Jafza International changes development plans

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Jafza International changes development plans

By Molly Parker
mparker@scbiznews.com
Published Sept. 21, 2009

Jafza International has retooled its Phase 1 development plan for the massive logistics and warehousing complex the company has proposed for rural Santee.

Project map Jafza is currently marketing four separate parcels of land on the outskirts of its 1,300-acre property. The plots highlighted in yellow on this map are available immediately for light manufacturing, warehousing and logistics space.

They are (from left to right):

· A 49.3-acre parcel near Santee’s Town Hall building.

· A 75.6-acre parcel located adjacent to the Santee Outlet Mall.

· A 90.6-acre parcel on Intracoastal Lane.

· A 55.9-acre parcel off Resort Street.

Originally, Jafza had planned to put a 135-acre parcel in the center of its land on the market first and secure an anchor tenant for the project. But those plans are on hold as government officials attempt to secure millions of dollars for necessary road improvements.

The original Phase 1 project requires the addition of an interchange on Interstate 95 so that U.S. Highway 301 can be accessed from the interstate’s northbound lane. It also requires the extension of U.S. Highway 301 east of I-95 to S.C. Highway 6. Combined, these projects are expected to cost up to $60 million.

Jafza and Orangeburg County officials are projecting that the road project will be completed by 2012.

Market materials outlining the revised development plans were sent out last week to 1,200 customers worldwide, a company spokeswoman said.

In total, Jafza International, based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, is planning 4 million square feet of warehouse and distribution space, to be a hub for storage, processing and then transportation of goods shipped through the Port of Charleston.

The company announced its aggressive development plans in November, but economic conditions have slowed projections. Jafza is not building on a speculative basis and only plans to erect buildings once a tenant is secured, company officials have said.

Reach Molly Parker at 843-849-3144.

Plan aims to foster logistics

By T&D Staff Sunday, September 06, 2009

A Columbia-based public/private economic development partnership launched a “strategic communications” plan to help bolster the state’s Transportation, Distribution and Logistics (TDL) Cluster.

The plan was unveiled at the South Carolina Economic Developers’ Association’s recent fall membership meeting.

The cluster’s plan was presented to a crowd of 150 economic development leaders from across the state.

The TDL cluster consists of World Trade City Orangeburg and the Orangeburg County Development Commission. The cluster has about 40 participants.

“The purpose of the plan is to promote a greater understanding of the critical nature of the cluster and its impact on South Carolina’s overall economy,” Cluster Co-Chair Deepal Eliatamby, president of Alliance Consulting Engineers, said.

Over the next six months, the TDL Cluster plans to present the plan at events in Orangeburg.

The plan outlines five main goals and strategies to accomplish over the course of the next 18 months, including raising awareness and recruiting stakeholders; marketing the importance of the cluster; establishing a TDL council composed of industry and government members; and raising funds to support the cluster’s growth, development, and projects.

Launched in February 2008 under the guidance of New Carolina -- also known as the S.C. Council on Competitiveness -- TDL was formed to provide a formal structure for transportation, distribution, and logistics companies to collaborate and address issues impacting the state’s industry.

The TDL Cluster has been working over the past year to develop a strategic communications plan that industry leaders identified was needed at a statewide summit held in May 2008.

Jafza Update August 25th 2009

Here are some of my observations and impressions of the Jafza Update on August 25th, 2009.

At the Orangeburg Lunch Rotary Club meeting last week, Tara Roberton form Jafza gave an update on their project in Santee. Tara is the spokeswomen for Jafza.

Important points:

1. New Name - Jafza Magna Park, Santee, SC
The new name suggests closer ties between Gazeley and the Jafza USA development team.

2. Change of development plan -
Jafza is going to focus on developing 4 tracts of land that comprise 200 acres. These parcels will require less infrastructure and can be developed almost immediately.

3. Marketing - Jafza is kicking off a new marketing campaign. They will be looking for both domestic and foreign clients for Santee.

4. Ground breaking 1st Quarter 2010.

I think that delays in funding for the I-95 exit 97 upgrade and the extension of US 301 have contributed to Jafza having to change it plans. Another contributing factor is the lack of demand for warehouse and logistic space. As the global economy grows and products begin to be traded again internationally, Jafza Magna Park will grow and become a reality.

Ron