Acquired the Van Vliet and Albers Dairies

Nearly ten years ago, Watson acquired the first 83 acres of industrial-zoned land that would form the First Phase of Watson Industrial Park Chino.

Chino is the strategic hub of the Inland Empire West, and in many ways it is the last frontier for industrial real estate in the area. Recognizing the value of this location, we purchased, bid on, and traded for the acreage that would be home to the 5.1-million-square-foot, 11-building development.

Water Issue Solved

As part of our preparation, we took part in regional water improvements that allowed for Watson Industrial Park Chino to become a reality. In addition to designing and constructing the 4-million gallon reservoir tank at the Eastside Water Treatment Facility (which was named the top national reservoir tank of 2015 by STI/SPFA), we constructed 1.5 miles of 24˝ distribution lines and a booster pump station.

First Phase Broke Ground

Before construction was completed, the First Phase of Watson Industrial Park Chino was entirely pre-leased. We are proud to have UMA and Synnex Corporation among the first customers at this masterplanned center that is unlike anything else the Inland Empire has to offer.

Exchanged Acreage

As part of the actualization of Watson Industrial Park Chino, we exchanged 273 acres of agricultural-zoned land for 95 acres of agricultural-zoned land owned by the County of San Bernardino, thereby avoiding a public auction. This was an extremely complicated transaction requiring the approval of 4 separate governmental jurisdictions, including the State of California, the County of San Bernardino, Orange County, and the City of Chino.

Successful Auction Bid

Recognizing an opportunity to add to our holdings in Chino, Watson acquired 58 acres of land at a county auction.

As our vision for Watson Industrial Park Chino began to take shape, Watson Land Company continued to purchase enough land to build the masterplanned industrial park. To house the 11-building, 5.1-million-square-foot development, we ultimately acquired 263 acres.

Purchased the Lekkerkerker Dairy

As Chino shifts from a purely agricultural center to the premier industrial hub of the Inland Empire, Watson Land Company is committed to honoring the city's noble heritage.

To preserve the rural charm formerly embodied by abundant dairy farms, we hand-selected over 100 mature oak trees to be planted throughout Watson Industrial Park Chino. We also have paid tribute to the city's heritage by naming streets within the industrial park after prominent figures.

First Phase Completed

Ranging from 323,030 to 601,104 square feet, each freestanding building in the 1.4 million square foot First Phase of Watson Industrial Park Chino was built to be highly flexible to meet a variety of industrial needs. The First Phase was fully pre-leased before construction was completed.

Featuring Watson Land Company Legacy Buildings and LEED-certified construction, the First Phase offers such advantages as 36-foot clearance, abundant clerestory glass, 100% concrete truck courts, 3% skylights, and 8-inch-thick concrete floor slabs with 4,000 PSI reinforcement. By conserving water and energy, the First Phase's sustainable design features benefit both our environment and our customers.

Completed Award-Winning Water Tank

Designed and constructed by Watson Land Company, the 4-million gallon tank at the Eastside Water Treatment Facility was named the top national reservoir tank of 2015 by the Steel Tank Institute/Steel Plate Fabricators Association. The STI/SPFA annually honors the highest quality construction projects that utilize steel as the material of choice, and we are proud that our tank took the top honor in this division for 2015.

Zone Change Approved

To push on toward the completion of Watson Industrial Park Chino’s Second, Third, and Fourth Phase, we worked with the city to receive approval on EIR and zone change on 273 acres of land, totaling 3.8 million square feet of buildings.

Second Phase Off-Site Development Began

We began development of the Second Phase of Watson Industrial Park Chino during 2016.

While we worked on this project we were committed to meeting the highest standards of design and construction, as well as to improving the quality of life for the citizens of Chino by providing jobs and revenue to the city.

June 2017 Second Phase Complete

Watson Industrial Park Chino's Second Phase consists of two buildings ideal for any business with distribution or warehousing needs. Building 842’s 725,000 and Building 846’s 443,000 square footage include state-of-the-art office space, trailer storage, and Watson Legacy and LEED features to match the efficiency, sustainability, and high quality standards of the First Phase.

Third Phase Began

Mass grading plans were approved in accordance with the City of Chino’s standard grading sheets and design criteria, and construction began for Watson Industrial Park Chino’s Third Phase. This includes asphalt concrete paving and surfacing of the parking areas, as well as a monument wall, the foundation for signage, and street improvements.

Outdoor Art Sculpture Installation

By the end of December, the first outdoor art sculptures were installed at Watson Industrial Park Chino. During its peak in the 1980s, the regions of Chino and Ontario had the largest collection of milk dairies in the United States. The statues, at the entrance to the Watson Industrial Park, honor the dairy industry in the Chino Valley.

Third Phase Completed

Consisting of a total 1.4 million square feet of warehousing and industrial office space to the east of the Chino Airport, the Third Phase was finished in January. This includes the completion of three buildings: Building 838 at 310,000 square feet, Building 839 at 500,000 square feet, and Building 841 at 600,000 square feet.

Fourth Phase Began

The final Fourth Phase of Watson Industrial Park Chino began with mass grading construction in May. Landscaping and infrastructure in order to provide a pedestrian-friendly entrance and layout commenced, as well as paving for the north and south parking areas. The concrete median curb and adjacent gutter construction began, with the asphalt paving slot patch and landscaping scheduled also.

Bronze Sculpture Installation

In 2020, a new shipment of bronze cow artwork was delivered to further highlight the area’s history and legacy. Once the foundation and overhead security system were mounted at three street corners and completed, ten cows and one calf were installed. The sculptures were created at 120% scale, and polished by hand to bring out the remarkable detail.