Ontario Construction News staff writer
A new industrial property has been added to the Thorold Multimodal Hub, a growing industrial complex in Niagara Region. The newly acquired property adds 170 acres of land and over 500,000 square-feet of warehouse space for industrial, manufacturing and logistics businesses to locate, grow or build new facilities.
The property is a former automotive parts plant closed since 2008.
Partner HOPA Ports developed the Thorold Multimodal Hub model to bring together users who can benefit from the marine, rail and highway connections, as well as the facility’s proximity to the US border.
“Now more than ever, companies are looking at how they can streamline their supply chains and lower their costs,” said HOPA Ports president & CEO Ian Hamilton. “By nurturing this industrial ecosystem and making the most of Niagara region’s valuable transportation assets, we’re able to strengthen Canadian supply chains and facilitate Canadian trade and competitiveness.”
BMI Group, through its subsidiary Bioveld Canada, specializes in redeveloping and adapting brownfield sites for modern industrial uses. The BMI Group already owns a 155-acre site with over 600,000 square-feet at the hub. “
“We see incredible potential in this new space,” said Justus Veldman, The BMI Group managing director. “Our success in attracting users to the first phase of the Thorold Multimodal Hub, through our partnership with HOPA, gives us the confidence to expand our investment in the Niagara Region.”
As part of HOPA’s Niagara Ports network, The Thorold Multimodal Hub has already created marine, rail and conventional logistical supply chain solutions for tenants.
The newly-acquired facility offers up to 55-foot ceiling heights, overhead doors, loading docks, multiple spray booths, rail transload capability and multiple heavy cranes and can be configured to the needs of large or small-footprint businesses and offers a variety of options for new-build construction of industrial spaces as well.
With 400 acres of land and over 1 million square-feet of indoor space, in multiple configurations, located immediately adjacent to the Welland Canal, with access to the CN rail line via rail service provider Gio Rail, the site is suitable for companies focused on energy transition. Hub tenant Char Technologies recently announced more than $11 million in investment in their facility.
Following the launch of the first phase in December 2020, more than a dozen companies have already made the Thorold multimodal Hub home.
“We’ve been able to address a pressing demand out there for industrial space in Ontario, and proven that these older, large-scale industrial facilities can be adapted to the needs of modern industry,” Veldman said.
“The purchase of the former Hayes Dana Property by the BMI Group thru its subsidiary Bioveld Canada is of major significance,” said Thorald Mayor Terry Ugulini. ‘The vision of a Thorold Multimodal Hub that is being developed in partnership with HOPA continues to take shape along the Welland Canal trade corridor.
‘The investments being made today will attract new businesses, create new jobs, as well as, contribute to the prosperity and success not only in the City of Thorold, but the entire Niagara Region.”