On Dec. 12, 2017, Trammell Crow Company and Clarion Partners officially broke ground on the Center at Needham Ranch, launching one of the largest commercial developments in Los Angeles County.

The Gate-King Industrial Park project at Needham Ranch marked the first phase of a long-planned industrial business park on land with origins dating back more than 130 years to Santa Clarita’s prohibition-era past.

The modern 54-acre Phase 1 development, part of a fully entitled 132-acre site approved for up to 4.2 million square feet of Class A industrial space, brought seven state-of-the-art buildings totaling roughly 869,000 square feet.

Designed with high clear heights, expansive truck courts, and a natural, park-like setting near the southern gateway to Newhall, the project was expected to begin deliveries in late 2018.

“We are very excited to see this long-awaited project underway,” said Mayor Cameron Smyth, City of Santa Clarita. “The Center at Needham Ranch will help the City of Santa Clarita realize two key objectives: generate more local employment opportunities for Santa Clarita residents which reduces numbers of commuters and provide support to the City’s investment in the revitalization of the Old Downtown Newhall area.”

The 1.5-mile roadway accessing the industrial park, Needham Ranch Parkway, officially opened to the public on June 24, 2024.

Much of the land now known as Needham Ranch traces back to 1887, when prohibition advocate Henry Clay Needham and his associates purchased acreage from the old Rancho San Francisco to help establish a “Prohibitionist Colony.”

Needham later became a cornerstone of early Newhall life, opening businesses, leading civic projects, founding oil companies, and even running for Vice President on the Prohibition Party ticket.

Although the original ranch changed hands over the decades, portions became permanent open space, while other sections transitioned to modern commercial use.

To view yesterday’s Today in SCV History, click here.

KHTS FM 98.1 and AM 1220 is Santa Clarita’s only local radio station. KHTS mixes in a combination of news, traffic, sports, and features along with your favorite adult contemporary hits. Santa Clarita news and features are delivered throughout the day over our airwaves, on our website and through a variety of social media platforms. Our KHTS national award-winning daily news briefs are now read daily by 34,000+ residents. A vibrant member of the Santa Clarita community, the KHTS broadcast signal reaches all of the Santa Clarita Valley and parts of the high desert communities located in the Antelope Valley. The station streams its talk shows over the web, reaching a potentially worldwide audience. Follow @KHTSRadio on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.