12/15/2014

2014 Winner: Best Industrial Project-Small Scale

After the long period of sagging economic conditions, Southgate moved ahead in the fall of 2012 with construction of a 50,000 square foot speculative industrial building located in Hebron, Ohio. This was the first spec building developed in Central Ohio in over five years. Robert O'Neill of Southgate Corporation stated that building a spec industrial building involved a lot of risk, but this business model had been successful for Southgate in the past. The building shell was completed in March of 2013, and in June 2013, the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company committed to a long-term lease of the building. Southgate was able to bring Goodyear to the community in this location because Southgate was able to complete the leasehold improvements required by Goodyear within the needed time-frame. The success of having Goodyear locate in this building will bring 50 plus highly skilled engineering technician positions for research and development and a $10,000,000 investment into the community. Construction was completed to Goodyear's specifications with a Certificate of Occupancy issued and possession delivered in February 2014. NAIOP member, Park National Bank participated in this project.