A creative repurposing project has breathed new life into the site of a former manufacturing facility in Bend, which is now poised to act as a catalyst for economic growth in the rebounding industrial sector. The 125,000 square foot former Fuqua Homes factory spanning several acres on Murray Road in Northeast Bend was once a major employer in the city – with a workforce numbering over 300 at the height of production in 2006, constructing hundreds of manufactured and modular homes.
But the company became mired in legal problems, compounded by the effects of the recent recession severely impacting the residential market, which led to loan delinquencies and the Bend plant – which had dwindled down to 50 workers by 2010 – being foreclosed on by a Texas holding company in 2011. The facility was reclaimed via the Sherriff’s Deed process with employees asked to leave in the middle of production and all equipment left on site.
Thereafter, local commercial real estate specialist Fratzke Commercial was hired to market the facility for sale, with the vision to sell to an owner/user prospect or a redeveloper.
The company smoothed the way for prospective candidates by addressing areas such as the registering of underground injection controls (UICs) and drywells, оформить заявку на карту, as well as coordinating the auctioning off of personal property remaining at the site.
A number of interested parties toured the site in the context of a strengthening economy witnessing increased industrial demand and an LLC headed by investor Brad Kent acquired the property in late 2013 with the idea, pitched by Fratzke principal Brian Fratzke, of renovating the site off Boyd Acres Road into a multi-tenant facility.
The investor vision for the property included saving as many of the existing structures as possible, and with the help of utilizing Systems Development Charge (SDC) and trip credits for fees already paid, plans were formulated for reconfiguring the facility into potential varying sized industrial suites.
A team was assembled including Pinnacle Architecture, SunWest Builders and Hickman, Williams and Associates to help bring the concept to fruition, with the updated facility, named Murray Road Industrial Center, now able to accommodate separate industrial suites from 1,761 square feet to larger scale units of over 20,000 square feet to provide options for companies moving to Bend or existing operators looking for more space.
Utility efficiency has been increased with the help of Energy Trust incentives, while the potential relocation pot has been sweetened with the assistance of Economic Development for Central Oregon (EDCO) and the site being located within the Enterprise Zone allowing prospective users to derive benefits such as abating property taxes on equipment.
An access road which will be dedicated to the City of Bend has been continued, which will also open up property to the north for potential future development, while three additional Light Industrial (IL) zoned lots have been carved out on the site now available for sale ranging from 1.6 to 2.9 acres — billed as “shovel ready” and easily developable with utilities to site.
The newly updated facility comprising the main structure includes some spec suites to be completed next month and additional square footage available in a variety of potential configurations pending further lease negotiations, Fratzke and co-broker Tom Tapia told a group of commercial realtors during a recent open house and tour of the site.
One unique feature of the renovated steel framed property is the installation of an interior roadway, able to be accommodated due to the width of the facility, allowing potential users access to dock-high loading and a fork-lift route to all suites.
Other highlights include high powered three phase electrical service, 14 foot roll-up doors and 16 foot access door, signage and access from Highway 97, enhanced LED lighting, a six-inch poured concrete slab and negotiable tenant improvements.
Over 100 people worked on the project, including 25 subcontractors, and Fratzke commented: “I think it is gratifying that we found a way to re-use the existing facility and create new options as far as light industrial availability is concerned for potential users in an expanding economy.
“One of the keys to success is adaptability and we are proud to have been a part of seeing this project through to a successful conclusion.”
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