Since opening in 1996, the Highway 370 corridor has drawn an immense amount of development. The vast, empty fields have become trucking hubs for freight liners and warehouses for businesses. Additionally, there are banking facilities, investment offices, distributors, daycares, gas stations, restaurants, sports fields and parks – and the growth is not stopping.
Along Highway 370 in St. Charles County, major business developments include the Fountain Lakes Commerce Center in St. Charles and Premier 370 Business Park in St. Peters. In the news just over the past several months:
- Scannell Properties of Indianapolis is planning to build a 491,252 square-foot distribution facility in the Premier 370 Business Park in St. Peters.
- Duke Realty recently finished construction on a 250,000-square-foot industrial building developed for Best Buy, which is in the process of moving its distribution center from Earth City to the Premier 370 Business Park. Duke also has sold several parcels in the business park, including a 27-acre site to SAIA Motor Freight Line LLC, and a 25-acre site to Dayton Freight.
- In St. Charles’ Fountain Lakes Commerce Center, construction recently was completed on two cross-dock buildings totaling 325,000 square feet.
“The Highway 370 area is an ideal location because it connects to Highway 270 and Interstate 70,” says Keith Schneider, Senior Director at Cushman and Wakefield, a commercial real estate company. Schneider adds that the area also is appealing “due to the availability of flat, ready-to-build land sites and reasonably-priced land.”
The contribution to our economy is extreme when you have this type of continued development. It brings real estate developers, construction contractors, material suppliers, drivers and the public to the area to take part in the progress. It also brings jobs and security to many people who, in turn, buy houses, become active in their community, shop in local stores and send their children to local schools, etc.
Along with various businesses, there are three parks in the Highway 370 area. Fountain Lakes Park in the City of St. Charles allows recreational fishing and trail walking. Also in St. Charles is Mueller Park, which features soccer fields, pavilions and playgrounds. 370 Lakeside Park & RV Campground in St. Peters is a 300-acre park that includes a 140-acre lake for recreational fishing and kayaking, an archery range and bike paths. There are pavilions, picnic tables, and primitive and RV camping. This park has concerts throughout the year and is a great location for charity events.
I look forward to seeing the continued growth of the Highway 370 area. It’s an exciting time for our economy and community!