When US Airways dropped Pittsburgh International Airport as a hub in 2004, it seemed like a death knell for the airport corridor. But in the past decade, aggressive and forward-thinking action by airport officials, government representatives and developers have coalesced to take advantage of the increased demand for warehouse and light industrial space. Today major companies such as Wabtec Corp. and Amazon.com Inc. call the corridor home, and many other companies are planning to establish offices near the airport or along I-376 in the coming years.

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REGION HAS ‘LOTS OF ADVANTAGES’

Brandon Snyder is the leader of Al. Neyer’s substantial regional operations in Pittsburgh, including numerous developments with a heavy emphasis on the airport corridor at Clinton Commerce Park in Findlay Township. In recent years, Al. Neyer has developed a number of parcels at the park, including leases signed with Berlin Packaging, Shell Chemicals, Haemonetics Corp. and Nord-Lock Group. Snyder is currently working on a 400,000-square-foot development at Clinton Commerce Park V for an unnamed tenant and a development leased to Graybar Electric Company Inc. at Clinton Commerce Park VII. Al. Neyer also has a lease with Krystal Biotech Inc. at the airport’s Northfield I site.

You’ve been very successful getting companies to lease in Clinton Commerce Park. Why are companies attracted to the park? The Allegheny County Airport Authority developed this property into a first-class industrial park. They did a great job. It’s next to the airport along I-376. The sites are market-ready, allowing us as developers to quickly react to tenant requirements. The market has been carrying a low vacancy rate for some time. The region needed speculative development. Four of our projects there were speculative, which allows us to provide solutions to our growing market.

Describe the impact of the completion of I-576 on developments in the airport corridor. It will benefit existing development. It’ll be another transportation artery serving the corridor. Opening I-576 will improve access to regional highway systems, and it will mediate a lot of the congestion along I-376. It will open up more development opportunities to satisfy growing tenant demand. It also expands the corridor’s access to additional workforce.

Are there any unique advantages to developing the airport corridor? Any disadvantages? The biggest challenge remains a limited availability of land, particularly in pad-ready condition. There are lots of advantages. Much of the corridor is located in Findlay Township, which has been a huge supporter of development. Other advantages include the highway system, utility infrastructure, the draw of the airport, workforce availability and surrounding desirable communities to live in. All of these have contributed to successful development in the area.

Tell us about the Northfield development and what makes it an attractive site? Located on the north side of the airport, it’s adjacent to Dick’s Sporting Goods Inc., which naturally provides for a unique, campus-like environment. It’s zoned for industrial, which allows for light industrial manufacturing R&D uses, but in a more professional environment certain users covet as amenities for their employees.