ThisWeek CW 05/08/2014
http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/canalwinchester/news/2014/05/05/two-projects-increase-warehouse-space-in-city.html
The amount of industrial warehouse space available in Groveport will increase by more than 1.6 million square feet, thanks to two projects that city council approved in March and April.
Council gave the OK in March for Van Trust Real Estate LLC to expand its industrial warehouse facilities at 3099 Rohr Road by 1.2 million square feet.
On April 28, council approved plans for the Opus North Corp. to build a 484,000-square-foot industrial warehouse at 6201 S. Greenpointe Drive.
“This will be the first new warehouse space the city has approved thus far for the year,” city Finance Director Jeff Green said. “Everything else has been expansions and tenant improvements to existing space.
“It’s being built as a spec building with no specific tenant in mind at this point.”
The property required certain modifications because South Greenpointe Drive was originally intended to be a connector drive, according to City Engineer Steve Farst. It will now function as a cul-de-sac to accommodate the additional tenant space.
According to Green, the land is currently in a community reinvestment area, which provides new businesses with a 15-year, 100-percent tax abatement incentive for moving into the new space.
As a further incentive for companies locating in the area near Rickenbacker International Airport, Groveport has entered into a memorandum of understanding with Obetz and Columbus for a Local Government Innovation Fund grant.
“The grant is for $50,000 and is a joint application to the state for a feasibility and routing study to extend a fiber-optic system around Rickenbacker,” Green said. “The Local Government Innovation Fund promotes the sharing of services, so we think this application is a good fit. There will be no out-of-pocket cost for us to complete this study, and extending the fiber would certainly benefit everyone.”
The next Groveport City Council meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m., Monday, May 12, at the Municipal Building, 655 Blacklick St.