Firm plans to build 159,000-square-foot distribution center in Lakewood

The real estate firm Vector Development Co. plans to build a 159,000-square-foot warehouse and distribution center near Interstate 5 in Lakewood after a more than $4 million deal, according to Pierce County Assessor-Treasurer records.

According to the firm, the site likely would be leased to an e-commerce tenant, a third-party logistics distribution company or another company that distributes to retail stores or customers.

“We like to invest in this neighborhood,” Vector president Tyler Litzenberger said. ”The City of Lakewood has done a very good job developing the utilities and infrastructure in the neighborhood.”

The land for the warehouse previously contained single-family homes and mobile homes and belonged to C&D Land Corp., a Kent-based real estate business, and four private homeowners. The homes were demolished over the last month.

The new planned center at 14702 Woodbrook Dr. SW will include 27 dock doors and 21 spaces for trucks and trailers on the 8-acre property.

Litzenberger said Lakewood is an ideal location because the location is close to the port of Tacoma but also has more affordable rent and more storage space.

“This is going to be a very strong distribution neighborhood,” he said. “This advances the city of Lakewood to being on the forefront of industrial (business).”

This isn’t Vector’s first time investing in properties in the Tacoma area. It recently finished construction on a 78,000-square-foot industrial facility in Tacoma and has built industrial parks in Frederickson and Bonney Lake.

Litzenberger estimated that between construction and the company that moves in, the center will bring 100-150 new jobs to the area. It is expected to be completed some time in 2021.

This story was originally published August 20, 2020 at 10:00 AM.