SkyBridge - Mesa's New International E-Commerce Hub - Attains "Lift-Off" Stage In New York Times

Photo Credit
Conor E. Ralph for The New York Times

Doesn't quite yet look like that in this opening story image, but it's more than obvious in one thing reported yesterday by Christine Negroni in this sub-headline:. Real estate developers are now looking at these former military bases for large projects like warehouse and logistics centers, which are needed to sustain the growth in e-commerce. . . "
Negroni goes on to say that officials involved in redeveloping decommissioned military bases have also discovered that the properties could still provide economic opportunities in their next life.

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Former Military Bases Find New Purpose Through E-Commerce
Real estate developers are looking at abandoned bases for large projects like warehouse and logistics centers, which are needed to sustain the growth in e-commerce.
by Christine Negroni June 18, 2019

Just two of those local "officials" are written-up: former Mesa City Manager Mike Hutchinson who saw an opportunity in 1993 and Marco Lopez, who saw much more later when SkyBridge was not an obvious project at first.

> “When this became available,” Mr. Hutchinson said of the aviation infrastructure at Williams Air Force Base, “with three runways and surrounding facilities, we said, ‘This is an opportunity. . . He and others formed the East Valley Partnership to decide what to do with the real estate, infrastructure and transportation access they had inherited. Williams and other bases affected by the closure program turned out to be valuable assets. . . "

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> The idea [of SkyBridge] was the brainchild of Marco Lopez, who had worked for Customs and Border Protection and was familiar with government operations in the United States and Mexico. He said he saw a disparity in the e-commerce delivery times in the two countries that seemed ripe for a solution, and the former military base had the space and the infrastructure to provide one. . .
We can’t have a system where you can get something delivered the next day in America and in Mexico it takes seven days,” he said. “Mexico is a key trade partner, and the customs services from the U.S. and Mexico have been looking for years for new technology to expedite trade and commerce. . .

. . . If the SkyBridge project allows retail and business products to be delivered directly to their international destinations, it could prompt new routes from Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport, Mr. Lopez said.

Airfreight is the fastest growing method of transporting goods across the United States border at Arizona, according to the office of the governor, Doug Ducey. The annual value of goods shipped through the state is estimated to be $390 million and is expected to exceed $600 million in the next five years.

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"Jeff Randolph, the managing director of Bluecup Ventures, a commercial real estate developer, is enthusiastic about the opportunities at former military bases.

 

“There’s significant value there that is only partially being realized,” he said. “They have the best infrastructure, roads, labor, power. It’s all there.”

 

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29 November 2017

360-acre Gateway AeroSpace Park Gets New Master Developer

This yesterday from Area Development News Desk 27 Nov 2017 

Sky Bridge Arizona:
Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport Plans Aerospace Park in Mesa, Arizona Link > http://www.areadevelopment.com/newsItems The Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport Authority selected Mesa SkyBridge as Master Developer of 360-acres of vacant airport property for Gateway Aerospace Park in Mesa, Arizona.

According to airport officials, the project renamed SkyBridge Arizona is expected to create thousands of jobs and represent hundreds of millions of dollars in regional economic benefit.

SkyBridge committed to invest between $20 and $25 million in infrastructure and will aggressively promote and market the many strengths and benefits of Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport.

The project will include:

• three 10,000 foot runways
• direct access to Arizona State Routes 202 and 24
• a highly-educated and skilled workforce
• Arizona’s close proximity to Mexico.

It is anticipated that SkyBridge Arizona will serve as an air logistics hub focused on shipping high-value goods and expediting the movement of air cargo between Mexico, Latin America and the United States.

At full build-out, the park could encompass between 3.5 - 5 million square feet of office, warehouse, logistics/cargo, hospitality, and retail space. . .

“We are pleased to partner with PMGAA to execute the unique vision we’ve developed for SkyBridge Arizona,” said Ariel Picker, CEO of Mesa SkyBridge, LLC. “Gateway Airport offers tremendous potential and SkyBridge Arizona is poised to be an industry leader in global logistics and international air cargo.” 
Mesa Mayor John Giles, who recently resigned as Chair of the PMGAA Board of Directors. made this remark: ". . . Today’s signing of the Master Development Agreement clears the next hurdle and moves us closer to bringing thousands of high-wage jobs to the Phoenix East Valley. . . "

The project will offer amenities such as Mexican customs officials stationed at Gateway Airport to pre-clear goods headed to Mexico. Currently, products headed into Mexico are routed to a select few airports in the country and sometimes have to wait weeks before being cleared by customs officials. With this program, customs officials from both countries work together to pre-clear cargo in the U.S. so it can go to hundreds of airport in Mexico as domestic product.
The development will include 3.5 million to 5 million square feet mix of warehouse, light industrial, and office, with some retail and a hospitality. The project sits within a Foreign Trade Zone and a Military Reuse Zone, which both provide significant tariff benefits and property tax savings to qualifying companies.
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27 November 2017
PMGAA selects SkyBridge
for new Gateway aerospace park in US