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Community Overview
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Welcome to one of Central California's leading commercial brokerage firms. We serve
Bakersfield, Kern County, and the surrounding communities throughout the southern
San Joaquin Valley and Central Coast.
Through our affiliation with Grubb & Ellis, we have access to collective resources
of one of the world’s leading providers of integrated real estate services
with more than 8,000 people in over 200 offices in 31 countries.
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Established in 1866, Kern County is referred to as California’s Golden Empire
and with little wonder. It was first settled because of the gold found throughout
the valley and later for the rich “black gold” that continues to be
a mainstay for local economy - Kern County being the leading oil producer in the
continental U.S. |
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Additionally, Kern County has a rich heritage as a copious farming
region. The Central Valley dominates agricultural production in California with
Kern County ranking 3rd overall in the state. Its exports are numerous in kind and
amount, making it the bread basket for the nation as well as the world.
Yet more than just agriculture and oil, this community has a diverse industrial
market. From high-tech computer and manufacturing companies to state-of-the-art
telecommunication giants, a variety of organizations have been drawn to the valley,
including the nation’s top aviation research facility.
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Its centralized location at the southern end of the San Joaquin
Valley makes Kern County easily accessible and offers convenient passage not only
through the state but also across the US. This has been instrumental in transforming
Kern County into a hub for some of the world’s largest companies: |
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Frito Lay
Nestle
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Pillsbury
Chevron/Texaco |
Grimmway Farms
Aera Energy |
State Farm Insurance |
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There is also a goldmine of recreational and tourism activities. With its three
climate zones -- valley, mountains, and high desert -- Kern County has something
for everyone. Whether kayaking down the rapids of the Kern River, strolling among
wild flowers, visiting the giant sequoia trees, or rock climbing in the desert,
Kern County is a nature-lovers paradise. Also among the local hot spots is Mesa
Marin Raceway, several country clubs, numerous premium golf courses, museums, art
galleries, and a variety of musical, sporting, and cultural events at Centennial
Gardens arena.
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And in an hour or less, you could be enjoying the best fishing
and camping in the state at Sequoia National Park, or sunbathing on one of California’s
world-famous beaches. |
The superior quality of life within Kern County is marked by some of the lowest
housing prices in California. With a hospitable community, lots to do and a low
cost of living, this is the place to be!
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Overview |
Commerce |
Education | Government
| Quality of Life | Real Estate
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For centuries the Yokuts Indians thrived in the San Joaquin Valley. With a plethora
of lakes and rivers and plentiful hunting, it was an ideal settlement. So when Padre
Francisco Garces stumbled upon this hidden treasure in 1776, he immediately predicted
it would blossom into a commercial success. But another 90 years lapsed before his
vision started taking shape, primarily in the form of one couple, Colonel Thomas
Baker and his wife, Ellen. Through their dedication and hospitality, the stage was
set for incredible growth and prosperity. Initially the area was used by families
to feed their livestock when trekking northward through the El Tejon Pass seeking
home sites. The Colonel would invite the weary travelers to rest overnight. The
growing township was soon labeled with the moniker Baker's Field. Eventually, in
1898, in honor of two of its earliest settlers, "Bakersfield" was incorporated. |
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Early in its history, Bakersfield established itself as a caring community with
strong leadership manifested in a proactive government. It came as no surprise then
when it was designated as the county seat in 1864. Colonel Baker formally laid out
the town in 1869, and within two years the city had a telegraph office, two stores,
a newspaper, two boarding houses, one doctor, a wagon shop, a harness shop, one
attorney, a saloon, and fifty school pupils. |
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Bakersfield has certainly prospered since then. For the more than 250,000 current
residents, this hospitable city has continued to engender a hometown feel while
providing many of the amenities found in larger cities. |
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Population 2000 |
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Metro Bakersfield |
City of Bakersfield
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County of Kern
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State of California
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389,000 |
237,200 |
658,900 |
34,336,0000 |
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For detailed demographic information, please visit the website of the Greater Bakersfield
Chamber of Commerce at www.bakersfieldchamber.org |
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Bakersfield | Kern County |
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Agriculture has been a mainstay of Bakersfield’s commerce for more than a
century. By harnessing the flow of water from the Kern River, this region has been
transformed into some of the most productive land in existence. Those who farm it
are considered to be among the world’s best. This has meant steady revenue
and an increase in jobs for the city, creating positions of labor, administration
and legislation. Many agribusinesses additionally improve the quality of life for
residents by supporting a variety of cultural and educational programs as well as
charities.
