"Gardner intermodal facility tops 2006 real estate deals"
BNSF Intermodal Facility and Logistics Park
A proposed $200 million intermodal logistics park within the city of Gardner. could be just the thing needed to give the city of Gardner the shot in the arm it needs.
By the time developers complete the project, its total cost is expected to approach $850 million.
Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway Co. and developer The Allen Group are working with the city to annex land for the 1,300-acre project, destined to be the railway's third such site. The others are just outside Chicago and Dallas.
The park will be the recipient of predominantly Asian goods shipped through Pacific Coast ports and brought by train to the site. In Gardner, the freight either will be stored in privately owned, on-site warehouses, or dispersed by truck or train from distribution centers.
BNSF has bought 99 percent of the land at the site. The railway has projected late 2008 for completion of the 300-acre intermodal hub. Before that, the remaining 1,000 acres will be developed with warehouses and distribution facilities.
The economic benefits for the city are projected to be great. It is estimated that the park as a whole will create more than 7,000 new jobs at full buildout, which is expected to take 20 years. And the project could reduce the city's current 85 percent residential property tax revenue burden to 50 percent.
This coupled with the news of the Mexico SuperHighway could spell great opportunity for the Gardner, KS area. Various plans are ongoing to include the Trans Texas Corridor, a route through Texas from the Mexico border incorporating Rail and other ground transport.
Other talk of this plan include a massive combination of rail and ground transport all converging on a map location near Grandview MO. a location close to Gardner KS.
Grandview, MO may be the location for this jumping off "inland port" while the KC Smart Port is also under consideration. In March 2005, Kansas City signed a cooperative pact with representatives from the Mexican State of Michoacan and representatives from Lazaro Cardenas to increase cargo volume between the two cities.
It has become apparent, now in 2009 that the NAFTA Super Highway will indeed be I-49
or the former 71 Highway, it will indeed feed from Mexico to Grandview, MO and create great investment opportunities for Americans who choose to seize this moment in history!
Locations like Butler, and Rich Hill, Mo offer greater investment potential than ever before!
Some call it the NAFTA Superhighway!
7000 Jobs for an area like Gardner, KS may be just the beginning. If this is the future of trade for our nation these inland ports may replace the ports of the West Coast.
National Real Estate Investor even has an article on this.
http://nreionline.com/mag/real_estate_railroad_renaissance/index.html
For a real estate investor this is one to watch! The need for housing of all types will be great. Residential and multifamily housing will be in great demand. On the commercial real estate side, there will be a need for warehouse facilities, service related industries, like food, clothing and automotive needs. The need for truck stops, lodging and restaurants will be great.
If you think it is a great improvement or are concerned that it may infringe on our nations security, the fact remains this may be a great opportunity for real estate investment.
From www.nreionline.com : Even some railroad companies hope to tap the real estate potential generated by intermodal yards, acquiring land on their own and then seeking fee developers to oversee their projects. Examples include a Union Pacific project in San Antonio and a BNSF development in Kansas City. Railroad owner CSX Corp., meanwhile, is developing an industrial park around its intermodal yard in Winter Haven, Fla.
Kansas City Investment Property
