Duke takes a gamble. (Duke Realty Investments Inc)

Plans three spec industrial buildings

Duke Realty Investments is building more than 500,000 square feet of speculative industrial space in Earth City and West Port.

The Indianapolis-based real estate investment trust's plans include:

* DukePort V, a 96,000-square-foot office/warehouse center on a six-acre site along the Earth City Expressway;

* DukePort VI, a 320,000-square-foot distribution/warehouse center along Corporate Exchange Drive in Earth City; and

* West Port III, a 91,000-square-foot service center.

The total cost for the three buildings is about $18 million, according to sources in the real estate industry. The Earth City projects will be built on property Duke purchased from Perkinson Realty …