Pinto Business Park applies to develop 31 more acres

Aerial view of the master plan of the Pinto Business Park, which ultimately will encompass 8 million square feet of space. The developer recently filed an application to build out 31 acres on the park's western edge. less Aerial view of the master plan of the Pinto Business Park, which ultimately will encompass 8 million square feet of space. The developer recently filed an application to build out 31 acres on the park's western ... more Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close Pinto Business Park applies to develop 31 more acres 1 / 3 Back to Gallery

Developers of Pinto Business Park have filed for permits to develop another 31 acres on the western edge of the massive industrial park in Houston's booming northwest submarket.

The currently undeveloped tract abuts Ella Boulevard to the east and approaches Fallbrook Drive to the south.

Pinto Business Park's 971 acres make it the largest fully entitled, contiguous tract of land inside Beltway 8. When built out, the project is planned to encompass 8 million square feet of warehouse, light manufacturing and office space.

Pinto Business Park is being developed through a joint venture between Hines, Pinto Real Estate Development Inc. and Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. No one Tuesday was immediately able to say what is planned for the 31 acre tract. A spokesperson for Hines said the company would "issue a press release at the appropriate time."

Development of the industrial park began in 2012, about two years after Sysco built a 585,000-square-foot distribution center there. The park landed a major deal in 2016 when Amazon picked it for the site of a new 855,000-square-foot fulfillment center — the e-commerce giant's first such facility in the Houston area.

RELATED: In Houston, Amazon's robots mean more work for humans, not less

Other tenants include engineering firm Alfa Laval, Cambria, HD Supply Facilities Maintenance and Red Bull.

The park hosts a mixture of projects built to tenant specifications and others built speculatively in hope of attracting tenants after completion.

The continued development comes amid a spike in demand for industrial real estate both in Houston and across the nation.

Warehouses as distribution centers are hot assets as consumer habits change from storefront shopping to click orders with mail delivery and, locally, as suppliers opt to locate regional distribution centers within the city instead of shipping goods from traditional distribution hubs like Dallas.