The company sold 25 acres valued at $2 million on its own last year, but that number can be improved this year, Tony Iorio, Avatar vice president/project manager for Poinciana, tells GlobeSt.com. "With the marked upswing in Central Florida's commercial and industrial development, and the growing demand for prime office sites, we saw the need to bring in an experienced team of professionals to help us effectively oversee marketing and property sales," Iorio says.

He calls the park, with 1.3 million sf currently under roof, "America's second largest master-planned community." Colliers will be looking to better Avatar's total dirt sale to date of 300 acres. Asking prices are $65,000 to $142,000 per acre, or $1.50 per sf to $3.50 per sf for commercial-industrial sites. Prices for office-zoned locations are $5.75 per sf to $7.50 per sf.

Iorio is confident the park's land sales will escalate through Collier's national and international network of clients and offices. He feels the property's geographic location and transportation links are strong sells. Poinciana offers rail service from CSX and quick interstate access to Orlando International Airport, Kissimmee Municipal Airport and other key distribution points via Intersate 4, US 441, State Road 532, U.S. 192, the Bee Line Expressway and John Young Parkway.

Some national tenants have already discovered the park's strategic location. The roster comprises Quaker Oats, Florida Power Corp., McLane Suneast, DoorCraft of Florida, Continental PET Technologies, Cargill Inc., Southland Corp., MultiFoods Specialty Distribution, Windsor Metal Specialties and Lehigh Portland Cement.

The park also offers fast-track permitting by Osceola County and special local government economic and cash incentives for prospective national and international tenants. For example, Pennsylvania-based Nursery Supplies Inc received $1.2 million from Florida's Enterprise Economic Development Transportation Fund Program. The money is being used to expand road and rail access to NSI's $4.5 million plant currently under construction and slated to open in February.

Companies at the park employ 1,600, including a strong percentage from Poinciana's community of 21,000 permanent residents.

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