Category Archives: Press Releases

The Allen Group Announces Director of Engineering for the Dallas Logistics Hub

DALLAS, Texas (May 18, 2006) The Allen Group, a major developer of office and industrial properties, including rail-served distribution and logistics parks, announces Jason R. Elms, P.E. has joined the Company as Director of Engineering to coordinate future development at the Dallas Logistics Hub (DLH).

In his new role as Director of Engineering, Elms will coordinate and supervise land acquisition due diligence, land planning and zoning, permitting, budget administration, and construction for “The Hub.”

The Dallas Logistics Hub is The Allen Group’s newest industrial park and one of the largest of its kind currently under development in North America. With the Company quickly becoming a major development player in Dallas, The Allen Group is master-planning a 6,000 acre rail-served logistics park located 12 miles south of Downtown Dallas, adjacent to the Union Pacific Intermodal Facility. This new development will position Dallas as the number one trade hub in the Southwest region and serve as the primary pipeline to the distribution of goods throughout the U.S.

“Jason brings significant market and project experience to our team in Dallas,” said Dan McAuliffe, Vice President of Development for The Allen Group. “The Dallas Logistics Hub is an exciting, milestone project for Southern Dallas County, the Southwest and the nation and Jason’s invaluable expertise in commercial and industrial development as well as planning, personnel and project management will be integral to its success.”

Prior to joining The Allen Group, Elms served as a project engineer, project manager and department manager for Jones & Carter Consulting Engineers, Inc. During his time with Jones & Carter, Elms functioned as district engineer for the Rail Port Business Park on behalf of the Midlothian Development Authority and the Ellis County Rural Rail Transportation District. For these districts, he designed and oversaw nearly $60 million in public infrastructure improvements. Elms experience also included project lead responsibilities on over thirty commercial site developments, ranging from one-acre corner drug stores to ninety-acre power centers, and several large industrial site developments, including approximately 4.4 million square feet of warehouse and distribution space.

Elms is a graduate of Texas A&M University, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering. He is a registered Professional Engineer in the State of Texas, and a member of International Council of Shopping Centers and the American Society of Civil Engineers.

The Allen Group is a commercial development firm specializing in rail-served industrial parks and build-to-suit facilities, including Class A office buildings. In the past decade, the Company has developed over half a billion dollars in commercial and industrial properties, ranging in size from 35,000 square feet to 1.7 million square feet, as well as three master-planned industrial parks: the International Trade and Transportation Center (www.ittc.com); MidState 99 Distribution Center (www.midstate99.com) and the Dallas Logistics Hub (www.dallaslogisticshub.com), the largest new logistics park in North America.

The Allen Group, based in San Diego with regional offices in Visalia and Bakersfield, Calif., as well as Dallas, Texas, is trusted by Fortune 500 companies such as VF Corporation, Cox Communications, FedEx, International Paper Company, Intuit, Kraft Foods and Wal-Mart Stores. The Company has major industrial and office projects under development in San Diego, Bakersfield, Shafter, Sacramento, Visalia (Calif.) and Dallas. For more information about The Allen Group, please visitwww.allengroup.com.

The Allen Group Acquires 107 Acres of Prime Land Adjacent to Bakersfield Airport

SAN DIEGO (May 4, 2006) The Allen Group, a major developer of office and industrial properties, has acquired 107 acres of commercial land in Kern County, Calif., strategically located adjacent to the entrance of Meadows Field Airport (www.meadowsfield.com) and seven miles from downtown Bakersfield.

The Allen Group is currently developing a master site plan, which will feature Class A office space, food and beverage and lodging facilities, light-industrial flex space, service-oriented retail, and other airport-related uses. The property fronts 7th Standard Road and the newly created Wings Way, the entrance of the new passenger terminal. The master-planning process is expected to take 12 months.

“This site is an appealing location for office, industrial and retail property tenants, who can tap the area’s synergy of a strategic location, strong employment base and reasonable cost of doing business,” said Edward B. Romanov, Jr., President and Chief Operating Officer of The Allen Group.

Meadows Field Airport (BFL), the fastest-growing airport in the Western region of the U.S., opened its $36-million William M. Thomas Terminal in February 2006. The new facility was designed for future expansion to accommodate increasing passenger traffic, as the old terminal will be renovated to host international traffic, including flights to and from Mexico. BFL currently handles 34 flights per day, with service by America West, Continental, Delta and United Airlines.

