Panattoni to redevelop Ford plant
Sacramento-based Panattoni Development Company will redevelop the former Ford Assembly plant on Lindbergh Boulevard in Hazelwood.
The redevelopment agreement announced today includes redeveloping all 155 acres and construction of 11 new buildings totaling about 2.6 million square feet of commercial and industrial space as well as parking.
The primary uses of the redeveloped site will be light industrial, warehousing and distribution, according to a press release from the City of Hazelwood.
At its peak when the plant manufactured Explorer and Mountaineer SUVs, the plant supported 2,500 jobs. When the plant was idled in March 2006, it had been in production for 28 years and employed 1,300 workers.
The company’s prior contract with the United Auto Workers - which was renegotiated last year - prevented the company from selling the plant until September 2007. As first reported on STLtoday.com in January, Dearborn-based Ford Motor Company was in negotiations with a potential developer rumored to be Panattoni.
The redevelopment plan will be considered by the City Council in its April 2 meeting. It is unclear how many new jobs the redevelopment will bring.
Panattoni designs and builds a range of commercial, retail and industrial buildings and has multiple projects in the St. Louis area.
(13 votes, average: 3.85 out of 5)
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It seems Hazelwood is benefiting from the airport expansion and the Ford Plant closing. The historically manifacturing suburb is becoming the a major light industrial, warehouse, and distribution center similar to Westport. The proximity to the airport makes locating these land uses and business types appropriate for Hazelwood instead of the floodplains of St. Peters or Maryland Heights.
Good for Hazelwood, this is a sign of their regenerating economy and contribution to the overall St. Louis economy. Highway planners made good decisions decades ago when they built Lindbergh, which efficiently funnels vehicular traffic in this area.