NORTH JACKSON, Ohio – Development of a 45-acre industrial park near the Macy’s distribution center in North Jackson could get underway as soon as September.
Top Property Holdings LLC plans to begin construction on the first building at the site, 13001 Mahoning Ave., says principal Greg Toporcer.
Top Property Holdings was awarded $2 million July 11 from the Ohio Department of Development Rural Industrial Park Loan program to support construction of a $7.5 million warehouse and light manufacturing building at the site. The limited liability company bought the property last September, according to Toporcer.
“Our plan is to put a road in through the property and we’ll have basically five lots that can each hold up to a 100,000-square-foot building.” Construction could begin in September. But “October is probably more realistic,” he says.
Building construction is expected to cost nearly $5.7 million, with another $934,591 for site preparation, $476,000 for infrastructure and $373,217 to cover soft costs, according to state documents.
Toporcer owns Discover Global LLC, DuraTerrain LLC and Rust Buster Frame Repair LLC, all based in North Lima. He says the lack of Class A industrial space in the 15,000- to 30,000-square-foot range spurred the project. He credits local economic development organizations including the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber and Western Reserve Port Authority for their efforts on the project’s behalf, as well as officials with Jackson Township, Mahoning County, JobsOhio, Team NEO and ODOD.
“Team NEO and JobsOhio have been working closely with the developer, the regional chamber, along with the Ohio Department of Development to explore and support this and projects like it across the region and the Mahoning Valley,” says Walt Good, Team NEO managing director, project management.
“There is a significant shortage of Class A manufacturing and distribution space that we are working collectively to address,” he adds. “The region is getting strong looks by national and international companies exploring where to invest and it’s critical that we have a supply of marketable buildings and sites.”
The first building, which is being built on spec, will be 80,000 square feet with 32-foot clear height ceilings with six loading docks. After the first building is developed, four 100,000-square-foot buildings will be built on the site.
“Our plan is to each year continue to do one building at a time,” Toporcer says. He expects each of the subsequent buildings to cost about $7.5 million as well.
The buildings will be designed to be leased in 20,000-square-foot increments. Toporcer says he does not have any signed leases with tenants but will begin marketing the space once the design is complete and construction is underway.
“Several companies are looking to move things that are made overseas back to the U.S.,” he says.
The site’s proximity to Interstates 76 and 80 will make the newly developed buildings attractive to light manufacturing and distribution, he says. Once the first building is leased, he will consider relocating his North Lima companies to one of the subsequent buildings to be constructed and reshore products now made overseas.