http://www.news-press.com/article/20140227/BUSINESS/140227006?source=nletter-top5
Work begins at Hertz's future home in Estero
Written by Chris Umpierre
Feb. 27, 2014 |
news-press.com
Zoom
This 100-acre tract north of Williams Road along U.S. 41
is part of more than 1,500 acres in the Estero area zoned
for commercial development. Hertz is locating its
headquarters just south of this spot. / news-press.com
file photo
This 100-acre tract north of Williams Road along U.S.
41 is part of more than 1,500 acres in the Estero area
zoned for commercial development. Hertz is locating its
headquarters just south of this spot.
Two orange John Deere tractors spent today clearing dirt at
the future entrance of Southwest Florida’s first Fortune 300
company headquarters.
A few feet away, workers installed a dark Ferguson Waterworks tarp around the perimeter of the
34.5-acre property. Two large tractors, sporting Hertz Rental Equipment stickers, sat idle on the parcel’s
west side as a white pickup truck zipped around directing several workers.
The efforts represented the first construction work at rental car giant Hertz’s future $70 million
headquarters. The Estero property has sat untouched since the company’s ceremonial groundbreaking in
November. Hertz spokesman Richard Broome said workers are clearing the land in preparation for deep
foundation digging, which could happen next month. Hertz hopes construction of the three story,
250,000-square-foot main building and 50-space rental/sales lot will be finished by October 2015.
“Now you’re beginning to see tangible signs of the building process,” Broome said today. “The building
process (in Estero) is going to accelerate in the next several weeks.”
About 700 employees, earning an average salary of $102,000, will be working in Estero. Until then, Hertz
will be working out of two temporary offices in Southwest Florida. Hertz, which has 160 employees in
North Naples, plans to have 200-250 employees in Bonita Springs. The company is renovating an old
Robb & Stucky building in Bonita. The temporary office could open next month.
“We’re happy to see construction starting,” said Nick Batos, chairman of the Estero Council of Community
Leaders, a grassroots group representing 30 gated communities. “I was a little surprised that it didn’t start
before this. But in relation to other projects, this is still moving rather rapidly. There is so much to be done
on the design and engineering side for Hertz and the permitting on the county side. I believe the county
has done everything possible for Hertz, as they should.”
In May, Hertz announced it was relocating from its headquarters from Park Ridge, N.J. to Estero in
exchange for about $19 million in economic stimulus money from Lee County, the state and FPL.
Page 1 of 1
Mar 14, 2014 06:32:24AM MDT