Robbins Real Estate Handles $13.75 Million Industrial Sale in Whitfield — Builders FirstSource purchased the 9.88-acre property at 7110 21st St. for expanded manufacturing operations.
By Post
Tampa Bay Newswire
Published: Jul 15, 2023

SARASOTA, Florida – Harry E. Robbins & Associates, Sarasota’s premier real estate property specialists, announce the $13.75 million sale of the manufacturing complex at 7110 21st St. in Whitfield Estates. Builders FirstSource (BFS) purchased the 9.88-acre, three-building property to be the site of its expanded operations and primary distribution center. Kevin Robbins handled the transaction for Robbins & Associates, and Gavin Oberlin of Legacy Commercial Connection of KW Commercial was the co-listing agent. Robbins, in conjunction with Keller Williams, represented seller Rodney Dessberg.

“The sale is important as it speaks to the strength of the industrial market,” said Robbins. “It also signifies the continued expectation for building in the Florida market. BFS is a home building supply company making a very large investment in the Manatee-Sarasota market.”

Currently zoned for heavy manufacturing, the property was originally developed in 1964 by boat manufacturer Donzi Marine, which occupied the facility until the company relocated in 2010. Rodney Dessberg purchased the property in 2015 and oversaw extensive renovations to the two existing buildings, totaling 130,877 square feet of manufacturing space, and to the surrounding infrastructure. Dessberg also built a third structure totaling 10,000 square feet of new office space.

The west side of the premises borders an active Seminole Gulf Railway line, and the facility is located a quarter mile from Highway 301 and convenient to the Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport (two miles to the south), Interstate 75 (4.5 miles east) and Port Manatee (18 miles north).

The property had been on the market for two years. After BFS expressed interest, the sale progressed quickly.

“The size and the scale of this industrial asset transaction emphasizes the strength and continued growth in the industrial market around the Sarasota-Manatee area,” said Oberlin, the co-listing agent. “And the purchase by BFS shows that large national companies are following the national trend by moving operations to the Sarasota-Manatee market.”