TJX to Detail Proposed Site Changes at April 25 Meeting

LORDSTOWN, Ohio – The TJX Companies remains committed to a site on Ellsworth Bailey Road in Lordstown for its proposed distribution center, the company said in a release Thursday afternoon, and has made changes it says will better accommodate those living nearby.

The changes will be detailed at a Lordstown planning commission meeting April 25. On the agenda for the meeting are nine petitions for zoning changes, which would change their designation from residential and allow TJX to build its center there.

“In response to meetings with those who reside close to this site, we have added enhancements to our site design which provide substantial green space and forested area, maintain designated areas that would remain zoned for residential building only, and alter certain road infrastructure to mitigate traffic concerns,” spokesman Erica Tower saidd. “We remain committed to pursuing steps to acquire this site with local, state and federal agencies and look forward to potentially bringing this project to Lordstown.”

TJX, which operates TJ Maxx, HomeGoods and Dillards, announced their intention to site its new distribution center, which would serve its HomeGoods brand, at the 290-acre site in early March. After meeting with residents, the company was scheduled to meet with Lordstown’s planning commission March 26 before it canceled its presentation. The property TJX is looking at is zoned residential and would require approval from the village to alter the property’s zoning.

If the $160-million project comes to fruition, the distribution center would employ about 1,000, including 150 front-office jobs.

“At the request of some local community residents, HomeGoods has been reassessing several industrially zoned real estate sites, many of which we had previously considered as possible locations for a new distribution center,” said Tower,. “While it would be inappropriate to comment on any individual prospective site, based on environmental, roadway access, site configuration or timeline concerns, we believe that the Ellsworth Bailey Road site in Lordstown remains the best possible location in the area for our new distribution center.”

Since the March 26 planning commission meeting was rescheduled, there hasn’t been much contact between TJX and local officials. Mayor Arno Hill says that he has not talked to the company, while the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber has “checked in periodically,” according to vice president of economic development Sarah Boyarko.

“We don’t have anything to add beyond what they said. We can confirm this is something they were working through in regard to those properties,” she says. “We’re really pleased that the Mahoning Valley is still in play.”

Copyright 2024 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.