The new 1.47 million square-foot warehouse for Grainger Industrial Supply could bring up to 700 jobs to the township, according to township officials.
by David Kilby, Special Writer
BORDENTOWN TOWNSHIP — It’s easy to miss the good news that municipal governments share, especially when it comes at the tail end of meetings that are three hours long.
Such was the case at the Bordentown Township Committee meeting Dec. 9 when the committee announced that it has signed a deal for a large warehouse to be built on Hedding Road.
The new 1.47 million square-foot warehouse for Grainger Industrial Supply could bring up to 700 jobs to the township, according to township officials.
That would make it the “largest private warehouse in New Jersey,” Mayor Jim Cann said at the meeting. “That is great news to the township. It would be a real boom to the town.”
”I hope this conveys to people that we are business-friendly,” Committeeman Stephen Benowitz added.
Ever since Ocean Spray announced it would be moving its plant out of Bordentown a few years ago, the township has been ardently searching for other sources of tax revenue.
”Things we wanted to do and could do, we did them,” Mayor Cann said in regards to the purchase agreement for the new warehouse.
Committeeman John Moynihan explained that a payment in lieu of taxes, or PILOT, is possible in the deal, but that the committee would have to vote on such a decision.
”There’s an incentive to get a big ratable for the town,” Committeman Moynihan said. “But at the same time these property owners are not stupid. They’re gonna look for the best deal too.”
The warehouse would be built on Hedding Road on the Bordentown – Mansfield border in the Central Crossings Business Park, which has been zoned for warehouse development.
The park has received approval for a 1.47 million square-foot warehouse, and Grainger has signed a purchase agreement for the Bordentown property, officials said.
”I would like to see the deal go through,” Mr. Moynihan said. “I think it’s about time the whole warehouse district down there got developed, but at the same time I don’t want to see us bend over backwards for free.
”I think this pilot agreement is something that should be open to the public. We’re going to be bargaining with some sophisticated people here,” he added. “Hopefully, what’s in it for the township is some tax revenue, but that shoe has not dropped.”