Project manager Jones Lang LaSalle also offers "inside the fence" distribution development opportunities; Southwest and Delta committed to passenger service
PANAMA CITY, Fla., Nov. 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Air freight carriers, manufacturers, distributors and other aviation-related users have a rare occasion for greenfield "inside the fence" development opportunities at Florida's first truly green airport and industrial business park, located at the new Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport.
On schedule to open in May 2010, the 4,000-acre airport includes 1,400 acres of commercial and industrial land available for development with favorable zoning. Opportunities include parcels of all sizes with direct runway access, as well as select off-runway parcels to accommodate both traditional airfield and compatible non-traditional airfield based users.
Jones Lang LaSalle represents the Bay County Airport and Industrial District ( the "Authority") in arranging long-term leases to facilitate development, and also serves as project manager for developing the Property adjacent to Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport.
Southwest Airlines and Delta Airlines have committed to passenger service at the new airport. In addition, the Authority is in the process of obtaining foreign trade zone status.
According to Bob Montgomery, Southwest's vice president of properties, current plans call for eight non-stop flights a day from four different cities, totaling about 2,000 passengers per day coming into the new airport. "I'm just so happy to be here and so happy that this day has finally come," Montgomery said, noting that the airline would help make the region more accessible to a broader market across the country.
Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport was designed to be the nation's greenest airport. Development includes extensive use of sustainable construction materials, a landscaping plan that will not require supplemental irrigation, and a terminal building that is on track to become the first LEED Certified airport terminal in the United States.
"Panama City's great transportation infrastructure, central location, strong defense/aerospace presence, and educated workforce makes it ideal for air freight distribution, manufacturing and high-tech aviation-related services, and the opportunity for direct runway access at a greenfield site makes this airport a unique opportunity for a number of different user types," said Richard Norton, Vice President at Jones Lang LaSalle. "The fact that Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport is one of the greenest airports in the country will be a strong consideration as companies become more and more conscious of their environmental impact."
To help mitigate the development of the Airport, 9,600 acres of West Bay coastline, wetlands, and pine forest have been set aside as part of the Airport Conservation Easement. The Authority has also developed detailed plans for wetlands mitigation, wildlife management, a state-of-the-art storm water management system and wastewater treatment that all greatly exceed minimum requirements set by Florida law by voluntarily committing to follow Outstanding Florida Water standards for storm water, the highest standard in the state of Florida.
The Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport anchors the 75,000-acre West Bay Sector Plan, a long term land use plan for mixed-use residential, commercial and business development. It features permanent protection of 41,000 acres of environmentally sensitive land, including 33 miles of shoreline on West Bay and 44 miles of local creeks and tributaries.
Please call Richard Norton at 312.228.2388 or visit the Property web site for additional information: WWW.JLLNEWFLAIRPORT.COM.
About Jones Lang LaSalle
Jones Lang LaSalle (NYSE: JLL) is a financial and professional services firm specializing in real estate. The firm offers integrated services delivered by expert teams worldwide to clients seeking increased value by owning, occupying or investing in real estate. With 2008 global revenue of $2.7 billion, Jones Lang LaSalle serves clients in 60 countries from 750 locations worldwide, including 180 corporate offices. The firm is an industry leader in property and corporate facility management services, with a portfolio of approximately 1.4 billion square feet worldwide. LaSalle Investment Management, the company's investment management business, is one of the world's largest and most diverse in real estate with more than $37 billion of assets under management. For further information, please visit our Web site, www.joneslanglasalle.com
SOURCE Jones Lang LaSalle
/CONTACT: Craig Bloomfield, +1-312-228-2774, craig.bloomfield@am.jll.com
/Web site: http://www.joneslanglasalle.com
