DATE: Thursday, November 27, 1997           TAG: 9711270708

SECTION: BUSINESS                PAGE: D1   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY MEREDITH COHN, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: SUFFOLK                           LENGTH:   76 lines

CORRECTION/CLARIFICATION: ***************************************************************** Bob Harbour is actually Bob Williams, Robert T. Williams. Unpublished correction entered Nov. 28, 1997. ***************************************************************** INVESTORS ANNOUNCE SUFFOLK OFFICE FACILITY PROJECT IS TARGETING HIGH-TECH COMPANIES

Hoping to attract high-tech companies to a planned residential and business community in northern Suffolk, private investors announced their intensions Wednesday to build a speculative office building and a separate warehouse in Lake View East Industrial Park.

Harbour View Development Co., which was formed to develop the commercial portion of the 2,000-acre Harbour View area, expects to lease much of the buildings to contactors seeking space near a military facility that develops simulation technology.

The U.S. Atlantic Command Joint Training, Analysis and Simulation Center, which uses high-powered communication systems to rehearse military operations, occupies a 320,000-square-foot building at the site. As the facility expands, companies housed within it will begin looking for space. The developers say they hope to fill that need.

Further, they expect to attract companies looking for a location along the I-664 corridor and provide a home for new businesses sprung from nearby Old Dominion University's Virginia Modeling, Analysis and Simulation Center, which was formed to spin the defense technology into commercial uses.

``We've been getting inquiries from businesses for at least two years,'' said Suffolk's economic development director, Thomas A. O'Grady, who is helping market the buildings. ``Suffolk has lacked an inventory of available buildings, and I'm glad to have the product to show prospects.''

While Harbour View was created about a decade ago, development has been rapid only in the past few years. O'Grady said it began when the Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel was completed about three years ago. Then, housing became available near I-664 prompting businesses to begin looking.

``Transportation access now is excellent,'' O'Grady said. ``And businesses often times follow rooftops. They want to see some residential development where their employees can live before they commit to a business location.''

About 800 homes have been built in Harbour View on the east side of I-664 near Lake View East Industrial Park and more upscale houses and a golf course are in the works on the west side of the highway.

O'Grady, along with regional economic development officials, plans to look for suitable businesses during a trip to Orlando Dec. 3-5 for a computer modeling and simulation conference and trade show.

The Lake View park buildings will be flexible, the developers said. A 60,000-square-foot building will accommodate such uses as offices and research and development facilities. A 24,000-square-foot building will have a higher ceiling to accommodate light assembly and distribution.

Bob Harbour, a principal in the Harbour View Development Co., said he hopes the buildings will be leased shortly after construction is complete next July. Once they are full, the company expects to start putting up more buildings in the industrial park, which is located east of I-664 at College Drive. About 270 acres is left to develop in that park and another commerce park within Harbour View, Harbour View Business Park, which is west of the highway, Harbour said.

``We've got a good location,'' Harbour said. ``It not only works for JTASC, but for regional businesses also. We have transportation, housing. And we plan on more buildings, based on the market.''

Harbour said the development company will spend about $5 million directly and indirectly on the land and buildings.

Worth Remick, the leasing agent with Robinson Sigma Commercial Real Estate, said 15 companies have expressed interest in the buildings. About a dozen are defense contractors. Remick said he expects enough leases to be signed in 30 to 60 days to begin construction.

``This really shows not only a healthy real estate market, but also the realization of the high-tech emphasis that we're trying to foster in Hampton Roads.'' ILLUSTRATION: Map

Send Suggestions or Comments to webmaster@scholar.lib.vt.edu