Plant City Plans: Developer Announces Building Project

January 27, 2015

 
 
Kyle Kennedy | The Ledger
 
A developer with ties to Lakeland has announced a new speculative building project for Plant City.
 
On Tuesday, Central Florida Development unveiled its plans for County Line Commerce Center, a 28-acre development that will include a 100,000-square-foot building designed for warehousing, manufacturing or office use.
 
Located a half mile south of Interstate 4 on County Line Road, the project marks the first new spec building to be constructed in Plant City in many years.
 
“There is increased demand in the market, and industrial users have expressed interest in moving to newer, more efficient buildings,” said Richard LeFrois, president of Central Florida Development.
 
“We are confident that this area will be very attractive to companies looking to capitalize on its unrivaled transportation infrastructure, quality workforce, and pro-business attitude,” he added.
 
Future plans for County Line Commerce Center include three additional buildings totaling 165,000 square feet. The site also has two parcels available for restaurant or retail use.
 
Total capital investment has been estimated at up to $20 million.
 
LeFrois, chief executive of a Rochester, N.Y.-based development firm, worked with the late real estate developer Larry Glazer, who was killed in a September plane crash.
 
Their local firm, Central Florida Development, owns approximately 200 acres of property in Lakeland and 100 acres in Plant City. Central Florida Development created the Eagles Landing property that is home to the WellDyne pharmacy services firm in Lakeland near I-4 and County Line Road.
 
The spec building at County Line Commerce Center is expected to be ready for occupancy in June.
 
“We’re very encouraged, we’ve already got interest in the building,” said Jeff Lucas, who is a local representative for Central Florida Development.
 
Lucas said the company also is working on a 75,000- square-foot office building across from Eagles Landing that is being built for an unnamed tenant. He said that project should be completed in June.
 
“We’re big believers in Lakeland and Plant City. We’re planning to do a lot more development in the area,” he said.