Bustling industrial corridor poised for new commercial activity

An industrial corridor in one of Dayton’s largest suburbs appears poised for an influx of commercial activity, due largely to the city’s efforts to attract new businesses and prospective developers to the area.

The city of Moraine is looking to sell nearly 51 acres of vacant land at the Moraine Commerce Park. The property at 2477 Soldiers Home Road, located in the northwestern part of the city, is bounded by a mixture of manufacturing and healthcare businesses.

“The zoning allows for a plethora of uses from industrial to office environments, which is what we currently have at the site,” said Michael Davis, Moraine city manager.

It is also located in an enterprise zone, which would enable future property developers to receive tax exemptions on eligible new investments.

Moraine has owned the land since 2006 when the city acquired the deed from Miller-Valentine Group. Records indicate the property was listed for nearly $2.3 million in 2011 but did not change hands.

Activity near the industrial park picked up in late 2015 when DMAX Ltd., a 60/40 joint venture between General Motors Co. (NYSE:GM) and Isuzu Motors Ltd., agreed to lease a 200,000-square-foot warehouse that was formerly occupied by Bon-Ton Holdings Inc., parent company of the former Elder-Beerman department store chain.

One year later, nonprofit health organization Project Cure Inc. moved forward on plans to build a 27,000-square-foot treatment facility at the park. That project, completed in 2017, made Project Cure the park’s second tenant, joining industrial sealant and adhesive manufacturer ThreeBond International Inc.

Immediately south of the park, activity is also beginning to pick up. Goodman Distribution Inc., a subsidiary of Japan-based Daikin Industries Ltd. that manufactures HVAC units and appliances for residential and commercial sectors, opened its first Dayton-area facility this spring at a more than 140,000-square-foot industrial warehouse on Gettysburg Avenue.

The company employs 15 local workers and occupies 42,000 square feet of leased space at the site, which is jointly owned by Culmen Real Estate Services and Dayton-based management support services provider Supplier Inspection Services, a co-tenant at the facility.

That building still has about 30,000 square feet of space available for lease and is being brokered by Gerry Smith of Apex Commercial Group, Davis said.

DBJ