GREENCASTLE, Pa. — The owner of the area west of Interstate 81 at Exit 3 took an important step this week toward attracting its latest developer to the sprawling commercial/industrial part of Antrim Township.
While Pat Coggins, vice president of development for Atapco Properties of Baltimore, Md., is optimistic that NorthPoint Development will sign on the dotted line, nothing has yet been announced by the Kansas City, Mo., firm.
“We have a contract with them, and we hope they’re going to close,” Coggins said after receiving approval of a subdivision modification from the Antrim Township supervisors.
“And we’re keeping our fingers crossed.”
NorthPoint has projected creating up to 4,000 jobs by building warehouses on 284 acres of Antrim Commons Business Park.
The firm had asked the Greencastle-Antrim School District to consider enhancing an existing tax break through the Local Economic Revitalization Tax Assistance program.
The school board declined the request.
However, L. Michael Ross, president of the Franklin County Development Corp., remained optimistic that NorthPoint would still develop the site.
Phase I of the proposed development would be an 800,000-square-foot e-commerce fulfillment warehouse.
“I think they still see it as a good site, and we’re optimistic they will agree to the first phase of the development as it is,” Ross said.
The subdivision approved this week allowed Atapco to square off the proposed lot.
“The modification took a wedge off, and we’re now left with roughly a rectangular piece of property, which is what they’re interested in purchasing,” said Tim Hogan, Atapco development manager.
“They have options to buy in pieces,” Coggins said. “The subdivision allows us to sell the first piece. I think we’re moving in the right direction.
“NorthPoint is still under contract. We hope and believe they’re going to close, but nothing is guaranteed until it actually happens,” he said.