“With its well-deserved reputation for high-quality, attractive projects, I’m very pleased that The Allen Group is developing this land,” said Ray Bishop, Director of Kern County Airports. “They will make the most of the site, creating a great place for people to locate their businesses and to shop. The location itself is exceptional, right in the heart of one of the fastest-growing counties in the country, with tens of thousands of job-ready applicants nearby and new housing communities popping up everywhere.”

The Allen Group is a commercial development firm specializing in rail-served industrial parks and build-to-suit facilities, including Class A office buildings. In the past decade, the Company has developed over half a billion dollars in commercial and industrial properties, ranging in size from 35,000 square feet to 1.7 million square feet, as well as three master-planned industrial parks: the International Trade and Transportation Center (www.ittc.com); MidState 99 Distribution Center (www.midstate99.com); and the Dallas Logistics Hub (www.dallaslogisticshub.com), the largest new logistics park in North America.

The Allen Group, with offices in San Diego, Visalia and Bakersfield, Calif., as well as Dallas, Texas, is trusted by Fortune 500 companies such as VF Corporation, Cox Communications, FedEx, International Paper Company, Intuit, Kraft Foods and Wal-Mart Stores. The Company has major industrial and office projects under development in San Diego, Bakersfield, Shafter, Sacramento and Visalia, Calif., as well as Dallas. For more information about The Allen Group, please visit www.allengroup.com.

The Allen Group Completes New 288,000 Sq. Ft. Spec Building at ITTC

SAN DIEGO (May 2, 2006) The Allen Group, with offices in San Diego, Visalia and Bakersfield, Calif., as well as Dallas, Texas, is trusted by Fortune 500 companies such as VF Corporation, Cox Communications, FedEx, The Allen Group, a major developer of office and industrial properties, including rail-served distribution and logistics parks, announced that it has completed construction of a new building now available for occupancy at the International Trade and Transportation Center (ITTC). The ITTC, developed by The Allen Group, is a 700-acre master-planned logistics park strategically located in the Southern San Joaquin Valley of California. It has been designated as a Foreign Trade Zone and is affiliated with the ports of L.A. and Long Beach.

The new 288,000 square foot building has been designed for dock-side rail service and features concrete-tilt construction, 48 in. dock height doors (9ft x 10ft), a panelized roof system, 1% skylight coverage (in warehouse areas), and parapets on all sides. The architect was Teter A&E (Fresno), and Wallace & Smith (Bakersfield) was the general contractor.

More than 35,000,000 consumers live within a 300-mile radius of the International Trade and Transportation Center. Retailer Target Corporation operates a 1.7-million square foot warehouse and distribution center at the ITTC. Among the ITTC’s other users are Hillman Fasteners and State Farm Insurance.

Located at 7th Standard Road and Zachary Drive in Shafter near Bakersfield, California, the ITTC is served by the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway, provides easy access to California’s main north-south and east-west intrastate truck routes Interstate 5 and Highway 99, and is in proximity to the new terminal at the Bakersfield airport. Southern San Joaquin Valley, including the ITTC, has emerged as an attractive alternative to the Inland Empire and other more mature markets for the location of distribution and logistics centers. The region offers a lower cost of doing business, access to a large labor pool, and proximity to affordable housing.

International Paper Company, Intuit, Kraft Foods and Wal-Mart Stores. The Company has major industrial and office projects under development in San Diego, Bakersfield, Shafter, Sacramento, Visalia (Calif.) and Dallas. For more information about The Allen Group, please visit www.allengroup.com.

Richard Allen Speaks at USC’s Lusk Center Event on Industrial Real Estate and Logistics

SAN DIEGO, CA (May 2, 2006) — Accelerating global trade, particularly between the United States and Asia, is increasing demand for multi-modal logistics hubs in America, said Richard S. Allen, Chief Executive Officer of The Allen Group, at a University of Southern California Lusk Center for Real Estate event held today in Santa Barbara.

Mr. Allen’s comments came during the fifth “Lusk100 Annual Retreat” of senior industry leaders from across California and the nation. The retreat provides a forum for discussion and analysis of real estate markets and regulatory and other issues.

Given The Allen Group’s specialization in developing rail-served industrial parks, particularly in Texas and California, home to some of the busiest ports in the U.S., Richard Allen was invited to address the impact of global trade on real estate. Other speakers at the event included industry icon Sam Zell, Chairman of Equity Group Investments, LLC.

