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Former Green Shingle truck stop property to be home of new 160-acre business park

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Plans to build an Amazon distribution center at the site of the former Green Shingle truck stop location at Sterrettania Road and Interstate 90 are off the table.

But the Erie County Redevelopment Authority and Erie County Executive Brenton Davis are expected to be focused on some good news Wednesday morning as they announce the purchase of the 160-acre property for $3.2 million.

Their plan is to develop a new modern business park in McKean Township tailored to meet the needs of manufacturing and logistics businesses.

The announcement follows by about 11 months a 7-0 vote by Erie County Council to rescind a property development agreement to transfer about 200 acres of county-owned farmland in Fairview and Girard townships to the Erie County Redevelopment Authority for the development of a business park.

The county and the Redevelopment Authority have moved on from that plan.

A closing was held Tuesday afternoon to finalize the purchase of nearly 160 acres of property at the southwest corner of Interstate 90 and Sterrettania Road. The deed will be transferred from Hammell Green LLC to the Erie County Redevelopment Fund and the Enterprise Development Center.

Tina Mengine, CEO of the Redevelopment Authority, said the sale price was $20,000 per acre or $3.2 million for the entire property.

Source of the funds

Money for the purchase was provided by Erie County, using money from the American Rescue Plan Act.

“Acquiring these 160 acres in this prime location will create more opportunities for Erie to be more attractive forbusiness growth and ultimately creating jobs,” Mengine said in a statement.

“This is very big news,” Davis said in an interview with the Erie Times-News.

He said plans for the park were developed at the same time that a development company was looking at the Green Shingle property on behalf of Amazon and while the county was working to develop the business park plan in Fairview Township.

“Economic development is done in multiple tracks at one time,” Davis said. “We were working with Amazon when that deal fell through.”

Davis said he’s proud of the speed at which the purchase came together.

“To be able to bring a business park from concept to reality, this is lightning speed for government. No one has been able to do this in over 25 years. We haven’t had a new business park since (former Erie County Executive) Judy Lynch.”

A new plan

Neither Davis nor Mengine expressed regret that the project will not be developed on county farmland, but on the Green Shingle property, which was under consideration at one point for the development that would become Presque Isle Downs & Casino in Summit Township.

“To me, this is a better location in closer proximity to the interstate,” Davis said. Besides, he said, “This wasn’t available before. We shifted gears.”

“Its proximity to (Interstate) 90 is certainly better,” Mengine said. “It already has the proper zoning. It’s the very site we had our eyes on before. We are glad to be able to circle back and pick it up.”

One downside, however, is the absence of an adequate public water supply. Mengine estimates it could take 18 to 24 months and cost $2 million to $3 million to bring water to the site from Erie Water Works.

Mengine expressed confidence that money can be secured to develop the business park.

U.S. Rep Mike Kelly, of Butler, R-16th Dist., has announced a $4 million funding request for the industrial park.

In that request, Kelly said: “This new industrial park in McKean Township will stimulate economic growth, create jobs, attract businesses and increase tax revenue.”

Mengine also called the project a perfect fit for the new PA SITES program, a $500 million initiative by Gov. Josh Shapiro to help fund business development.

More: Erie County Council rescinds land agreement for proposed Fairview business park

A team on offense

Davis, who campaigned on economic development and has spoken often about it, said this investment represents a turning point.

“Our development team is on offense. They are going to put points on the board,” Davis said. “If you are not playing offense you are not winning games. That is where Erie County has been. Not only have we not been playing offense, but we haven’t had a team and we haven’t put them on the field.”

While the Davis administration is working hand-in-hand with the Redevelopment Authority, he described the organization as a tool or mechanism for county government to pursue economic development.

“They are viewed as doing its own thing. That is just not the reality,” Davis said. “They are a mechanism for me to get things done.”

Mengine said the purchase of the property has been a goal of the authority since 2019 and she’s pleased to see it move forward.

“The mission of the authority and its affiliates are focused on the purchase of these properties and the elimination of blighted properties,” she said.

Opinion: ECRDA – connecting local businesses with capital, putting brownfields into productive use

Contact Jim Martin at jmartin@timesnews.com.

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