Road beltway generates real estate business in ABC
DCI
The construction of the southern section of the Road Beltway, public work that connects the entire interior of São Paulo, is already bringing improvements to the real estate market in the satellite cities of Santo André, São Bernardo do Campo and São Caetano. Betting on that, MBigucci, headed by the businessman Milton Bigucci, increased its residential business and entered the field of construction of the commercial condominium through the building of 26 warehouses, with an investment of R$ 63 million (US$ 39.4 million). Another company that also took advantage of the good moment to open an office in the region was Fernandez Mera, which expects to reach 10% of the businesses of the ABC, getting to R$ 220 million (US$ 137.5 million) in gross sales value (GSV). In Diadema, the figures released by the city hall indicated the search for land in the city, after the work, went from 5 to 10 requests a month.
To Marcos Bigucci, Director of MBigucci, the entrance in the market of industrial warehouses is a new step of the group, which focuses on the ABC, "our focus will not stop being the residential construction, but we have seen in the construction of the Road Beltway a unique opportunity to expand the businesses", he said. The new condominium, with 26 warehouses, will be located between the Anchieta and Imigrantes roads in Diadema, and its delivery is scheduled for June 2012. "We are investing heavily in the segment, and we have already planned the second unit", said the Executive. Without disclosing the details, the second undertaking of the group should be in Santo André, and the expectation is that it be even larger. "In Santo André we want to build nearly 80 warehouses and erect the largest condominium of the region", said Bigucci, who foresees the delivery in four years.
A recent study made by CB Richard Ellis with data from 2011 showed the ABC has no vacancy rate in terms of industrial warehouses. "In places such as Barueri and Alphaville, which are traditionally known for having warehouses, the rate stays between 5% and 10%, and in the ABC, the number is currently at zero", he says. For the professor of Economics in Real Estate Businesses of the Methodist University, Rubens Floriano, the Road Beltway brought back to the ABC a flow of land that had been lost in the 70s. For the Professor, the scenario has changed a lot due to the works of the Beltway. "The interest has again become latent precisely after the companies resumed seeing the ABC as a 'dry port'", he said recalling nearness of the region to the port of Santos.
Besides, the professor explains there are many non-residential areas that can be used both for construction of logistics or distribution centers and for new manufacturing plants. "Much is said about land in the ABC, but I believe all the saturation is only in São Bernardo and in residential segment. Industrial or commercial properties have a lot of space and 2011 should be great for the sector", he said.
The city of Diadema is already reaping the fruits with the construction, which facilitated the logistics in the region and caused the demand for spaces to double both for residential and industrial projects within a year, and it increased the value of the land. According to data of the Municipal Government, in 2009 the requests for certificates for the project of commercial and industrial building were at an average of ten a month, and this year the number increased to 20. For residential undertakings, the average in 2009 was of two certificates a month and, in 2010, it reached five a month.
The values have skyrocketed. Herzog, a real estate consulting firm, estimates that areas for use by industries in the city, which had cost between R$ 100 (US$ 62.50) and R$ 250 (US$ 156.25) per m² (square meter) two years ago, are now found from R$ 200 (US$ 125) to R$ 500 (US$ 312.50) m² (square meter). The municipality has attracted the interest for industrial condominiums, where several companies share spaces (which are leased) and prorate the expenditure with services like security, reception, cleaning, etc. The undertakings that have arisen have been, in general, successful in occupation.