Benderson starts industrial project in Ellenton

Buoyed by a lack of industrial space in Sarasota and Manatee counties, Benderson Development Co. has kicked off construction of a new multi-building “flex” project in the Ellenton section of Manatee County.

The company's Gulf Coast Commerce Park will initially contain a trio of buildings containing roughly 300,000 square feet, which will be completed in mid-2018. A second phase calls for another three buildings to be constructed.

But Larry Fineberg, the company's executive director of industrial, office and warehouse projects, says the 100-acre site, across Interstate 75 from the Ellenton Outlet Mall, could accommodate a build-to-suit tenant seeking as much as 1 million square feet.

“We're hoping to take this type of space to another level with this project,” Fineberg says. “It'll have a beautiful look, and be very flexible and functional for tenants.”

The 32-foot-clear ceiling height buildings will have a depth of up to 200 feet, contain ESFR sprinklers and T-5 lighting, with ample parking, Fineberg adds.

“We like the location right off of I-75, which will provide good access and visibility for tenants, Fineberg says. “It will also help diversify the region's economy, bringing in the kinds of production and office jobs that the area needs.”

He notes, too, that the new commerce park will be similar to the developer's SRQ Commerce Park and SRQ Commerce Park North projects, on U.S. 301 in Manatee County just north of University Parkway, which today contain nearly 500,000 square feet and are nearly fully committed.