Developer Plans Fall Start for North Jackson Industrial Park

NORTH JACKSON, Ohio – Development of a 45-acre industrial park near the Macy’s distribution center could get underway as soon as September, the project’s developer said late Tuesday afternoon.

This fall, Top Property Holdings LLC plans to begin construction on the first building at the park, 13001 Mahoning Ave., near the Macy’s center at the intersection of Mahoning Avenue and Bailey Road, principal Greg Toporcer said during a phone interview.

Top Property Holdings was awarded $2 million from the Ohio Department of Development’s Rural Industrial Park Loan program Monday 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, Toporcer said.

“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,” he said. Construction could begin in September, but “October is probably more realistic,” he acknowledged.  

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, who also owns Discover Global LLC, DuraTerrain LLC and Rust Buster Frame Repair LLC in North Lima, said the lack of Class A industrial space in the 15,000- to 30,000-square-foot range spurred the project. He credited 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 Jackson Township, Mahoning County, JobsOhio, Team NEO, the department of development and other state and local officials.

“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,” said 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 said. “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, he said. 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,” he said. He expects each of the subsequent buildings to cost about $7.5 million as well.

Each of the buildings will be designed to be leased in 20,000-square-foot increments, he continued. He does not have any deals for tenants but will begin marketing the space once the design is finalized and construction is underway.

“Several companies are looking to move things that are made overseas back to the U.S.,” he said. The close proximity to Interstates 76 and 80 also will make the newly developed buildings attractive to light manufacturing and distribution. Once the first building is leased, he also is considering relocating his North Lima companies to one of the other buildings to be constructed and reshoring products he now makes overseas.

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