Long Beach : 107 Acres at Port Leased Before Landfill Completion

The Pier J landfill project will not be completed until 1993, but Port of Long Beach officials last week leased out most of the land--a contract that is expected to generate at least $12 million annually for the port.

“That will be our highest producing terminal in Long Beach,” said Steve Dillenbeck, the port’s executive director. “We’re pleased as punch to have it leased before completion.”

Maersk Inc., a Danish shipping firm, signed a lease for 107 of Pier J’s 147 acres, effective in February of 1993, Dillenbeck said. The company now occupies 55 acres elsewhere in the port and officials are negotiating with several firms to lease that land once it becomes available, he said.

The Pier J project has been in the works since 1988, when officials decided more land would be needed to meet increased demands at the harbor, the largest in terms of tonnage on the West Coast. Most of the project is expected to be completed by February, 1993, but the last 40 acres should be filled in six months later, Dillenbeck said.