PETsmart picks distribution site

PETsmart picks distribution

site

Coweta County Industrial Parks manager Lewis "Buddy" Harrison

announced completion last week of the sale of a 20-acre tract in the Creekside

Business and Industrial Park for the location of a 200,000-sq. ft. distribution

center.

The property has been sold to John Rooker and Associates of Atlanta, who

will develop the facility for PETsMART, a leading worldwide operator of

super stores specializing in pet food, pet supplies and pet services.

Rooker and Associates will construct the distribution facility for PETsMART

under a lease agreement.

A construction timetable has not yet been announced for the new facility.

The 20-acre tract is at the corner of Walt Sanders Memorial Drive and

Walt Sanders Court. The selling price is $880,000 or approximately $44,000

per acre.

"We are extremely pleased to announce this alliance with Rooker and

Associates and PETsMART Inc.," said parks manager Harrison.

"PETsMART is the premier operator of pet supply super stores and

this distribution facility will provide numerous job opportunities while

placing a minimum demand on infrastructure services," he added. "It

is a win-win situation. We look forward to working with Rooker and Associates

and PETsMART to make sure the facility begins operation as soon as possible."

PETsMART Inc. is headquartered in Phoenix, Ariz. and currently operates

480 super stores in 44 states and 20 stores in Canada. The company was

founded in 1987. One of the PETsMART super stores is at 1072 Bullsboro

Drive in Newnan.

"This is the third major sale announced in the Shenandoah and Creekside

parks since late 1999," noted Harrison.

Coweta County purchased the remaining industrial properties in the two

parks in late 1999. Sales now total some $2.25 million, which will cover

all outstanding obligations on the Shenandoah and Creekside properties

for at least three years in the future.

"The citizens of Coweta County are receiving outstanding benefits

since the purchase of the park properties cost no tax dollars and, with

each sale, that all important tax base is being strengthened," said

Harrison.

"Other quality industrial prospects like PETsMART are now looking

at Coweta County. I will work closely with those prospects to make sure

they locate in Coweta County," he said.