Large employers reportedly eye county-owned land in Xenia

Credit: HANDOUT

Credit: HANDOUT

Large employers are eyeing county-owned land in Xenia that has all the infrastructure needed to become a hub of industrial activity.

At least three “large businesses” have inquired in the last six months about the 140 acres making up Greene Regional Business Park, located on the southern outskirts of the city near U.S. 35, according to Greene County Administrator Brandon Huddleson.

The property, formerly known as the Ohio Veterans Childrens Home Park, is “SiteOhio authenticated,” meaning it’s ready for immediate construction, and “has been deemed among Ohio’s top sites,” according to the January 2018 SiteOhio certificate.

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It’s been eight years since the property was prepared as an industrial park, and the county is selling it at $25,000 per acre, according to the records.

The former agricultural land, which includes about 16 acres of mature trees, was always intended for sale to promote economic development, Huddleson said.

“As (the commissioners) contemplate any real estate deal they want to be a good neighbor and they want to maximize the amount of jobs coming to this community,” Huddleson said. “The city would be key to any decision because they have the local zoning control. Any restrictions that would be put on any business that would go out there and the policing of said business would fall to the city of Xenia.”

The Ohio Department of Transportation was the first to bring business to the land. The state paid the county $336,000 for approximately 12 acres in 2015, according to county records. Construction of an $8.3 million facility is well underway. It will replace ODOT’s current garage on Ohio 380 near Ledbetter Road.

Infrastructure is already in place for others to develop the land. That includes water and sewer service from the city, electric provided by Dayton Power and Light, natural gas service provided by Vectren and telephone and wireless access service lines.

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The potential industrial park promotes its location within a “transportation triangle” formed by Interstates 75, 70 and 71, its 30-minute drive time to Dayton International Airport and the drive of about an hour to airports serving Columbus and Cincinnati, according to the SiteOhio certificate.

The property is zoned to allow for heavy industrial use and can accommodate “large excess water and sewer capacities,” according to the certificate.

The commissioners last year opted against logging the stand of trees on the property, which although not included in the shovel-ready certification, will be available to any potential buyers, Huddleson said.

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