Port of Tacoma Commissioner and Frederickson-area resident R. Ted Bottiger says the Frederickson Industrial Area is fulfilling its mission of attracting employers to the Tacoma-Pierce County region. "In addition to jobs created during construction, this development will support 150 permanent jobs in East Pierce County," he said. "With this sale and continuing infrastructure improvements, such as the Cross-Base Highway, we are working to create sound economic growth for our region."
Derrick Urquhart, the port's Manager of Industrial Real Estate, reports that IKEA will build an 834,000 square foot Northwestern Distribution Center with potential future expansion to more than one million square feet. "This transaction is much more than putting land into use to create jobs," he said. "IKEA will drive a considerable amount of cargo through Tacoma, adding to the Port of Tacoma's significant regional economic impact."
According to IKEA officials, the Frederickson Industrial Area's proximity to Port of Tacoma terminals offers long-term capacity and infrastructure to complement the company's North American distribution network.
The IKEA Northwestern Distribution Center will provide primary inventory to IKEA stores in Alberta, British Columbia, Utah, Oregon and Washington state. The facility also will be able to supply other stores across the country as needed.
Goods received by IKEA through the Port of Tacoma will reflect the nearly 10,000 exclusively designed items currently sold at all IKEA stores. With more than 1,300 suppliers in 54 countries around the world, IKEA globally transports products to its stores through regional distribution centers.
The IKEA Northwestern Distribution Center joins several other major Frederickson Industrial Area employers, including The Boeing Company, Toray Composites America, Medallion Foods, Tacoma Guitars, APG West, Northwest Door, Inc. and others.
Frederickson Industrial Area
In the late 1960s and early 1970s the port purchased approximately 500 acres for use in future economic development. This property is part of the area known as the Frederickson Industrial Area. Today, it is the Puget Sound region's largest single industrial area zoned for heavy manufacturing with industrial-capacity utilities and infrastructure in place.
Located 13 miles (21 kilometers) South of the Port, Frederickson properties are served by Tacoma Rail, a short-line railroad with direct connections to Port terminals. Canyon Road provides primary access to Interstate 5 and SR 512. The planned Cross-Base Highway will connect Frederickson directly to Interstate 5.
Today, the port has approximately 100 acres available for sale at Frederickson in tracts ranging in size from 12 to 40 acres.
