A Secure Market Revival

Dec 1, 2003 12:00 PM

The Chicago International Produce Market has served as the city's produce hub for restaurants and grocery stores for more than 78 years. The market, first occupying 13 acres of land along South Water Street, lay along the south bank of the Chicago River and was originally built to accommodate horse-and-buggy traffic. However, the market had become increasingly outdated and inefficient over the years, with major traffic congestion severely limiting the volume of produce it could ship and receive. The location and a lack of access control had led to other problems, too — including that the market had gotten a reputation as a center of drug activity and other illegal activities.

In 1996, a new 26-acre site was announced as the future home of the Chicago International Produce Market, or “South Water Market.” The relocation of the market, more than 20 years in the making, was designed to provide not only a larger, more modern facility, but also to provide Chicago with an opportunity to clean up one of the city's high-crime areas.

The new, $58 million market occupies 435,000 square feet in the Pilsen Industrial Corridor, just off the Stevenson Expressway. The one-level warehouse and distribution facility — the largest of its type in the country — houses more than 20 wholesale fruit and vegetable merchants and offers parking for more than 300 vehicles, including more than 100 truck docks.

Searching for a Solution

For Trammell Crow Co., the commercial real estate services firm that manages the Chicago International Produce Market, the new facility presented several challenges from a security standpoint including limiting access to authorized personnel, traffic control and surveillance.

According to Vince Zuppa, vice president, property management for Trammell Crow, the new facility required a security solutions provider that could effectively handle dealing with the large number of people and volume of goods present on a daily basis.

“As property managers of the new facility for the Chicago International Produce Market Board, Trammell Crow's greatest concern was finding a security provider that was capable of implementing secure systems and policies immediately, yet maintain the necessary flexibility needed to adapt to the already busy and growing market,” said Zuppa.

Trammell Crow engaged Monterrey Security to provide comprehensive security services for the new market.

The Chicago-based security services provider was founded in 1999 and has grown to nearly $4 million a year in sales in four years. A minority-business enterprise, Monterrey Security currently employs 300 people, and its security services include security officers, assessment and consulting, event and crowd management, dignitary and celebrity protection, and customized training seminars. The company is fully licensed by the State of Illinois Department of Professional Regulations as a security agency, security contractor and a private detective agency. All of its guards receive state-issued, permanent employee registration cards, and the classroom and field training its guards receive surpasses State of Illinois requirements.

The management and supervisory team is comprised of retired and active law enforcement and former fire department and military personnel.

Market Measures

Monterrey Security worked closely with Trammell Crow and the market's merchants to understand specific security needs and to best implement appropriate security measures. Monterrey Security personnel have been instrumental in the development and implementation of innovative security policies and procedures for many of its clients, including effective access control measures, screening and vendor tracking. The company has also developed and documented numerous security processes, from pre-assignment and on-site training requirements, to detailed checklists and communications techniques, that ensure smooth transitions, proactive performance management and continuous quality improvement.

For the Chicago International Produce Market, Monterrey Security first established a fixed-position guard — on duty 24 hours, 7 days-a-week — at the entrance gate to the new facility. For the first time in the market's history, authorities have control over who enters and leaves the property.

“We now document who and what comes on site, at what time it arrived and to whom it was delivered, etc.,” said Juan Gaytan, co-founder and president of Monterrey Security. “This alone has tremendously affected security at the new market, ensuring to the general public that produce being delivered to their local grocery or restaurant has not been tampered with upon its arrival and subsequent distribution — a key concern as we have all become more aware of potential terrorism threats.”

An unarmed, civilian officer mans the gate, monitoring and logging everyone entering and departing the property — including the market's 400 employees and over-the-road trucks — checks deliveries and directs traffic to the appropriate lot or loading dock. The guard has direct contact via radio with one of Monterrey Security's field supervisors, an off-duty Chicago police officer, who can respond immediately in the event of an emergency.

The company also employs an unarmed, civilian guard to roam the property during the market's busiest delivery hours, from 1 to 9 a.m., Monday through Friday. The guard's duties consist of enforcing traffic regulations and keeping trucks safely moving to alleviate traffic congestion and eliminate accidents. Additionally, the guard is constantly on the lookout for criminal trespassers and suspicious activity. All guards, fixed and roaming, must undergo an intensive, two-day training process before being employed.

To better facilitate access to the property for authorized individuals, identification placards were distributed for the vehicles of all market employees, making their check-in process a smooth one. An effective, three-part form on which the guard stationed at the gate records all truck deliveries was also implemented. The forms are passed on to the management company, which, in turn, bills the truckers for access privileges.

Finally, fixed guards monitor CCTV cameras installed at each corner of the warehouse. The cameras can zoom in on any location to detect violators on the property and its perimeter. The cameras also help detect traffic violations.

“The greatest challenge was moving this type of operation from a city issue to a private operation,” Gaytan said. “Because of our intimate knowledge of the area, extensive relationships with the Chicago police department and automated officer-deployment capabilities, Monterrey Security was well-suited for this project.”

SHARE YOUR STORY…

Every month, we are offering information about managing guard services and leading in-house staff. Among other things, this page will offer an opportunity for readers to share the management lessons they have learned and to provide other helpful information to their peers in the industry. To offer suggestions, or to contribute to this page, contact Jennifer Pero at (770) 618-0135 or e-mail jpero@primediabusiness.com

Want to use this article? Click here for options!
© 2008 Penton Media Inc.

This month in Access Control

• Opening Up About Door Closers
• An Enterprise Approach
• The Framework For Open Systems
• On A Higher Plane
• More from April's issue