Hobart business expands into new building at Northwind
By Karen Caffarini Post-Tribune correspondent September 8, 2012 8:00PM
Updated: October 10, 2012 6:21AM
HOBART — ITR America LLC will be able to move into a new building in Northwind Crossings that is triple its current size, as a result of City Council action.
The council last week approved a real property tax abatement for Indiana Land Becknell Investors LLS, developers of the industrial park at Mississippi and 62nd, for the purpose of building a 100,000-square-foot building at 6301 Northwind Parkway that would be solely occupied by ITR America.
The company now occupies 30,000 square feet of space in the park.
The Redevelopment Commission previously gave its support for the incentive.
“The commission certainly supports what Becknell is doing with bringing in quality tenants,” director of development Denarie Kane said.
The company distributes replacement parts for construction equipment, according to its president, Brett Clemens.
Paul Thurston, vice president for development and property management for Becknell Industrial of Lyons, Ill., said his original request to build a 150,000-square-foot spec building had changed to the 100,000-square-foot building built to suit for ITR. He said he is marketing ITR’s current space.
Clemens said the company was started in 2006 with 16 employees. He said it has grown to 21 employees in the Hobart industrial park and he plans to add 20 more there.
Clemens said the new building, which will cost $5.7 million, will be the company’s headquarters in addition to a warehouse. He said warehouse employees average $15 an hour plus benefits while sales people and other employees earn between $50,000 and $100,000.
Councilman P. Lino Maggio, D-3rd, said in the past six weeks the city brought in 850 additional jobs between Cooper’s Hawk Winery and Restaurant in Southlake Westfield Mall and Americall in Northwind Crossings.
