Inman

Countrywide plans expansion of Arizona facility

Countrywide Financial Corp. has filed plans with the City of Chandler, Ariz., to more than triple the floor space at its central office campus.

Countrywide seeks approval for the construction of two new buildings, each with 175,000 square feet, and a parking structure on a 26-acre site known as the Chandler Commons Office Park.

Developed by Lowe Enterprises Real Estate Group, the property is located at Chandler Boulevard and Ellis Street. Countrywide purchased its first 80,000-square-foot building on the site in April 2003, and the facility is now near its manageable capacity of 480 employees. The company completed purchase of a second existing 75,000-square-foot building in July 2004, which allows Countrywide to expand its Chandler workforce to 900 in the near term.

The purchase of the remaining vacant Chandler Commons property is in escrow. With the envisioned addition of another 350,000 square feet in the two planned buildings, Countrywide foresees eventual growth to more than 2,500 employees at its Chandler campus.

Calabasas, Calif.-based Countrywide is a mortgage banking business that originates, purchases, securitizes, sells and services real estate loans.

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