Developer Voit Busy Again in Orange County

Developer Robert Voit is once again focusing on investment and development in Orange County after a 20-year hiatus. His Voit Development Co. recently purchased two multi-tenant industrial parks near Anaheim Stadium for $12.1 million.

It’s his first purchase here since he got wrapped up in the massive Warner Center project in Woodland Hills during the early 1970s. Voit’s brokerage and property management companies have been operating here for some time.

Voit purchased the 173,282-square-foot Goldenwest Business Park on Katella Avenue, which is 92% occupied, and 65,600-square-foot Gene Autry Business Park, a 90% occupied complex on East Gene Autry Way.

Buying up gritty industrial properties is not a very glamorous way for Voit to reenter the investment and development market here, but he said these types of investments have the most potential for rent increases because of stadium and street improvements planned for the area. In addition, industrial buildings like these often do not show up on the radar of the larger real estate investment trusts that have been aggressively buying up Orange County property.

“It’s very difficult for a private investor to compete with them on price,” Voit said. Voit said he is looking for other similar investments in the area. He also has opened an Orange County office for his construction firm, Valley Construction Co., which will focus on industrial construction and improving facilities for tenants.

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Melinda Fulmer covers real estate for The Times. She can be reached at (714) 966-7832.