Intel to build new $5 billion Plant in Chandler (timetable, development)

[SnowDesert]

where exactly in Chandler Intel going to build its factory? Is it going to be south chandler, or near its present location at 5000 W chandler blvd? I'm looking for investment property and what's your opinion about buying a house closer to the plant? thx.

[AZgarden]

Yes -- Me too! Will my house in Ocotillo be worth more if I hold onto it for a couple years?? You can walk to Intel (if its the right one) from my back yard.

[PHXtoPDX]

Originally Posted by SnowDesert

where exactly in Chandler Intel going to build its factory? Is it going to be south chandler, or near its present location at 5000 W chandler blvd? I'm looking for investment property and what's your opinion about buying a house closer to the plant? thx.

Everything I've read says that it'll be on Intel's existing campus.

As for the property issue, nobody seems to have a problem living close to them here in Oregon, but there have been ongoing problems with residents near their Albuquerque facility:

Oregon embraces Intel, but in New Mexico environmental doubts persist | OregonLive.com

YMMV

Personally, I've lived within two miles of their largest facility here in OR for almost two years, and haven't had any issues. They do seem to affect the weather in the general vicinity because of how much water vapor they release. My opinion from the short stint I did with them is that they are among the most conscientious companies in terms of environmental protection as well as communication/cooperation with the communities they reside in.

[Valley Native]

Intel's expansion is really good for the SE Valley (specifically the city of Chandler). The east Valley/SE Valley has almost become its own metropolitan area within a metro area ... so this is mostly going to benefit Chandler & adjacent suburbs. Phoenix itself won't really see any boost in the way of job creation from this. Still, it's great that a reputable firm is expanding and creating jobs (instead of cutting back or moving out).

[HX_Guy]

Why wouldn't the whole Phoenix area benefit from the job creation? Will they be specifically only hiring people that live in Chandler/SE Valley? I would think people from all over the Phoenix area will apply...both for the permanent jobs when it opens and for the construction jobs before.

[Captain Bill]

Intel's expansion is part of what is going to be helping the SE Valley and the valley in general in the coming years.

Chandler will benefit directly from the silicon valley type growth, and indirectly it will affect the entire valley, and the SE valley.

Other projects that are affecting the SE Valley are the General Motors Proving Grounds project where Gaylord will being construction of a huge convention center similar to Opryland in Nashville, with a championship golf course. Also on the GMPG will be a large housing and business development with a walkable live, work, play theme.

They're building a new terminal at the Williams airport, on the north side, between the airport and the GMPG, with a loop off of 202 that will go by the terminal and over to Ironwood.

That will directly benefit Gilbert, East Mesa and QC, but will impact the whole valley and specifically the SE Valley.

Eventually there should be a large commercial project developed in the area to the north of the airport.

The M.D. Anderson Cancer Treatment Center is under construction on the Banner Gateway Hospital campus, and ancillary offices will spring up around there.

A new hospital is being constructed in QC.

Phoenix appears to me to be working toward bringing businesses into the area.

To answer the question that was asked:

There are so many positive developments occurring in the SE valley, with these large projects, that my personal opinion is almost anywhere in the SE valley is a good place to buy an investment home.

The indication from several clients I'm working with who have jobs in Chandler near the I-10 is that people want to locate within a maximum of 25 minutes of their job. That that could be used as a rough guide of what areas may be affect the most by Intel, or other similar projects.

It will benefit any investor to obtain and study the current General Plan of the SE valley cities. They're available on the city web sites.

[Java Jolt]

I don't know why Intel's expansion would only help Chandler. If there are good jobs available people would be willing to make the commute even from the western or northern valley areas.

I live in Avondale and I make the daily commute to Tempe every day for my job, it's not always a pleasant drive but I need to make a living.

[azriverfan.]

Originally Posted by observer53

One thousand jobs, as reported. Still sounds good. And, of course there's the economic boost of building the plant, which helps, too.

Not to mention the trickle down effect of feeder companies setting up around it that work with the semi-conductor industry. It will hopefully also attract further attention to the area.

And as unpopular as the governor might be right now, the reduction in the corporate interest rate by 2% is going to attract more businesses to the area when it kicks in 2014, a year after this plant is built.

[azriverfan.]

Originally Posted by Valley Native

Intel's expansion is really good for the SE Valley (specifically the city of Chandler). The east Valley/SE Valley has almost become its own metropolitan area within a metro area ... so this is mostly going to benefit Chandler & adjacent suburbs. Phoenix itself won't really see any boost in the way of job creation from this. Still, it's great that a reputable firm is expanding and creating jobs (instead of cutting back or moving out).

Chandler is really booming because it has the right mix. It has arguably the best school system in the entire state. There are so many magnate, and high academic achieving schools. It has a highly educated populace and politically it is moderate as opposed to the more conservative areas in the Valley. It is also very diverse culturally and religiously so it's not like one faith dominates the community.

That being said, you don't have to live in Chandler to enjoy it's benefits. South Tempe, Gilbert and Ahwatukee(Phoenix) are great communities that neighbor Chandler and for all intents and purposes are really just one large community. They all bleed into one another. You can live in any of these surrounding communities and be at that Intel Plant in 20 minutes and that's a true 20 minutes so in City Data scale, that is 10 minute away.

[RCR]

Originally Posted by kdog

Really? Intel says it's going to take 1,000 employees to run the plant.

From the article:

"When the facility opens in 2013, about 1,000 people will be needed to run an operation that Intel executives suggest will be the most advanced high-volume semiconductor-manufacturing facility in the world."

Guess what? They're NOT all highly skilled machine repair technicians.

I don't need to read the article, I work there. Remember that the plant is running 4 shifts. I don't have the exact numbers but a small number of the 1000 will work M-F, the rest will be on a compressed schedule running the factory 24 hrs a day. My guess is about 200 - 225 people per the 4 shifts. Of those about 25 - 30 are operators who run the product from outside the fab itself. The rest are the maintenance techs and engineers who are inside the fab keeping the equipment up and running. A large percentage of those will come from the existing fabs since they will have the most experience. Many of the new hires will be backfilling those positions.

As for one of the other comments that the new fab will use 450mm wafers, that is in the future. The fab will initially come up on the current 300mm wafers using 14nm technology. Unless something changes in the near future.