A new chapter is about to begin for a 70+ acre industrial site located at 2211 Parsons Ave. on the city’s South Side. The land was formerly home to metalworking factory Columbus Castings, which closed its doors in 2016 following a bankruptcy filling. Today, commercial real estate group CBRE has announced that they are working to sell the property on behalf of owner Reich Brothers.
“Demolition on the site is already underway, and we anticipate it to be finished by the end of the year,” said Jonathan Reich, co-CEO of Reich Brothers. “This location has so much potential, and once our work there is finished, it will be ready to begin a new chapter for this location that has been the heart of industry in south Columbus for more than a century.”
City officials have stated that they expect to see the land redeveloped into some form of warehouse or light manufacturing use, and not redeveloped into retail or housing, due to its brownfield status.
“This is an extraordinary site with direct access to rail, interstate and state highways, with utilities in place and in close proximity to several adjacent neighborhoods that can provide an abundance of skilled workers to prospective businesses,” stated Quinten Harris, Deputy Director, City of Columbus Department of Development. “A 70+ acre contiguous site, within the Columbus outer-belt is increasingly rare and ideal for industrial development.”
Columbus Castings has roots that trace back to the late 1800s, with an important role in the history of the railroad industry due to the parts it manufactured for trains. Company ownership exchanged hands several times in the 20th century and filed for bankruptcy as Buckeye Steel in 2002. The business reopened as Columbus Castings under new ownership, but struggled to find a sustainable financial model in the 21st century economy.
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