Oakland eyes ‘cargo-handling campus’

CenterPoint is expected to begin site preparation for a logistics complex in October and open building in 2020.    The Port of Oakland said Friday that CenterPoint Properties is expected to begin site preparation in October for a building at the port’s Seaport Logistics Complex on a 27- acre parcel CenterPoint is leasing from the port.
   Construction of the first 440,000-square-foot facility, to be called CenterPoint Landing, tentatively is scheduled to begin next spring and be completed in the summer of 2020.
   John Driscoll, Port of Oakland maritime director, said the building “will give freight shippers the opportunity to manage international supply chains right next door to the rail yards and marine terminals where their cargo is transported.”
   The port said the Seaport Logistics Complex “is envisioned as a cargo-handling campus that could change the trajectory of port business. Currently a West Coast terminus for transpacific trade vessels, Oakland could eventually double as a major freight distribution point.” 
   Most containerships in services from Asia call Oakland after first calling Los Angeles or Long Beach. But for years the Port of Oakland has striven to find a carrier that would make it a first inbound port of call from Asia. If that happens, the new complex could be an attractive location to transload cargo into domestic containers.
   CenterPoint said it has not yet secured a tenant for its new building, but said there is preliminary interest from multiple companies. The building could be used for transloading, distribution, warehousing, assembly or manufacturing. The use of the building and whether it is used for imports or exports will be determined by the eventual tenant.
   Sizing of additional buildings at the site has not been determined, said CenterPoint.
   William Lu, senior vice president of West region development at CenterPoint, said the company expects the facility will enhance capacity at the port, help reduce supply chain costs and provide employment opportunities to the local community.
   The port opened a $100 million rail yard at the Seaport Logistics Complex in 2016. CenterPoint’s development will be the first building at the campus.
   Oak Brook, Ill.-based CenterPoint is expected to spend about $52 million on the facility that will be constructed at Maritime and 14th streets in the heart of the port. The property once served as an Army supply depot.