Staters Gets All-clear Signal

San Bernardino County Sun04/13/04

STATERS GETS ALL-CLEAR SIGNAL New warehouse moves closer to reality

By JIM STEINBERGBusiness EditorStater Bros. Markets has reached key agreements clearing the way for it to develop a $200 million distribution facility at San Bernardino International Airport. The 1.9 million-square-foot facility will house the consolidation of the Colton-based grocer’s warehouse operations and its corporate headquarters.It will also contain more than 2,000 employees.On Wednesday, the Inland Valley Development Agency board will conduct a public hearing on the agreement and is expected to approve the deal, which has been in the works since 2000.Stater Bros. will pay the IVDA an estimated $4.3 million for the IVDA land. Stater Bros. currently occupies 14 different warehouse buildings in Colton, Mira Loma and Redlands.Consolidating them under one roof will save the company millions of dollars annually, Jack Brown, chairman, president and chief executive officer has said.The IVDA presently owns approximately 91 acres of the 160 acre project site.Stater Bros. needs to reach agreement with 14 tenants who would be relocated for the project to be completed. Separately, Hillwood, the master developer for much of the IVDA’s land, and Stater Bros. have entered into an agreement which does not require approval of the IVDA.Stater Bros. will be consuming upwards of 30 percent of the master development agreement space, Stater Bros. has agreed to absorb approximately 30 percent of the master development costs.When complete in summer 2006, the Stater Bros. complex in San Bernardino will be Southern California’s largest complex under one roof.Other Stater Bros. commitments to the IVDA include: º To commit to construct and complete the corporate office building and the warehouse and distribution center. º To comply with the prevailing wage requirements for all components of the project