West County Brisk, Pacific Gateway Dominates

Orange County Business Journal, Apr 9-Apr 15, 2007 by Goodmanson, Bob

Trade continues to spur the absorption of industrial space in west Orange County.

The sales market has been most active primarily in Huntington Beach with notable sales of four buildings in the Astronautics Corporate Center consisting of more than 200,000 square feet by Santa Ana-based Burke Real Estate Group.

The area also saw the lease of a 185,000-square-foot distribution facility by Huntington Beach-based Morgan Sheet Metal Inc.

Recently completed is Overton Moore's Pacific Gateway Business Center in Seal Beach, consisting of 10 buildings totaling 830,000 square feet of state-of-the-art industrial buildings.

This 45-acre site was surplus Boeing Co. land that took eight years to get approved with California Coastal Commission restraints.

The project is seeing activity from local businesses as well as port-related companies. Companies are diversified with a mix of businesses in the apparel, automotive, household products and appliances, aerospace, construction products and electronics sectors.

Record high sales and lease numbers continue in West County due in part to new buildings and limited supply and development.

Strategically located to easily serve Los Angeles and Orange County with equal ease-while being close to the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles-the area's location has been impacted by recent growth, particularly from trade with Pacific Rim countries.

West County continues to be desirable for businesses. Demand should continue to be strong through the remainder of 2007.

Goodmanson is a senior vice president in the Newport Beach office of CB Richard Ellis.