(AG Real Estate) Large cargo center at airport "Konstantin Veliki" - on the doorstep

The Austrian company ’’Eyemaxx Real Estate’’ jointly with ’’Chayton Capital UK’’ fund has initiated development of one of the greatest projects in the region. Having envisaged a long-term vision of investment into the airport complex and the very city of Niš, the realization commenced.

The Cargo center complex includes about 260,000 m2 of land area and construction of the highest standard facilities with approximately 136,000 m2 has been anticipated. Further to distributive facilities, the project has anticipated development of office space, shopping center, hotels and other facilities which will fulfill the highest European standards for complexes of this type.

Possibilities of cargo distribution by air, rail or road will give excellent prospects for setting local and regional development in motion. This is supported by the fact that construction of such complex, facilities, infrastructure and traffic roads will engage a great number of domestic companies and provide a safe and reliable work for a lot of people. It is estimated that this 62 million Euro worth investment will provide jobs for about 500 people.

It has been known since time immemorial, in the rich history of these districts, that for all empires the Morava valley was the main trade roads communication. Trade circulated from the West to the East and vice versa.

The central and starting point of this river valley is the city of Niš, which should have become traffic and transport junction long ago. A river, a railway and a highway intertwine in its immediate surroungings. When taking into account the existing forking of traffic communications at Corridor X Vienna – Sofia – Istambul and Budapest – Thessaloniki, then it is more than clear why the city of Niš incites investment interests.

Having in mind the aforementioned ’’historical flows’’, it could be said that it is high time for cash and investments flow from the West to the East and in that respect initiation of the cargo center construction at the Airport ’’Konstantin Veliki’’ (’’Constantine the Great’’) as a new development point of the region confirms in a way that ’’history repeats’’. This time in a different and more positive meaning!

Cargo Center Conception

Construction of the Cargo Logistics Center within the Airport ’’Konstantin Veliki’’ in Niš of usable area of about 136,000 m2 and total value including the accompanying facilities of 62 million Euros is starting in the second half of 2009. Being a complex, diverse and multifunctional project, it will take about 6 years for its construciton. The project office ’’Modular’’ has conceptually rounded this complex on the grounds of prescribed town plan parameters and capacities. Completion of the master project for phases I and II of Structure A, that will cover an area of about 37,000 m2, in cooperation with the project company ’’Mašinoprojekt’’ is just being brought to a conslusion.

On totally 26 hectares of land area, handling cargo facilities with customs zone will be erected in addition to the cargo and distributive center. The complex is divided into the following facilities:

● Structure A: Cargo Center with office space of 37,000m2 surface area;

● Structure B: Cargo-Logistics Center with office space of 26,500m2 surface area,

● Structure C: Cargo Center with office space of 16,500 m2 surface area,

● Structure E: Buil-to-suit renting facility with office space of 6,100 m2 surface area,

● Structure F: Cargo-logistics center with office space of 26,500m2 surface area,

● Structure G: Shopping Mall of 20,000m2 surface area,

● Structure H: 4-star hotel that will cover 9,000 m2 surface area,

● Structure I: Business-Administrative center of 9,000 m2 surface area.

Realization of this joint investment of the Airport in Niš and the Austrian ’’EyeMaxx’’, which participated in the tender with support of the British Chayton Capital UK fund should start with construction of the handling cargo warehouse and logistics center of the total surface area of around 37,000 m2.

Regardless of the ongoing situation, it has been planned to complete the entire project in continuity. In the second phase another logistics center and cargo and distributive center should be constructed, and then a shopping mall. The fourth and fifth phases have anticipated construction of the business building that should back the operations of all the facilities within the cargo center, and in the fifth phase the hotel will be erected to meet the accrued needs of the passanges and of those who are connected with the functioning of this enormous complex at the Airport ’’Konstantin Veliki’’.

According to the expectations, development of the existing Airport ’’Konstantin Veliki’’ should evolve concurrently with the construction of this complex. Development of the existing Airport is inevitable as the abundant cargo traffic will also expedite other contents within ’’Konstantin Veliki’’. The project has anticipated all facilities necessary for its functioning according to the world standards and the airport will be capable of accepting either passanger or cargo aircrafts from all over the world. The runway reconstruction has already been completed and obtaining of the certificates for performance of the approaching important operations is underway. The project enables maximal exploitation of all airport capacities.

The whole complex is fenced and protected by a 24-hour monitoring and physical security. Parking of more than 400 automobiles as well as over 100 trucks will be provided.

Through cargo center development in phases, Airport ’’Konstantin Veliki’’ has great opportunities to become one of the main if not the main point of the southeastern Europe in the field of logistics, cargo and distributive network. The cargo and logistics center will be connected with road and rail Corridor X via the existing and subsequently constructed access junctions which will enable fast and easy delivery and dispatch of goods. A huge advantage of the very complex is that the freight railway station ’’Popovac’’ is located in the immediate vicinity of the cargo center and they will be directly linked. The traffic junction with already completely built infrastructure will enable faster transport from the future cargo center in Niš to Belgrade, Thessaloniki and Sofia. Currently none of the airports in the region have the capacity to accept heavy air traffic, which adds additional quality to the Niš Airport.

Details About the First Phase

As already mentioned, the first phase of this cargo complex development anticipates construction of the handling cargo wharehouse and logistics center. Loading ramps for cargo vehicles will be positioned on both sides of the building to provide easy distribution of goods. At each 650m2 of the wharehouse there is an automatic dock with hydraulic ramp adjustable to any type of truck.

Both buildings will be constructed in a modular fashion and separated into modules which will enable quality formation of high shelves for goods stowage. Every module will consist of the core with offices on two levels having direct contact with the wharehouse. Wharehouse loading ramps, storekeeper office, rest rooms for drivers are planned on the ground floor. Office space and rest rooms equipped with kitchen, toilet, air conditioning, gas heating, natural light and top telecommunicational connections are planned on both upper floors.

The whole space is anticipated as ’’open space’’ so that partition walls will be supplied during the renting process in accordance with needs and desires of the users.

The anticipated inner ceiling height ranges from 2.75m (second floor) to 3.00m (first floor). Inner wharehouse height is 11.50m (lower beam level), whilst the shelves are 10.5m high.

The whole warehouse space is temperature controlled, lit with artificial and natural light through the domes that serve for automatic airing and smoking away in case of fire. The entire surface area is covered with the most advanced sprinkler systems for fire extinguishing as well as with water hydrants and hoses, pumps and diesel power units within the same system.

Special floors in the warehouse enable exceptional carrying capacity of up to 7t/m2, with a dust-free, oil-, water- and lye-proof layer.

All building components depend on configuation, so that fire alarms, ventilation openings, light elements, windows layout, and alike, will be arranged in such a manner as to achieve the highest possible flexibility in regard of offices and storing areas

This project is going to be realized regardless of the general state of the capital and market crisis and it will represent one of the greatest investments in the region. This can only be a huge credit for domestic companies that will take part in the complex realization. These days every business activation is important, and such a huge one in particular.

There remains an answer to the question how to reconcile the reality and bring the expected future gain closer. Perhaps the answer lies in history!

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