Mr. Allen’s remarks focused on how global trade acceleration is affecting demand patterns for industrial real estate in the U.S., including demand for high-tech, big-box, multi-modal distribution facilities in close proximity to ports.

“The volume of shipments through West Coast ports is higher than it’s ever been,” Allen said, “and the pattern is likely to continue as globalization matures. In this environment, manufacturers, distributors and retailers rely on increasingly sophisticated logistics centers and transportation partners to move goods efficiently through the U.S. To be in the industrial real estate business today is to be in the logistics business, the automation business, the transportation planning business, and the foreign-trade law business, among others.”

The Allen Group Names Edward Romanov President and Chief Operating Officer

SAN DIEGO (April 4, 2006) — The Allen Group, a major developer of office and industrial properties, including rail-served distribution and logistics parks, named Edward B. Romanov, Jr., as President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company. Romanov has been with the Company since October 2004 in a consulting role.

Romanov works closely with Allen Group Founder and Chief Executive Officer Richard S. Allen to establish and implement the Company’s national strategy for industrial property development and California-focused plans for office and mixed-use development.

In addition to extensive executive experience in real estate development and finance, Romanov has held senior management positions with public and private enterprises ranging from health care to entertainment software and Broadband communications.

“Ed is a seasoned, well-rounded executive whose proven real estate and financial sophistication will help move The Allen Group forward,” said Richard Allen. “Be it identifying and analyzing opportunities, structuring joint ventures and financings, or overseeing major property developments, Ed’s insight and expertise will well serve the Company and its clients.”

Romanov added: “The Allen Group is embarking on a variety of new challenges, including developing new distribution and logistics parks outside of California. I’m excited by the opportunity to help grow the Company and expand its portfolio of high-quality industrial and office properties that serve Fortune 500 and other users.”

Some highlights from Romanov’s career:

In the 1990’s, he formed ElderTrust, a health care REIT, purchasing $385 million in health care real estate assets from several East Coast health care operators. After successfully completing a $125-million IPO, ElderTrust was listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Romanov served as ElderTrust’s President and Chief Executive Officer.
In the late 1980’s, Romanov owned and operated WesTerra Development, where he developed 500,000 square feet of office and flex space in the San Diego and Northern Virginia markets. Earlier, he was Chief Operating Officer of San Diego-based Torrey Enterprises, where he played a key role in the redevelopment of downtown San Diego, with landmark projects such as the 27-story First National Bank Building and the twin towers of the Marriott Hotel and Marina on the harbor. The total value of projects developed while he was with Torrey Enterprises exceeded $350 million.

Romanov holds both a B.S. in Economics and M.B.A. from Lehigh University and was a licensed CPA in both California and Pennsylvania.

The Allen Group Sponsors North Texas Golf Tournament

DALLAS, Texas (April 6, 2006) The Allen Group, a major developer of office and industrial properties, including rail-served distribution and logistics parks, is pleased to announce their sponsorship of The 2006 University of North Texas Dallas Campus Scholarship Golf Classic.

The UNT Dallas Campus Scholarship Golf Classic is designed to raise funds for students to attend classes at the University’s Southern Dallas facilities. The Classic will take place Friday, June 30, 2006 from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Tangle Ridge Golf Course in Grand Prairie.

“We are excited to be involved with UNT’s Dallas Campus Scholarship Golf Classic,” said Richard Allen, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of The Allen Group. “This tournament will help students in the community surrounding the Dallas Logistics Hub achieve their educational goals and continues The Allen Group’s commitment to the communities we serve and history of providing educational opportunities, jobs, minority programs, and resources to residents of those communities.”

The tournament will begin with a shotgun start at noon on June 30. Golfers may register for the UNT Dallas Campus Scholarship Golf Classic by downloading the registration form at http://www.unt.edu/unt-dallas/golfclassic.pdf. Registration is $175 per person or $700 per foursome. Fees include lunch, dinner, raffle entries, carts, green fees, a gift bag and driving range balls.

For additional information on the UNT Dallas Campus Scholarship Golf Classic please contact Bob Hardin, director of development, at 972-780-3616 or at bhardin@unt.edu. Completed registration forms may be mailed to Bob Hardin at 8915 S. Hampton Rd, Dallas 75232.

