For nearly 15 years the 550,000-square-foot Ford Motor Small Parts Distribution Center on Spreckels Avenue reigned as Manteca’s largest single structure.
That mark has been broken twice this year.
First it was the 551,475-square-foot spec building at Airport Way and Roth Road that was started by CenterPoint Properties and was quickly snapped up by Penske that is leasing it to handle distribution and logistics for Lowe’s Home Improvement Center’s Northern California stores. It will start operations in the coming weeks
Within weeks of the roof and walls going up on the Penske building, the same construction milestone was reached for the 585,580-square foot structure going up in the Pacific Business Park behind the Amazon Prime distribution center that opened earlier this year just west of the Manteca Unified School District office complex and school farm. Medline — nation’s largest privately held manufacturer of medical supplies — is leasing the space and is expected to start operations later this year.
Medline’s reign as the largest single structure in Manteca could be short lived. CenterPoint Properties has plans before the Manteca Planning Commission on Sept. 25 for a 746,790-square-foot spec concrete tilt-up style warehouse that they want to break ground on as soon as possible. It will be built near the Penske/Lowe’s distribution center and the 404,657-square-foot 5.11 Tactical distribution center that opened earlier this year. 5.11 Tactical has the ability to expand its structure by 134,500 square feet but that would only bring it up to 535,157 square feet.
What could knock the new spec building being proposed out of the top spot for building size in Manteca is Penske. Manteca Mayor Steve DeBrum said it is his understanding Penske wants to move forward fairly quickly with a 230,000 square-foot addition. That would take the Penske building up to 784,475 square feet.
The spec building being pursued also can be expanded at a future date. But the Penske building can also be expanded more than just another 230,000 square feet. It could ultimately have a footprint of 1.2 million square feet.
As buildings stand now the five largest structures under one continuous roof in Manteca in descending order are Medline, Penske,/Lowe’s, Ford Motor Co., Delicato Vineyards warehouse (on Spreckels Avenue), and 5.11 Tactical.
To give you an idea of how large the proposed spec building before the planning commission is, you could almost squeeze two Manteca Costco stores, two Manteca Wal-Mart stores, and two Manteca Target stores under its roof.
