Developer breaks ground on 6-acre industrial development in Tempe – KTAR News 92.3 FM

Report on Industrial Development in Tempe, Arizona, and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Project Overview and Contribution to SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

A new industrial development project has commenced in Tempe, Arizona, initiated by the real estate development firm, Creation. The project, located on a six-acre site near 3rd Street and Priest Drive, directly supports the modernization of local infrastructure, a key target of SDG 9. The development will introduce two modern industrial buildings, addressing a significant gap in the North Tempe submarket, where approximately 90% of comparable industrial buildings were constructed before the year 2000. This initiative promotes inclusive and sustainable industrialization by upgrading and retrofitting industries to make them sustainable.

• Total Area: Six acres
• Building Space: Over 120,000 square feet
• Building One: 75,000 square feet, pre-leased to Pacific Office Automation for its Southwest market headquarters.
• Building Two: 45,000 square feet, available for lease or purchase.

Construction is scheduled for completion in late 2026, with LGE Design Build managing the general contracting and architectural aspects.

Economic Impact and Support for SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

This development is a significant driver for sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth in the region. Grant Kingdon, Principal of Creation’s Mountain West Region, noted that this is the firm’s third industrial groundbreaking in Tempe this year, indicating strong market momentum and long-term potential. The project will create productive employment and decent work for all by generating construction jobs and, subsequently, long-term employment through its tenants. The strategic location offers access to skilled labor, further contributing to the local economy and supporting the objectives of SDG 8.

Commitment to SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

The project incorporates several features that align with the goal of making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. By developing on an infill site, the project utilizes existing urban land, reducing sprawl and promoting efficient land use. Furthermore, the design includes provisions for sustainable transportation systems.

1. Electric Vehicle Support: The inclusion of eight EV charging stations encourages the adoption of clean energy transportation, contributing to improved air quality.
2. Active Transport Promotion: Fourteen dedicated bike parking spaces are provided to support cycling as a viable commuting option.
3. Parking Infrastructure: A total of 185 parking spaces will serve the facility.

Advancing SDG 17 and SDG 4 Through Strategic Partnerships

The project exemplifies a multi-stakeholder partnership for sustainable development, a core principle of SDG 17. The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by project partners, city leaders, and community stakeholders, demonstrating a collaborative approach to regional development.

A significant outcome of this partnership is a direct contribution to SDG 4: Quality Education. To commemorate the start of construction, Creation and Pacific Office Automation jointly donated $25,000 to the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley. This financial support strengthens a community institution dedicated to providing inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for children and youth.

Analysis of the Article in Relation to Sustainable Development Goals

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

   • The article discusses a new industrial development, which is a direct driver of economic activity. The project is described as a “testament to the market’s momentum and long-term potential” and a “long-term commitment to growth in the Southwest.” This development will house businesses, such as Pacific Office Automation, and create jobs, contributing to sustained economic growth in the Tempe area. The article also notes that Tempe offers access to “skilled labor,” linking the development to employment.

2. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

   • The core of the article is about building new infrastructure. It details the construction of two modern industrial buildings totaling over 120,000 square feet. The developer highlights the need for this project by stating that “90% of Tempe’s industrial buildings between 40,000 and 60,000 square feet were developed before 2000,” positioning this as a necessary upgrade to the region’s industrial infrastructure. The new headquarters is also intended to “foster innovation, collaboration and customer success.”

3. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

   • The development includes specific features that promote sustainable urban living. The inclusion of “eight EV charging stations and 14 bike parking spaces” directly supports sustainable transportation systems. Furthermore, the project is described as “infill inventory,” which implies the development is taking place on underutilized land within an existing urban area, a key principle of sustainable urbanization that helps prevent urban sprawl.

4. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

   • The article explicitly mentions partnerships between different sectors. The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by “project partners, city leaders and community stakeholders,” indicating a multi-stakeholder collaboration. More concretely, the developer (Creation) and the tenant (Pacific Office Automation) partnered to “donate $25,000 to Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley,” demonstrating a public-private-civil society partnership to support a community organization.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 8.2: Achieve higher levels of economic productivity through diversification, technological upgrading and innovation.

   • The article points to this target by describing the project as delivering “modern facilities” and “desperately needed, functional, infill inventory” to replace an aging stock of industrial buildings. This upgrade in infrastructure is designed to support modern businesses and foster “innovation, collaboration and customer success,” thereby increasing economic productivity.

2. Target 9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure… to support economic development and human well-being.

   • The construction of two new industrial buildings with modern amenities like “32-foot clear heights” is a direct example of developing quality infrastructure to support economic activity in the Tempe industrial submarket.

3. Target 11.2: By 2030, provide access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems for all.

   • This target is directly addressed through the development’s amenities, which include “eight EV charging stations and 14 bike parking spaces.” These features encourage and provide infrastructure for sustainable modes of transportation for employees and visitors.

4. Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships.

   • The joint donation of $25,000 by Creation and Pacific Office Automation to the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley is a clear example of a private-civil society partnership. The involvement of “city leaders” at the groundbreaking also points to a public-private partnership in fostering local development.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Indicator for Target 9.1: Total investment in new infrastructure.

   • While a total dollar value isn’t given, the physical scale of the project—”a six-acre industrial development” with “two buildings on more than 120,000 square feet”—serves as a tangible measure of the investment in new infrastructure.

2. Indicators for Target 11.2: Proportion of population that has convenient access to public transport.

   • The article provides specific, quantifiable data that can serve as direct indicators for progress towards sustainable transport infrastructure. These are the “eight EV charging stations” and “14 bike parking spaces” included in the development.

3. Indicator 17.17.1: Amount of United States dollars committed to public-private and civil society partnerships.

   • The article provides a precise financial figure for this indicator: the “$25,000” donation made by the two private companies to the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley, a civil society organization.

4. Table of Identified SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: ktar.com