Meijer distribution center construction fast-tracked in Tipp City

Construction is underway on Meijer Distribution Center’s new automated warehouse west of Interstate 75 in Tipp City. MARSHALL GORBYSTAFF

Construction is underway on Meijer Distribution Center’s new automated warehouse west of Interstate 75 in Tipp City. MARSHALL GORBYSTAFF

Construction is underway on Meijer Distribution Center’s new automated warehouse west of Interstate 75 in Tipp City.

The building permit for the 370,781 square foot structure was approved by the Miami County Building Department. The cost of the construction project was listed on the permit at $10 million. The permit was filed by Meijer Distribution of Michigan and Rockford Construction.

The warehouse is being built north of Kerr Road on 160 acres of land annexed to Tipp City last year.

Miami County building officials reported last week in a report to county commissioners that the project will be fast-tracked.

The fast tracking of the project means builders will work two shifts, said Rob England, the county’s chief building official.

Some after-hour inspections likely will be needed, England said. The building department will do what it can to accommodate the project, Rich Osgood, county development director, said.

The warehouse will serve Meijer stores in Ohio, Southeastern Indian and Northern Kentucky.

The project will retain 225 jobs that will be transferred from the existing Meijer warehouse along Kessler-Cowlesville Road and add 65 new jobs within the first five years, a memo obtained from the city said.

The Tipp City Council last week approved an agreement between the city and Meijer for the construction of an Abbott Park Way extension as part of the overall $120 million automated warehouse project.

City Manager Tim Eggleston said the agreement was part of the project that started in fall 2018 with Meijer, the state of Ohio, JobsOhio and the Ohio Department of Transportation.

The agreement calls for extending Abbott Park Way 1,050 feet west from the current terminus and extending utilities.

The road extension is estimated to cost $1.2 million with the following partners in the project: city, state roadway grant, ODOT Jobs and Commerce Grant and contributions by HSA and Meijer. The Meijer contribution has been adjusted from $250,000 to $230,000 and the HSA contribution from $200,000 to $250,000. HSA is the company that built the warehouse west of County Road 25A and south of Abbott Park Way last year.

Meijer and the city also are making an agreement for a storm water system. The city will be responsible for the maintenance and operation of the storm water system and have the right to assess Meijer for cost of maintenance, as needed.

The existing warehouse opened in the 1990s. The future use of that property has not been determined, although hopes are Meijer will use it for another purpose, Matt Spring, city development director, said earlier this year.

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