Grimmway Farms is the largest carrot producer in the
world and is the County’s largest private employer. |
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In the second half of the 19th century, two pivotal discoveries were made - gold
in 1851, followed by oil fourteen years later. These important findings ensured
a rich cultural diversity for the area. Today, Kern County is vital to the nation’s
energy pool, Bakersfield being a beneficiary of the petroleum industry’s success.
It is here that the key components necessary for the smooth operation of oil production,
refining, and marketing have united. Several major oil companies have provided the
capital and technology necessary for the continued development of the industry. |
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Setting the pace as California’s leading oil producer, Aera Energy LLC is
headquartered in Bakersfield and employs over 1,100 residents not to mention hundreds
of contracting companies. |
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Also among the leading industries are food processing, textiles, and metal fabrication.
The Greater Bakersfield area is home to hundreds of manufacturers, including four
major industrial parks. |
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Pactiv, a packing materials manufacturer, recently acquired land due north of the
Meadows Field new terminal site to construct a manufacturing facility of approximately
1,800,000 square feet with projected employees totaling 1,200.
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With such a strong presence of high profile companies and research facilities, many
upper level professionals have been drawn to the area. The majority of these have
been families, as Bakersfield has the reputation for being a family-oriented town
with affordable housing and a low cost of living. In the Metro Bakersfield area,
commute time is usually 15 minutes or less. The majority of residents work within
the county, so there are only a handful of in and out commuters. Some prefer to
live in Metro Bakersfield and drive out to jobs in neighboring communities. |
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Found at the leading edge of technology, the Naval Weapons Center, China Lake and
the Air Force Flight Test Center at Edward’s Air Force base are central to
national defense. |
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Many large retailers have been attracted by the commercial reputation Bakersfield
has built for itself and the demographics of the Valley. In recent months large
names like IKEA, Linens & Things and House-2-Home, have opened locations in
the area. Other major chains such as Starbuck’s & Krispy Kreme have elicited
great support from local residents. |
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Mega-retailer Target has plans to build a massive distribution
center in Shafter, with a warehouse that would measure nearly 1.7 million square
feet and call for 959 parking spots.
State Farm Insurance, one of the world’s leading financial institutions, has
opened a regional office on Old River Road and currently employs over 2,300 local
residents.
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Another factor that has enhanced Bakersfield’s position in the commercial
arena is the Bakersfield Business Conference. For over fifteen years the conference
has provided an opportunity to mingle with some of the outstanding men and women
of our time. Receiving international acclaim, it has consistently featured world-renowned
speakers and draws big names not only in the business world but also the political
and entertainment fields. Locally, this annual event provides a substantial revenue
boost as well as an excellent forum for contact networking. |
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Top | Bakersfield |
Kern County |
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Bakersfield has 12 school districts with 56 elementary schools (K-6), 17 junior
high schools (7th and 8th), and 14 high schools including the newest, Ridgeview
High in the southwest, Centennial High in the northwest and Liberty High in the
west. Many more schools at all levels are in the planning and construction phases.
The community also has 1 continuation high school, 1 community college, 1 state
university, numerous vocational schools, and one adult school. |
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The
Bakersfield City School District is the largest K-8 elementary
school district in the state of California. Currently there are approximately 27,674
students enrolled in our schools. All employees of the district (1,693 certificated
and 1,772 classified) are committed to the academic excellence of each student.
Individual school profiles can be viewed at:
http://www.ed-data.k12.ca.us
(Source: Bakersfield City School District) |
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With 18 high schools, Bakersfield is the largest component of the Kern High School District.
There are many high school academies offering aggressive school-to-career programs.
