Ashley purchased the land and easements for the Crossroads Distribution Center development in December 1996. Ashley faced considerable development risk in trying to convert the zoning from residential to industrial and to obtain necessary access easements. After working with local architects, civil engineers and the municipal officials, the approvals were granted. With these tasks accomplished, Ashley constructed two 535,000 SF facilities that were fully occupied within fifteen months from the start of construction. This project was so successful that Ashley purchased an additional 13 acres in two transactions to expand the development. With the addition of a third, 106,000 SF building in 2002, the park now contains approximately 1.2 million SF immediately adjacent to a full interchange on I-275 and less than ten minutes from Detroit Metro Airport.