freedom center

From the Gentry Group

03-May-10

Freedom Ctr 2

From the Gentry Group

11-March-10

Freedom Center received conditional approval for its first site plan consisting of two flex buildings. Building one is a 24,000 s.f. building designed for multiple types of tenants from pure office requirements to a mix of office/warehouse and office/production or logistical support. The second building is 30,000 s.f. and is designed for a specific tenant which must remain undisclosed at this time. The building space would be considered primarily an office/management type space with a training facility for up to 100 technicians. The building is designed for as many as 11 trainers who are often deployed in countries around the world.

We anticipate beginning building one as soon as the permitting process is completed. Spring Lake is preparing necessary permits as a result of the recent conditional approval granted last Monday evening. There is one permit that must be received from NCDENR and we anticipate that by the end of the month. The Town Manager and Town Attorney are working with us to complete specific items precedent to our closing on the land purchase. We hope this can be completed early in April. We cannot start the building until trees are cleared and some site work is completed but that site work should begin by the end of April. The second building will begin once the tenant has agreed to terms and we have a tentative moving date from them. The tenant is waiting for certain contract awards and is watching the progress of the FORSCOM move. We remain in position to respond to their requirements but we are at the mercy of the BRAC projections and the timeliness of the FORSCOM move.

FREEDOM CENTER

What:  Freedom Center is a planned 36.75 acre office and industrial park.  The park, previously known as  the Spring Lake Business and Industrial Center, will feature office buildings, warehouse and flex space

Who:  Gentry Group negotiated the purchase of the land from the Town of Spring Lake.  Founded in 2008, Gentry Group is a venture partnership between Rocky Keim of Raleigh and Bob Stafford of Southern Pines, who between them have more than 47 years of experience in the development of residential, commercial, industrial and hospitality buildings.

Why:  Freedom Center is designed to support civilian defense contractors consolidating or relocating in advance of the BRAC (Base Realignment and Closure) movement to the Fort Bragg area.  According to the BRAC Regional Task Force, U.S. Army Forces Command and U.S. Army Reserve Command Headquarters will transfer from Fort McPherson, Ga., and bring 3,000 senior Army decision makers to Fort Bragg by mid-2011.  The move is expected to bring nearly 40,000 new residents to the region by 2013.

Where:  Freedom Center is located 2.3 miles from the Manchester Road Gate to Fort Bragg, in the Town of Spring Lake. 

How: Construction is tentatively scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of 2009, with further development taking places in phases.  Master plans indicate approximately 50,000 square feet of flex office space, 60,000 square feet of warehouse and secure storage space and 15,000-21,000 square feet of space for up to 9 office buildings.

Rocky Keim

Managing Member

Gentry Group LLC

Press Release

May 26, 2009 – Contract for the Purchase and Sale of Real Property

Larry Faison, Town Manager, announces the signing of the contract for the purchase and sale of Real Property between the Town of Spring Lake and the Gentry Group, LLC. 

The Gentry Group, LLC., based in Holly Springs, NC., is managed by Rocky Keim with partner Bob Stafford of Southern Pines.  Representatives signed the contract with a purchase price of one million dollars with a desire to develop the property for supporting defense related commerce.

The sale of the 38.75 acre tract, known as the Spring Lake Business and Industrial Center and slated to be renamed the Freedom Center, is located on East Manchester Rd and Marvin Lucas Parkway. Freedom Center is strategically located 2.3 miles from the rear access gate to Ft. Bragg on Manchester Road.  It is expected, within five years, that the Center will attract defense contracting and homeland security related businesses to occupy space and stimulate the local economy adding at least one hundred (100) new jobs paying at or above the current median average wage.  In doing so, it will promote additional commerce and  will also aide in the stabilization of a solid tax base for the Town.

Freedom Center will feature office buildings, warehouse and flex space designed to support defense contractors consolidating or relocating in advance of the BRAC (Base Realignment and Closure) movement to the Fort Bragg area.  Freedom Center is being developed in anticipation of the needs of civilian defense contractors and other affiliated companies.

Freedom Center is not just producing an office park; it is creating a secure park. The business model is to accommodate defense contractors, who’s military contracts may require several echelons of security, this business park will be one of the first of its kind in the area. Keim says Gentry Group intends to tailor each of it’s offerings within Freedom Center to meet specific needs of businesses and operators accustomed to having secure operating environments 

Construction is tentatively scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of 2009, with further development taking place in phases.  Master plans indicate approximately 50,000 square feet of flex office space, 60,000 square feet of warehouse and secure storage space and up to nine office buildings ranging from 15,000 – 21,000 square feet in size.