Developers plan rail-served industrial park in El Campo
Stonemont Financial Group is moving forward with the first phase of the Southwest International Gateway Business Park, a 540-acre rail-served industrial park planned in El Campo, 60 miles southwest of Houston.
The Atlanta-based developer announced plans to begin sitework on the project, which targets cross-border shippers, in the first quarter. Vitro Chemicals, a subsidiary of Mexico-based glass manufacturer Vitro, has leased a 125,000-square-foot distribution center in the project. Additionally, a 200,000-square-foot speculative warehouse will be built in the 170-acre first phase.
The industrial distribution park, which could eventually contain up to 8 million square feet, seeks to capitalize on its location along the Kansas City Southern Railway, which extends from the Pacific coast of Mexico to Illinois. The park is midway between Houston and Victoria along Interstate 69, south of County Road 421.
“To deliver product to the major Texas markets, many of the
Mexico-based manufacturers currently switch to another railway in Laredo, pass through San Antonio and then deal with the rail and truck congestion of Houston,” Stonemont Financial CEO Zack Markwell said in an announcement. “Our park establishes a new inland port that avoids all three of these time and cost headaches, allowing companies to invest more dollars in core business activities that foster long-term growth and success.”
Ridgeline Property Group, also based in Atlanta, is partnering with Stonemont. Houston-based NAI Partners is overseeing leasing. Watco Cos. will operate the short-line railroad connecting the buildings to the KCS main line.
The project was originally to begin in mid 2018.
“There have been a lot of moving pieces that all have to fit together in just the right way for everything to move forward, and we are there,” said Carolyn Gibson, executive director for the City Development Corp. of El Campo.
The city of El Campo has committed $3 million for water and wastewater infrastructure, Gibson said.