion of buildings and change of use situations, as these modifications are most likely to occur in the GSW. 

With regard to building expansions, the Standards apply on a scaled approach as follows:

• <10%   Street trees, screening of service and mechanical equip., signs
• 10%-20%   The above items plus parking lot screening, site signs, site entry landscaping, façade colors
• 20%-30%   The above items plus public realm standards (sidewalk, open
  space), street furniture, private realm common elements (landscaping, fencing, and parking)
• 30% +    The above items plus the expansion must comply with all standards of the sub-district; three visual continuity elements are required. 

A change of use occurs when a new tenant moves into an existing space, which was previously occupied by a different use.  This situation occurs regularly among multi-tenant/flex buildings.  The change of use determination is made by the City’s One-Start Development Center at the time of building permit or certificate of occupancy for the new tenant.  Any change of use shall comply with the following standards:

• Street Trees, Parking Lot Screening, Screening of Service Area & Mechanical Equipment
• Site entry landscaping
• Façade Colors
• Covered Entry (tenant space)
• Sign (pertinent to that tenant space and any site signs)

For further details, please visit www.arlingtontx.gov/planning to view the recently adopted Section 9-1600-Entertainment District “ED” Overlay Standards portion of the Zoning Ordinance.  You may contact One-Start Staff at 817-459-6502 or the Office of Economic Development at 817-459-6115 for assistance in the area of applying the standards. 

Economic Tidbits
from Grand Prairie

I would like to invite you to join Terry and me in our grounding breaking ceremonies of Prime Outlet Grand Prairie in mid-to-late September 2008! 
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We’re bringing a one-of-a kind shopping experience to our new high-end, 485,000 square foot, pedestrian-friendly outlet center.

No more driving to San Marcos to shop for your World Class Brands!  From high fashion to favorite accessories at Neiman Marcus Last Call and Off 5th Saks Fifth Avenue … be prepared to be spoiled!

Watch our City website for updated schedule of activities.

Rita Heep
GP Economic Development

Weekday Bus Service Offered from Arlington to Ft Worth

Fort Worth Transportation Authority has launched week day bus service between Arlington’s Park and Ride lots and the Intermodal Transportation Center in Downtown Fort Worth.  Commuters can then ride the Trinity Railway Express or other T buses. 

The commuter service will offer three morning peak-period trips to Fort Worth and three evening peak-period trips back.  The pick up locations are at the Lamar Boulevard Park and Ride Lot (I-30 & Cooper) in N. Arlington and the South Park and Ride Lot (I-20 & Park Springs) in SW Arlington.

Fares:  $5 per day roundtrip or $80 per month.  For more information, visit www.the-t.com.