Top-notch teachers, programs encouraging parent-student relationships, increased
use of technology and continuously expanding student resources have all contributed
to making this district one of the best in the state. |
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Vocational Training
Bakersfield offers numerous business, trade and vocational schools, ranging from
studies in business to oil, trucking to cosmetology. Due to the support of local
pro-community organizations, many have been able to establish work placement programs. |
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Colleges & Universities |
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California State University at Bakersfield offers extensive
bachelor’s and master’s degree programs, in addition to extended study
programs for community enrichment. Augmenting CSUB is the Kern Community College District,
the largest in California.
Bakersfield College is one of the oldest continually
operated community colleges in the nation. In addition to its premium curricular
programs, B.C. hosts several cultural events throughout the year. KCCD hosts two
other campuses, Cerro Coso Community College and Porterville Community College,
providing several campuses within commuting distance of Bakersfield. Both offer
high quality degree and certificate curricula in lower division arts and sciences
and in vocational/technical/ occupational education. Additionally, a satellite campus
of
University California, Merced opened in August 2001, offering fully
accredited University of California classes at their central Bakersfield campus
located at 2000 K Street. |
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Top | Bakersfield |
Kern County |
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City Motto
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Bakersfield, The Heart of the Golden State |
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City Flower
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he Miss Bakersfield Camelia |
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City Bird
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the Western Robin |
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City Colors |
Blue & Gold |
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city council
The City of Bakersfield is operated under the Council-Manager form of government.
The City Council is the legislative and policy-making body of the City. The City
Manager is the Chief Executive Officer responsible for the administration of City
affairs.
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The City Council is composed of seven members, elected from
the seven separate wards of the City on a nonpartisan basis, to serve four-year
overlapping terms. It is the Council ’s responsibility to enact Ordinances,
Resolutions and Orders necessary for governing the affairs of the City as outlined
in the City Charter. City Council is organized into seven standing committees which
were created to review and analyze all City policies and programs and make necessary
recommendations back to the full Council. The regular meeting of the City Council
is a vital part of the Democratic process in the administration of the City ’s
affairs. These meetings are open to the public and conducted by elected representatives,
as a body. |
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mayor
The Mayor is elected at-large for a four-year term and serves as the official head
of the City for legislative policy and ceremonial purposes. The Mayor is the residing
officer at City Council Meetings, executes all legal instruments and documents and
is not vested with administrative authority. However, the Mayor does have the authority
to cast a vote in the event of a tie. By working with the outlying cities in Kern
County, the Mayor brings the communities together to enhance the quality of life
for all in the County. |
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city manager
As an integral part of the city’s government, the role of the City Manager’s
Office is to provide professional leadership in the management of the City and execution
of City Council policies. It also provides effective municipal services through
the coordination and direction of all City activities, finances and personnel and
acts as liaison between the City and other agencies. The maintenance of City Council
records, elections and personnel also fall under the umbrella of the City Manager. |
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Top | Bakersfield |
Kern County |
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culture
As Bakersfield’s population continues to diversify, so does its interests.