The Allen Group Partners with Cedar Valley College

DALLAS, Texas (April 6, 2006) The Allen Group recently announced a new partnership with Cedar Valley College initiating a workforce development program targeting Lancaster residents to help meet the needs of the Lancaster community and the future Dallas Logistics Hub. The partnership was recognized at a reception hosted by the City of Lancaster and Cedar Valley College on April 6 at the Lancaster Community Park Recreation Center.

The Allen Group, a high-end office and industrial real estate company founded by CEO Richard Allen in 1991, is the developer of the Dallas Logistics Hub, which is partially located in Lancaster. The Dallas Logistics Hub is the largest new logistics park in North America, with nearly 6,000 acres of land and potential for 60 million vertical square feet of logistics and manufacturing space. The Hub will position Dallas as the number one trade hub in the Southwest region and serve as the primary pipeline for the distribution of goods throughout the U.S.

“We’re thrilled to have partnered with Cedar Valley College as it brings a whole new level of community involvement to the Dallas Logistics Hub project,” said Leslie Jutzi, Director of Governmental Affairs and Community Relations for The Allen Group. “Working with Cedar Valley College allows us to anticipate and plan for future workforce needs by bringing together the Lancaster community and necessary training programs.”

The Dallas Logistics Hub will have a significant, positive impact on southern Dallas County including Lancaster, Wilmer and Hutchins. Over the course of its build out, The Hub is projected to provide approximately 30,000- plus jobs for residents, some of whom may need training in skills instrumental to their new positions. The Allen Group’s partnership with Cedar Valley College will enable The Hub’s workforce to receive training through the college’s workforce development program.

In addition to the Dallas Logistics Hub workforce development partnership, The Allen Group donated $2,000 to support Cedar Valley College’s Commercial Music Association’s trip to a national music conference in Hollywood, Calif. The conference brought in nationally recognized song writers and music publishers, as well as offered sessions designed to instruct students on developing their talents in the music industry. The Allen Group Founder and Chief Executive Officer Richard Allen met with the students during their time at the conference and hosted a celebratory dinner in their honor at the renowned Schatzi On Main restaurant in Santa Monica, Calif.

Dallas Logistics Hub Named Best Deal Announced For 2005

DALLAS, Texas (February 24, 2006) The Dallas Logistics Hub has been recognized as the Best Deal Announced of 2005 by the Dallas Business Journal as part of their “Best Real Estate Deals of 2005” awards. The Hub, a project of The Allen Group, a major developer of office and industrial properties, including rail-served distribution and logistics parks, is an innovative commercial enterprise that will have a significant, positive impact on the Dallas area economy and will uplift industry across North America.

The Dallas Logistics Hub will be the largest new logistics park in North America and will help position Dallas as the No. 1 trade hub in the Southwest region. The Hub will serve as the primary pipeline for the distribution of goods throughout the U.S., which will allow distributors and manufacturers to reach the greatest percentage of U.S. consumers.

Featuring 6,000 acres of industrial land advantageously encompassed by the Union Pacific Intermodal Facility, the BNSF rail line, five major highway connectors including I-20, I-35, I-45, the proposed Loop 9 and Lancaster Executive Airport, the Dallas Logistics Hub boasts unparalleled development potential, and is set to accommodate 60 million square feet of vertical development upon complete build out.

“We are proud to receive this recognition from the Dallas Business Journal,” said Richard S. Allen, managing partner and CEO of The Allen Group. “The Hub is the result of the dedication by all parties involved, working together toward a common goal of benefiting the communities and the economies of Dallas, Lancaster, Wilmer and Hutchins. We look forward to continuing this relationship as The Hub grows to meet its potential, providing key economic benefits and jobs throughout the area.”

As it continues to expand, Dallas Logistics Hub will house major distribution centers, warehouses and rail-served facilities, as well as hotel and truck stop facilities. The milestone project is expected to generate approximately 30,000 jobs over the next 10-20 years.

Diamante Del Mar Office Building Fully Leased

SAN DIEGO (January 31, 2006) The Allen Group, a major developer of industrial and office properties in the Western United States, announced that the Diamante Del Mar office building, located in the Del Mar Heights submarket of San Diego, is now fully leased.

Tenants include the developer and owner, The Allen Group, along with Pacific Coast Communities, Fidelity Brokerage Services, Comerica, Silver Portal Capital and Energy Capital Partners. Building construction was completed in May 2005.

