Robert Mericle, President of Mericle Commercial Real Estate Services, has announced the start of construction of two speculative flex buildings in Jessup Borough.
Groundbreaking ceremonies were held for the first building, a 96,000 square foot facility, on June 12. Mericle is constructing on 10.02 acres on Alberigi Drive in the Jessup Small Business Center. Mericle will construct the second building, which will be approximately 160,000 square feet, on a 14.57 acre site on Valley View Drive in the adjacent Valley View Business Park. Mericle will begin construction on the second building as soon as the first building is substantially occupied.
Lew Sebia, Mericle’s Chief Operating Officer said, “Our new buildings have very flexible designs and will be well-suited for office, distribution, manufacturing, medical, and technology businesses. The buildings will have attractive, architecturally designed fronts with many windows and will be able to be subdivided in 6,000 square foot increments.”
Sebia stated that steel for the 96,000 square foot building will arrive on the site before the end of June and the building will be ready for tenants this fall. The building will feature ceiling clear heights in excess of 30 feet, 15 loading doors, one drive-in door, energy efficient T-bay lighting fixtures, energy efficient gas fired unit heaters, and a high-density sprinkler system. The building will also have abundant parking on-site for cars and trailers he said.
“These sales demonstrate the confidence that private investors have in our region. Mericle’s commitment and investment in Lackawanna county sets the stage for job creation,” said Austin J. Burke, executive vice president of SLIBCO, the Scranton Lackawanna Industrial Building Company.
“We continue to build speculative buildings in Northeastern Pennsylvania, because we are confident that companies will want to move their operations to the region,” said Mericle. “Northeastern Pennsylvania has a lot to offer: A great location with access to major interstates; lower operating costs than larger metropolitan markets; and a dedicated workforce with an outstanding work ethic. We welcome new tenants to our buildings, and, more importantly, into our community.”
Mericle and the SLIBCO/Scranton Plan team have partnered on successful projects in the past including the development of two speculative flex buildings in Keystone Industrial Park, a 140,000 square foot speculative flex building in Jessup Small Business Center and a 62,000 square foot office building in the Glenmaura Corporate Center.
“We have had a very successful long term relationship with SLIBCO and The Scranton Plan and we look forward to working in partnership with them to make sure we have a variety of spaces available where companies can create new jobs,” said Sebia. “We hope to be able to fill the two new buildings in short order and then work with SLIBCO and The Scranton Plan to construct and fill more buildings in their parks.”
“Mericle and The Scranton Plan are developing a joint marketing effort to recruit new employers to the buildings,” said Sebia.
Founded by Robert K. Mericle in 1985, Mericle Commercial Real Estate Services has developed more than 19 million square feet of industrial, office and flex space. More than 13,400 people work in the buildings developed by Mericle in Northeastern Pennsylvania.