Details weren't immediately available on exactly what MBZ-USA will do in the facility [manufacture? finalize? test? distribute?] In a quick note to Long Beach City Hall officials, City Manager Pat West said, "More details will be released later by Mercedes Benz USA on their plans for the facility, but needless to say we are excited about this opportunity to put that facility to such a good use."

Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske (in whose district the property is located) told LBREPORT.com: "This is exciting news for Long Beach. This caliber of business speaks to the excellent development being done by [property owner] Sares-Regis. This is an outstanding achievement for them...and speaks well for Long Beach as a location for a major corporation."

Planes haven't been manufactured in the building for years. In September 2008, Mayor Bob Foster announced (with multiple TV news outlets present) that third parties planned to acquire the property and turn it into "Long Beach Studios," a state of the art motion picture/television production facility. The announcement came just as the economic downturn deepened, Wall Street had its near meltdown, "The Great Recession" arrived...and the studio transaction didn't materialize.

Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske pressed city officials to do more to encourage Tesla Motors to locate to the site...and was critical of Mayor Foster and city officials for in her view not doing enough to convince that firm the locate here. Downey and Long Beach were both finalists...and Tesla ultimately chose to locate in northern CA, leaving Downey officials steamed and the property's future uncertain.

During his Jan. 2010 State of the City message, Mayor Foster said the site would either become an auto plant or a movie studio (drawing light laughter from the audience, and the Mayor)...and the latter scenario appears to have panned out.

[There's no immecdiate word on whether the iconic "Fly DC Jets" sign will survive.]

In a release today (July 8), CBRE announced it has arranged "the largest infill industrial lease in more than a quarter century in the Los Angeles area infill market.

[CBRE release text] Mercedes-Benz USA has leased 1,091,754 square feet at the former Boeing 717 aircraft manufacturing facility in Long Beach in a long-term lease with landlord SARES-REGIS Group and Institutional Partner. The deal marks a significant milestone for the City of Long Beach, as the backfilling of the massive facility, which was vacated by Boeing in 2006, signifies a new era for the 52.2-acre site. The building is located at 4501 East Conant Street in Long Beach, immediately across the street from the Long Beach Airport and the 260-acre mixed-use development known as Pacific Pointe at Douglas Park.

CBRE's John Schumacher and Brian DeRevere represented the landlord in the transaction.

"This is the largest infill industrial lease in the Los Angeles area in more than 25 years -- to be able to replicate this kind of opportunity would be virtually impossible. There simply is no way to aggregate a +/- 50-acre site within the infill area of Los Angeles, let alone in such close proximity to the port of Long Beach," said Mr. Schumacher. "It’s unlikely that we’ll see another opportunity for a contiguous parcel with these kinds of improvements within a 20-mile radius of the ports in the foreseeable future."

The building is situated across the street from the 260 -acre mixed-use development known as Pacific Pointe at Douglas Park, which was acquired by SARES-REGIS Group and an Institutional Partner in several phases, including the most recent acquisition of 160 acres, completed in October 2012. The development includes plans for a future 26-acre retail project, a 50-acre office development and +/- 750,000 square feet of high end industrial development. In addition, a Marriott Courtyard hotel recently opened on Lakewood Boulevard.