Plans to build an Amazon distribution center at the former Green Shingle Truck Stop site at Stellentania Road and Interstate 90 are gone.
But the Erie County Redevelopment Authority and Erie County Mayor Brenton Davis are expected to take note of the good news, announcing the purchase of the 160-acre site for $3.2 million on Wednesday morning.
Their plan is to develop a new modern business park in McKean Township to serve the needs of manufacturing and logistics businesses.
The announcement comes about 11 months after the Erie County Council voted 7-0 to rescind a real estate development agreement that would have transferred about 200 acres of county-owned farmland in Fairview and Girard townships to the Erie County Redevelopment Authority for development of a business park.
The county and the redevelopment authority moved forward with that plan.
The deadline was held Tuesday afternoon to complete the purchase of about 160 acres of land at the southwest corner of Interstate 90 and Stellentania Road. The deed will be transferred from Hamel Green LLC to the Erie County Redevelopment Fund and the Enterprise Development Center.
Redevelopment Authority CEO Tina Menzin said the sale price was $20,000 per acre, or $3.2 million for the entire site.
Funding source
Funding for the purchase was provided by Erie County using American Rescue Plan Act funds.
“The acquisition of 160 acres in this prime location will make the City of Erie an even more attractive place for business growth and ultimately provide more opportunities for job creation,” Mengin said in a statement.
“This is huge news,” Davis said in an interview with the Erie Times-News.
He said plans for the park were developed around the same time that developers were looking at the Green Shingle site on behalf of Amazon and while the county was working on developing a plan for a business park in Fairview Township.
“Economic development happens on multiple channels at once,” Davis said. “We were working with Amazon when that deal fell through.”
Davis said he was proud of how quickly the purchase was completed.
“It's incredible speed for government to take a business park from concept to reality. No one has been able to do this in over 25 years. We haven't had a new business park since (former Erie County Mayor) Judy Lynch.”
New Plans
Neither Davis nor Mengin expressed regret that the project will be developed not on county farmland but on Green Shingle land that was once considered for the development that would become Presque Isle Downs & Casino in Summit Township.
“To me, this is a better location, closer to the interstate,” Davis said, adding, “We didn't have a location like this before. We've pivoted.”
“It's certainly a plus to be close to (Interstate) 90,” Mengin said. “It already has the proper zoning, and it's definitely a location we've had our eye on for a while. We're pleased to have chosen this location again.”
But the downside is that there isn't an adequate public water supply: Mengin estimates it would take 18 to 24 months and cost between $2 million and $3 million to get water to the site from the Erie Water Department.
Mengin expressed confidence that funding would be available to develop the business park.
U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly, Republican of the 16th Congressional District, Butler, has announced he will request $4 million in funding for the industrial park.
“This new industrial park in McKean Township will stimulate economic growth, create jobs, attract businesses and increase tax revenue,” Kelly said in the request.
Mengin also said the project fits perfectly into the new $500 million Pennsylvania SITES program launched by Gov. Josh Shapiro to help fund business development.
more:Erie County Council backs out of land deal for proposed Fairview Business Park
Offensive Team
Davis, who campaigned on economic development and has spoken out frequently about it, said the investment marks a turning point.
“Our development team is aggressive. We're trying to score points,” Davis said. “If you're not aggressive, you're not going to win games, and that's exactly where Erie County is. Not only are they not aggressive, they don't even have a team built, they don't even have guys on the field.”
The Davis administration has been working closely with the Redevelopment Authority, which he described as a vehicle or mechanism through which county government pursues economic development.
“They're perceived as doing their own thing, but that's not the reality,” Davis said. “They're a means to get things done for me.”
Mengin said purchasing the land has been a goal of the authority since 2019 and he is pleased to see it moving forward.
“The mission of the authority and its affiliated agencies is focused on purchasing these properties and clearing out blighted properties,” she said.
opinion:ECRDA – Connecting local businesses with capital to put brownfields to productive use
Contact Jim Martin at jmartin@timesnews.com.
