CASTLE HISTORY

Castle Airport was originally constructed in 1941 as the Merced Army Flying School Air Field. The airfield was used as a training field for the AT-6 Texan Aircraft. In 1946, the name of the airfield was changed to Castle Army Air Field to honor a fallen hero, Brigadier General Frederick W. Castle. 

Shortly thereafter, the airfield became home of the Strategic Air Command (SAC) using B-29, B-17, and C-54 aircrafts. In mid-1947, SAC activated the 93rd Bombardment Wing and by 1948 the primary mission of Castle was to conduct long range operations while maintaining a secondary mission of training crews for the B-52 Stratofortress and KC-135 Stratotanker aircrafts.  Historically, the annual operations conducted at the Base totaled approximately 60,000. These missions continued until closure of Castle Air Force Base on September 30, 1995.

THE TRANSFORMATION OF CASTLE AIR FORCE BASE

FEDERAL has embarked on the redevelopment of the former Castle Air Force Base, now known as Castle Commerce Center. FEDERAL has created and managed development plans that included demolition of many older, substandard buildings and a new land plan that capitalized on much of the preexisting infrastructure. This plan included areas for airport related activities such as terminals, passenger parking and offices for airport officials. The airport related uses included transportation-centered warehouses catering to airports. In the non-aviation areas, the uses included warehouses, commercial centers and research and development areas, as well as, other office and entertainment areas.

A Supplemental Environmental Impact Report (SEIR) was completed in December 2007, which has allowed FEDERAL to start processing on two different parcel maps. The first of the two will record before May 2008. The second is expected to record in November of 2008, and together they will create approximately 11 new buildings that may be sold along with parcels adequate for their designated uses. Buildings will range from 2,800 to over 70,000 square feet.

In the spring of 2008, FEDERAL will update the proposed redevelopment plan and commence the entitlement process for approval for the remaining undeveloped parcels at Castle Commerce Center, which is expected to take nearly three years. When the new Environmental Impact Report (EIR) is approved, the horizontal infrastructure construction will commence. Major development parcels, as well as a number of smaller parcels, will be available. During the major redevelopment, FEDERAL will process a number of smaller parcel maps, which will create some great investment opportunities for investors and growing businesses.