In The News
Cox opens $200M printing, mailing manufacturing center
Reliable Plant
Cox Target Media Incorporated (Largo, Florida), a subsidiary of privately owned Cox Enterprises Incorporated (Atlanta, Georgia), has opened a new printing and mailing manufacturing center, Valpak Direct Marketing Systems Incorporated, in St. Petersburg, Florida. Construction on the $200 million, 470,000-square-foot building began in spring 2006 and was completed in the fourth quarter of 2007.
A grand opening ceremony is scheduled for this summer. Plant operations were relocated from Largo and Elm City, North Carolina, to the new center. The facility features some of the world's most advanced mail distribution, printing, packaging, collating and material-movement systems. Grady Pridgen Incorporated (St. Petersburg) provided general construction services.
Cox Target Media, one of North America's leading direct marketing companies, had estimated sales of $43 million in 2007. The company has more than 1,800 employees across the U.S. The company supports approximately 200 Valpak franchises with nearly 2,000 sales representatives and office staff.
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Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is a marketing information service specializing in industrial process and energy related industries with products and services ranging from industry news, forecasting, plant and project databases, as well as multimedia advertising campaign assistance.
“Pridgen lines up 'green' support”
St. Petersburg Times, November 25, 2007
Grady Pridgen has support from several environmental organizations for increased density on his La Entrada development. But not all greens see it the same way. Read more...
“FIRST STEP, GREEN THE OFFICE”
Carl Cronan, Tampa Bay Business Journal, September 21, 2007
A prominent Tampa Bay area commercial developer and advocate for environmentally responsible buildings is making progress in his quest to go green -- at least one office at a time.
Grady Pridgen, property manager of Westbay Corporate Center in St. Petersburg, said this past week the 3,350-square-foot Atlantis International office at the mall, a small portion of the 160,000-square-foot Westbay complex, has been granted "silver" certification under the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program and that it is the first in Pinellas County to win such certification specifically for commercial interiors.
Features of the office include at least a 35 percent reduction in water and power use, new paint and carpeting with low or no volatile organic compounds, and what is believed to be the "first waterless urinal" in St. Petersburg.
"This is the green benchmark for high-tech manufacturing and commercial buildings," Pridgen's press release heralded. The property's status allows his own company to purchase two years of "green power credits," he said.
While LEED certification is normally applied to new construction, Westbay has been around since 1984. Other Pinellas County projects have already been granted LEED status, both inside and out.
But Pridgen's public relations representative, Honey Rand, said Westbay is significant because it involves greening existing space. "It is harder to get people to go back and retrofit than it is to build, and it's more expensive," Rand said.
Pridgen's plans to seek LEED certification of the entire property and convert his total industrial and flex-space portfolio, totaling 3.3 million square feet, to green.
“Real estate's real boom: Commercial construction”
St. Petersburg Times, June, 2007
The Times has spilled many barrels of ink detailing the downturn in the Tampa Bay area housing market. But one branch of the real estate industry is holding up just fine, thank you: Commercial construction. Read more...
“Sustainable development”
Bay Soundings, Winter, 2007
While stormwater management is a very important aspect of low-impact development, it is just one part of the larger sustainability discussion. Read more...
“Greener Growth”
St. Petersburg Times, October, 2006
Tampa Bay developers begin to embrace environmentally friendly construction. Read more...
“Poster Boy”
St. Petersburg Times, March, 2006
Grady Pridgen's (BSBA ’81) face is seen on a billboard by thousands of motorists every day, but the Pinellas County developer took a low-key approach in amassing a multibillion-dollar portfolio in the bay area. Read more...
“$200 Million Valpak Plant Holds Groundbreaking”
Tampa Tribune, October 2005
ST. PETERSBURG - The company behind the familiar blue envelope with money-saving coupons broke ground Friday on a $200 million manufacturing plant in northeast St. Petersburg. Read more...
“Mixing it up”
Tampa Tribune, June 2001
Grady and Jodi Pridgen found their slice of heaven at the former home of the First Congregational Church of Christ of St. Petersburg. Read more...
“Builder selected for sod farm tract”
St. Petersburg Times, September 2001
City officials tentatively pick Grady Pridgen's bid of $5-million for the site of a new office park. Read more...
Ask the Expert
Tampa Bay Business Journal
Commutes to work are becoming longer and longer. What can be done to help? Read more...
