“DMAX is now projected to finish ahead of schedule and, as of the beginning of the year, is scheduled to be finished and operating at full capacity by the middle of 2025,” City Manager Jack Kuntz said.
GM announced plans in summer 2023 to expand its Brookville plant with an investment in Duramax diesel engine production, a project that is quadrupling the size of the West Campus Boulevard plant.
Credit: JIM NOELKER
Credit: JIM NOELKER
The Brookville plant, located at 101 W. Campus Blvd., currently covers about 250,000 square feet and employs around 100 workers. About 1.1 million square feet is being added as part of this expansion, with employment numbers expected to increase by approximately 700 positions, Kuntz said.
Less than a half mile to the east, a new 4,350-square-foot Casey’s General Store and fueling stop opened in January at the northwest corner of the Arlington Road and West Campus Boulevard intersection, north of I-70’s Exit 21.
Credit: Nick Graham
Credit: Nick Graham
South of the highway exit, a proposed project to construct a new hotel between Triggs Road and Upper Lewisburg-Salem Road has yet to move forward.
Development company Brookville Lodging Associates LLP in October 2023 submitted a zoning application and preliminary project drawing of plans to construct a three-story Hilton Hotel on the vacant site.
Brookville Planning Commission approved the preliminary plans the following month.
But nearly 13 months later, the developer has yet to take the next step in the process, which would be to submit a final development plan for commission and city council approval.
“The developer has not forwarded any additional information regarding the status of that project to the city,” Kuntz said.
Brookville Lodging Associates LLP did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Development has been a hot topic in Brookville for months. The Keep it Rural group unsuccessfully tried to recall the mayor and vice mayor after disputes on that topic, and voters led a referendum in November that rejected the rezoning of 85 acres on Upper Lewisburg Salem Road for business and residential growth.
The city is now seeking community input about what the future development of Brookville should look like, having recently teamed up with Cleveland-based consulting company Envision Group LLC, as it works to generate an updated comprehensive land use plan, which will serve as a blueprint for future development.
The city is asking residents to fill out a survey to provide input about how they think the city should grow. The survey will be open through the month of February and is available on the city’s website, at www.brookvilleohio.com.
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