“Companies find this office property to be highly appealing because of the convenient location and the unique craftsman-style architecture,” said Harve Filuk, Director of Development for Southern California for The Allen Group.

Mr. Filuk oversaw the project’s development, with the building designed by the architectural firm Brian Paul & Associates and constructed by general contractor Reno Contracting, both of San Diego. Pat Rohan of Burnham Real Estate represented the building as leasing broker.

Diamante Del Mar, located on the southeast corner of El Camino Real and Valley Centre Drive, is the newest Class A+ office development completed by The Allen Group. The 35,450 square foot structure is detailed with craftsman-like qualities unique in the Del Mar Heights submarket: a two-story stone veneer exterior with a subterranean garage, vaulted second-floor ceilings, hand-crafted interior wood trim, office balconies, and a shower and locker facility. Diamante Del Mar also is within walking distance of hotels and restaurants with immediate access to I-5 and Highway 56.

Based in San Diego, The Allen Group is a commercial development firm specializing in rail-served industrial parks and build-to-suit facilities, including Class A office buildings. The Company has developed over five million square feet of commercial property in California and across the West, including two master-planned logistics parks: the International Trade and Transportation Center (www.ittc.com) near Bakersfield, Calif. and the MidState 99 Distribution Center (www.midstate99.com) in Visalia, Calif.

The Allen Group, with offices in San Diego, Visalia and Bakersfield, Calif. and Dallas, Texas, is trusted by Fortune 500 companies such as VF Corporation, Cox Communications, FedEx, International Paper Company, Intuit, Kraft Foods and Wal-Mart Stores. The Company has major industrial and office projects under development across California, as well as a major intermodal logistics hub in Dallas.

For more information about The Allen Group, please visit www.allengroup.com.

Leslie Jutzi Joins the Dallas Logistics Hub Team

DALLAS, Texas (January 23, 2006) The Allen Group, a major developer of industrial and office properties across the western United States, has announced Leslie Jutzi to direct the governmental affairs and community relations efforts on behalf of the Company’s Texas operations, particularly The Dallas Logistics Hub.

Ms. Jutzi comes to The Allen Group from the City of Dallas, where she was Project Manager for the City’s Dallas NAFTA Trade Corridor Project. During her tenure with Dallas, the City executed and implemented historic international trade agreements with the Mexican Ports of Manzanillo, Topolobampo, and Lazaro Cardenas. The City also signed agreements with the Port of Houston Authority and Dallas’ surrounding southern cities to further trade and economic development.

Before her service with the City of Dallas, Jutzi worked in the private sector as a lobbyist and attorney. She handled a variety of issues, including corporate, transportation, environmental, security and real estate transactions ranging from $25 million to $5 billion.

Ms. Jutzi is a graduate of Michigan State University where she received a B.A. in International Relations. She is also a licensed attorney in the State of Illinois and holds an Energy & Environmental Law Certificate from Chicago-Kent College of Law. She resides in Grand Prairie, Texas with her husband and their daughter.

The Allen Group has recently opened a Dallas office for both Leslie Jutzi and Dan McAuliffe, recently named Vice President of Development, to manage the daily operations of the Dallas Logistics Hub. Informational inquires may contact the office by calling 214-459-2830.

The Dallas Logistics Hub, a future center for worldwide trade, is a major intermodal industrial park planned for southern Dallas County. The 5,000 acre development is the largest new logistics park in North America. It is, in essence, a major “inland port” that will facilitate the distribution of products by rail and truck from Mexico, the Gulf, and the Pacific to the rest of the country.

The Allen Group is a San Diego-based commercial development firm that specializes in rail-served industrial parks and build-to-suit facilities, including Class A office buildings. The Company has developed over a half a billion dollars of commercial property in California and across the West, including two master-planned logistics parks: the MidState 99 Distribution Center (www.midstate99.com), south of Fresno, California and the International Trade and Transportation Center (www.ittc.com) near Bakersfield, California.

With offices in San Diego, Visalia and Bakersfield, California, and its new office in Dallas, Texas, The Allen Group is trusted by Fortune 500 companies such as VF Corporation, Cox Communications, FedEx, International Paper Company, Intuit, Kraft Foods and Wal-Mart Stores. The Company has major industrial and office projects under development across California and in Texas.

For more information about The Allen Group, please visit www.allengroup.com.