YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – A proposed industrial park project in the city advanced Thursday with approval of an option agreement with the potential developer and the Western Reserve Port Authority.
Top Property Holdings LLC, the developer of the new North Jackson Commerce Park, is exploring development of Youngstown Technology Park on 12 acres at Exal Court in Salt Springs Road Business Park.
The agreement approved by the Board of Control on Thursday permits the city to transfer the Exal Court property to the port authority, which would transfer the site to Top Property.
Two weeks ago, the port authority’s board of directors, which is not scheduled to meet again until September, authorized potentially acquiring the Exal Court site under its existing property agreement with the city and a potential sale of the property to Top Property or its assignee for $205,580.
Additionally, the Board of Control approved paying Enbridge $363,909 to install a gas line to service the Exal Court pump station.
Top Property’s proposal calls for development of a 50,000-square-foot building with 30-foot, clear-span ceilings to provide the space with greater flexibility, said Anthony Trevena, WRPA executive director. It is modeled after the building the developer constructed at the North Jackson park.
“You can do a lot with the space, flexibilitywise,” he said.
“It’s a site that we want to see developed that will bring some light industrial, maybe some manufacturing jobs,” said DeMaine Kitchen, the city‘s director of community planning and economic development.
Both Trevena and Kitchen were adamant that a data center is not the intended use for the site.
Top Property Holdings is completing its due diligence, Trevena said. “There’s a lot that goes into making a decision like this for a developer,” he remarked.
“We’re hopeful within a short period of time – a few months or so – we’ll have something concrete to announce and we’ll get some shovels in the ground and get some people working over there,” Kitchen said.