Commentary: Lots selling briskly in Del Camino business parks

The I-25 and Highway 119 interchange at Del Camino serves as a hub surrounded by a rapidly developing area with several commercial and industrial business parks and an abundance of new housing subdivisions. The lots in these business parks have been selling briskly, resulting in an expanding variety of business entities and offices.
The Vista Commercial Center business park will be having new auto dealerships in the next year, following our most recent multiple-lot sales to Hajek Chevrolet and Saturn of Longmont. Perfection Auto Body, MASS auto diagnostic systems and AAMCO Transmissions have all purchased lots and will be building within the next year and a large office complex is also planned for the west end of the park, adjacent to WCR 3 with the city of Longmont?s Sandstone Ranch ball fields and other park facilities to the west.
These new buildings will join the U.S. Postal facility, Roof Check, Columbia Sportswear, Crall Construction, Skyway condos, a church and other existing businesses. Vista Commercial center has a total of 78 lots in the project with 20 available lots remaining.
The Milky Way Business Park, located on Highway 119 just west of the I-25 and Highway 119 interchange, now has the Centennial Bank building, Lucky Stars Car Wash and the Solid Rock properties complex. In addition, Valley Camper will be commencing building in the next few months and the OCON Group will build self-storage units in the Milky Way Business Park. Out of a total of 19 lots, there are 10 available lots remaining. A new housing development is adjacent on the south side of the business park.
We appear to be having early signs of regional economic recovery as evidenced by increased interest in our business and industrial parks. The sale of a significant number of lots for auto dealer sales and supporting auto-related businesses reflects their needs to expand operations.
Meadowlark Business Park is located along the west side of WCR 13 at Frederick and was developed by the owners of Meadowlark Optics. A new Salud clinic opened recently, and other businesses and owners include Atek Heating, Russell Construction, Steel Dimensions, CCBW and HJ Commercial. The land was annexed into Frederick prior to developing, and out of 18 lots there are now seven available lots remaining plus a 35-acre outlot on the west side.
We believe this commercial and industrial development has been good for these business parks and the convenience and expanding of services is needed in Weld County. The locations near Del Camino appear to be in an excellent area with the additions of a new King Soopers on WCR 24, the new Safeway on WCR 13, the proposed hospital on WCR 24, the Salud clinic in Frederick and the addition of the Weld County Annex in Del Camino.
We will soon have a new elementary and a new high school at WCR 7 and 28. The housing developments being built and proposed have parks and open spaces.
The growth in southwest Weld County has been enhanced by the quality of services and assistance provided by the Weld County Planning Commission, United Power, Long?s Peak and Left Hand Water districts, the St. Vrain Sanitation District, the St. Vrain School District and other services available in Weld County.
The Greeley/Weld Economic Development Action Partnership Inc. has provided assistance and evaluations on a timely basis for the area. The availability of their services has been very helpful to firms locating in this area.
The opening of the Ken Pratt Boulevard Extension through Longmont and extending east has been very beneficial in helping to manage the flow of traffic between Longmont and Del Camino. There is a traffic light at the main entrance to Vista Commercial center at WCR 3 1/2 and other traffic lights will be designated in the near future.
With the proposed Life Bridge church project and others including Glacier View business park on Highway 52 in this immediate area, we believe the commercial space that is being purchased and developed is well-located to capitalize on the overall growth in the area.

Marv Dyer is owner of Dyer Realty Inc. in Longmont. He can be reached at (303) 772-3200.