Suffolk Says Yes to CenterPoint Properties Proposal

It looked like an uphill fight.  CenterPoint Properties, a Chicago-based developer of warehouse distribution centers, had purchased 900 acres in Suffolk and needed a rezoning from City Council on about half the land to build a $350-million project.

Challenge #1 was the location, on a section of Route 58 that the City would like widened from 4-6 lanes.   Challenge #2 was the funding. With the economy stumbling and priorities elsewhere, finding $55-million for the road improvement looked iffy.

Joel Rubin and Battinto Batts of Rubin Communications Group collaborated with CenterPoint executives in Illinois, its local engineers from Kimley Horn & Associates and attorneys from Kaufman & Canoles in Norfolk, on media and community relations.  “I was really impressed with CenterPoint’s development consultants,” says Joel Rubin.  “Bob Harbour and Bob Williams did a wonderful job of working with city staff and elected officials to meet their needs and make this a win-win.”  The final package provides Suffolk with utility upgrades, land for a fire station and water tower and together with funds from a neighboring warehouse firm, more than $13-million for Route 58. That’s quite an advance, and Suffolk’s hope is that the federal and state governments will eventually put up their share to complete the highway widening.

These promises, plus the pledge of up to 2,900 on site jobs and $3-million in annual real estate tax revenue, convinced first the Planning Commission and then the City Council on January 21 to okay the rezoning, the latter unanimously.

“We really enjoyed working with CenterPoint,” says Rubin.  “They are a first rate company, owned by the California Public Employees Retirement System, with lots of experience in port-related industry.  We intend to help them become better integrated into the Suffolk community, which is one of their primary goals. They were very complimentary of our efforts and connections, but they demonstrated a lot of integrity and that was the key to their success.”