There are several music and art activities to satisfy every taste. Enjoy a night
of the symphony orchestra, a fine art exhibit, a local production at one of many
theatres, live jazz bands or country line dancing. |
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climate |
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Bakersfield covers approximately 110 square miles and is 492
feet above sea level. It is partially surrounded by three mountain ranges: the Temblor
range to the west, the Tehachapi range to the south and the Sierra Nevada range
to the east. The Kern River flows through the valley, the fastest falling river
in the U.S. It is centrally located about 90 miles north of Los Angeles, 90 miles
south of Fresno, and 90 miles east of the Pacific ocean, which puts Bakersfield
close to a variety of recreational and business resources. Generally temperatures
are mild year round. Summers are warm and dry; winters are cool with mild rain fall;
and snow falls about once every 15 years! A sweater is suggested for late fall and
early spring. Dress lightly for the hot summers and with a jacket for the winter. |
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recreation |
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Parks/Sports: There are currently 40 neighborhood parks and picnic
areas open for all to enjoy. These range in size and services offered, but certainly
something for every family and occasion. The Kern River that flows through the Bakersfield
area as well as local lakes provide amply for water sports and camping. The community
also has its own professional ice hockey team, the Bakersfield Condors, and a minor
league baseball team, the Bakersfield Blaze. A large soccer park is available where
local, regional, and state tournaments are held. There are also several golf courses,
bowling alleys, and skating rinks. A variety of sports leagues are available for
youths and adults. Central California's newest state-of-the-art complex, Centennial
Gardens, is located in the heart of downtown Bakersfield with easy access to freeways,
hotels and the convention center. This exciting addition hosts not only sporting
events but also major concerts and family shows. |
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Shopping: Bakersfield has proved itself to be a lucrative spot
for thousands of retail businesses. In the past decade downtown Bakersfield has
experienced quite a makeover that has brought a resurgence of businesses and in
turn, shoppers have flocked to the area. There is still great potential for further
growth to this historical market. The Stockdale Fashion Plaza offers a wide variety
of specialty shops as well as semi-annual art walks sponsored by local merchants.
One of Bakersfield’s newest additions, The Marketplace offers a refreshing
change from the everyday. It has been designed to reflect the surrounding community's
refined architectural standards and features a community of conveniences. Also a
highlight is its series Free Weekly Concerts by The Fountain, starting the first
Thursday in May running through the last of September. Bakersfield’s own Super
mall, Valley Plaza Shopping Center, attracts die-hard shoppers from across the U.S.
This retail magnet is located on Ming Avenue off Highway 99.
To service the steady increase of residents in the
Northeast section of town, East Hills Mall was built in the 1990s and continues
to pull steady revenue, adding along the way giants such as Wal-Mart, Target, and
Harris Gottschalks. |
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Dining: Bakersfield’s rich cultural diversity is evident
in the area’s variety of restaurants. Everything from country cooking to gourmet
dining is offered. You can select from Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, Italian, Indian,
German, American, and Mediterranean. One choice that you won’t find just anywhere
is the local farmers’ stands located along the freeways, back roads and surrounding
areas. Here you can sample the freshest produce of theseason! Another popular cuisine
is Basque food. Originally from a region of the Pyrenees Mountains on the border
between Spain and France, the Basque migrated here when the west began to explode
in the 1870's, many as sheep herders, others as miners and hotel owners. Eating
in a Basque restaurant is quite an experience which is impossible to walk away from
hungry. The feast starts off with soup, beans, lots of bread, pickled tongue, salad,
vegetables, french fries and an entree followed with dessert of blue cheese and/or
ice cream. And one cannot claim to have fully experienced the good life without
a visit to Dewar’s Icecream Parlor.
This old-fashioned landmark has delighted young and
old with its homemade confections since 1909. |
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Top | Bakersfield |
Kern County |
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population trends
According to the year 2000 demographic information, the Bakersfield/Kern County
MSA continues to outpace population growth in most California counties. According
to the U.S. Census Bureau, Kern County’s population for the year 2000 totaled
661,645 representing a 21.4% increase from the 1990 population. During the same
period of time, the State of California’s population increased 13.6%. By comparison,
the California Department of Finance shows a 41.3% increase in population for the
period 1990 to 2000 for the City of Bakersfield with a population of 247,057.
As the two giants of our local economy, energy and agriculture, continue to adapt
for the future, Bakersfield and Kern County have benefited from the nation’s
focus on delivering food products and reliable, affordable energy resources to the
market. The Southern San Joaquin Valley is poised to capture accelerated residential
growth and business development in accommodating the influx of new industries servicing
the needs of area businesses and residents.
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residential growth
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The primary residential growth areas of Bakersfield, Northwest
and Southwest, continue to attract the majority of new home construction with South
Bakersfield along the Highway 99 corridor a distant third. The City of Bakersfield’s
Planning Department indicates that approximately 90% of new home construction for
the period 2000 to 2005 will occur west of the Gosford/Coffee Road north/south arterial
based upon existing and tentative tract map activity. This trend is further substantiated
with the construction of four (4) new high school campuses since 1994, all located
west of Highway 99 with a fifth private high school due to be completed in 2003
at the intersection of Stockdale Highway and Allen Road.
