The former Modine property seems close to being sold for use as a warehouse, according to a zoning request filed with the city.
David Jamison, member manager of Ress Properties LLC, submitted a rezoning application to the Emporia-Lyon County Metropolitan Area Planning Commission on Dec. 18. The application, obtained by The Gazette from the planning commission, requests that the 13-acre property at 1401 Industrial Road be rezoned from C-3 general commercial to I-1 light industrial.
The application states that the building would be used for warehouse and freight distribution and manufacturing.
Planning Commission Secretary Kevin Hanlin said such a rezoning request usually means a sale is contingent upon the rezoning. At its Jan. 22 meeting, the planning commission will conduct a public hearing on the rezoning and then vote on whether to make the rezoning recommendation to the city commission.
“Now, exactly what type of manufacturing they have in mind, I’m not sure,” Hanlin said. “Freight distribution, I assume that has to go along with the warehousing, where they have items that are stored in the building and then moved out.
“I don’t know if they’re going to have employees on site to control or manage the supplies or the warehousing goods that are going in and coming out of the facility. I’m not sure what their plans are on that.”
Reached Friday morning, Jamison said he couldn’t comment on the rezoning request because of a confidentiality agreement, but said no transaction was final. He said he couldn’t comment on what type of business entity Ress Properties is.
Ress Properties was formed on Oct. 29, according to business entity information on the Kansas Secretary of State Web site. Jamison is also a manager at the Emporia warehouse manufacturing and distribution center for Better Life Technology, known for producing garage-floor mats and other vehicle floor coverings. The Emporia BLT center occupies the old Crawford Manufacturing building at 1201 Hatcher St.
Bruce Andrews, the Farm & Home realtor acting as the former Modine property’s selling agent, said in December that a group of local and out-of-town investors were interested in buying the property, but said the seller’s confidentiality agreement kept him from revealing further details. Proliance International, based in New Haven, Conn., currently owns the Modine building.