ONTARIO, Calif.
Majestic Realty Co. has broken ground on a 239,400 square foot build-to-suit warehouse and manufacturing/production facility for Melmarc at the site of a former Sunkist factory located at 752 Campus Ave.
Majestic, who purchased the land from the City of Ontario in 2016, has signed a long-term lease agreement with Melmarc, one of the nation’s largest garment sourcing, embellishment and packaging companies. Melmarc will occupy the entire building which is scheduled for completion and occupancy in early 2017.
Melmarc will consolidate its multiple Orange County operations and headquarters into the single location bringing more than 450 jobs to the City of Ontario. The new building will feature numerous green initiative amenities including motion-activated LED lighting, as well as 32-foot ceiling clearance, a 185-foot concrete truck court and Class A office space. And, with nearly 50 percent more building space, the new headquarters allows for both streamlined operations and future growth. It will be the only building on the 11-acre site.
Built in 1929 and rebuilt in 1970, the Sunkist plant, which produced a variety of citrus products, was demolished as part of the company’s sale of the land to the City of Ontario in 2008 and Sunkist’s move the Central Valley.
“From our earliest discussions through the signing of the deal to bring Melmarc from Orange County to the City of Ontario, our work with the city staff, city council, planners, political and business leaders and this community as a whole has been incredibly professional, focused and collaborative,” said Majestic Realty Vice President, Development Partner Kyle Valley. “With a mutual understanding of the opportunities and commitments needed from all parties involved, we’ve worked together to bring new life to a tremendous property and with an employer who not only understands and respects the history of this site but brings its own plan to ensure a successful future for its employees, their families and this community.”
The iconic Sunkist Water Tower remains at the site. Accompanied by commemorative plaques and a citrus garden, the water tower will serve as a focal point and reminder of the site’s 80-year history and the generations of families and workers that called the plant and community home. For Melmarc, the site taps into that rich history and serves as the new foundation of its own workforce and their families, many of whom will relocate to the community.
About Majestic Realty Co.
Founded in 1948, Majestic Realty Co. is the largest, privately-held developer and owner of master-planned business parks in the United States. Majestic’s approximate 78-million-square-foot portfolio provides real estate solutions for tenants large and small, creating jobs, tax revenue and community benefits across the country. Headquartered in Southern California, Majestic has regional offices in Atlanta, Dallas, Denver, Fort Worth, Las Vegas and Bethlehem, Penn.