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Estimated year 2000 Population &
Household Income
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1 mile
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24,650 |
8,023 |
7,747 |
15,347 |
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3 mile
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99,979 |
84,657 |
58,122 |
56,052 |
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5 mile
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192,832 |
164,515 |
192,215 |
174,583 |
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1 mile
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$76,457 |
$54,375 |
37,093 |
$57,076 |
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3 mile
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$50,325 |
$56,793 |
$46,788 |
$42,849 |
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5 mile |
$45,493 |
$48,208 |
$41,792 |
$41,848 |
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As neighborhood retail developments tend to follow rooftops very closely, it should
also be noted that since 1992, all but one (1) of a total of six (6) grocery and
drug store anchored shopping centers have also been constructed west of Highway
99. Two (2) additional neighborhood centers are under construction with two (2)
sites in the planning stages all west of the Gosford/Coffee Road north/south arterial.
Other residential communities with noteworthy planned developments include the South
Bakersfield/Highway 99 corridor with the addition of new entry-level residential
neighborhoods that will be supported with a number of planned retail sites. The
Northeast Bakersfield area will also experience a substantial increase in new home
construction with the completion of infrastructure to make available water and sewer
connections. Many established home builders have secured an inventory of lots in
Northeast offering alternatives not seen in the area for over twenty (20) years.
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office market update
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University Centre: As of May 2001, overall
vacancy in the City of Bakersfield totals 13% for all classes of office space in
the three (3) existing office sub markets maintained in the Grubb & Ellis/ASU
& Associates databank. Although the Southwest and Central Bakersfield sub markets
are larger, the University Centre submarket continues to experience the majority
of new construction and lowest vacancies due largely to the availability of zoned
and improved office sites and the build to suit nature of the office inventory.
Planned and under construction office buildings will add another 320,000 square
feet of Class “A” space within the next eighteen (18) months should
pre-leasing be completed as expected.
Southwest: In 1985, Southwest Bakersfield was home to fourteen
(14) of the nation’s major energy companies providing administrative and geophysical
services for domestic and international exploration operations worldwide. Today
only two (2) majors remain with the recent merger of Chevron and Texaco. With the
steady recovery from an all time high Class “A” vacancy of 40% vacancy
in October of 2000, the Southwest submarket currently boasts a 33 % vacancy thanks
to the growth of independent energy producers, service companies and technology
based businesses. Recovery for the Southwest submarket will occur over time and
could be greatly improved should new industries learn of the quality of life and
affordability the Southern San Joaquin valley has to offer.
Central: Thanks largely to the success of recently completed redevelopment
projects; Central Bakersfield enjoys the distinction of remaining the center of
the city having stimulated new interest from business leaders, government and education
alike. Centennial Gardens, Holiday Inn Select, the Convention Center expansion and
remodel, Downtown Elementary School and the UC Merced campus will continue to showcase
the opportunities for future redevelopment.
Northwest: The fastest growing residential sector, Northwest Bakersfield,
will also become the fourth office submarket due to the inventory of zoned and improved
Riverlakes Ranch office sites coupled with the demand of general office users, financial
services and medical users to remain accessible to the residential neighborhoods.
In excess of sixty (60) acres of zoned land is currently available for office and
mixed use development
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industrial development
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After years of planning, speculation and debate, industrial developments in Kern
County are finally a reality with regional developers vying for build-to-suit and
user commitments both north and south of Greater Bakersfield. The massive industrial
and commercial complex (1,700 acres) started by Tejon Ranch at the foot of the Grapevine
along Interstate 5 has recently attracted the western U.S distribution center of
IKEA Furniture.
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Coupled with Tejon Ranch’s industrial park, the
foreign trade designation and the Northern Burlington Railroad intermodal emphasis
of the 700 acre ITTC developed by The Allen Group will provide distribution and
manufacturing solutions to further attract a skilled workforce and consumer population. |
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Top | Bakersfield |
Kern County |
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