LaPorte annexation opens door to industrial park expansion

LAPORTE — The Thomas Rose Industrial Park in LaPorte is being expanded again from a recent annexation by the city.

The annexation approved by the city council consists of 92 acres of farmland owned by developer Bob Qualls, who requested it to have the property served by municipal water and sewer.

Municipal utility service is prohibited from being extended outside the city limits under an ordinance adopted under the administration of Blair Milo, who was mayor from 2012 to 2017.

“I think he recognizes that you’re not a real player in the industrial market unless you’re served by utilities,” said Bert Cook, Executive Director of the La Porte Economic Advancement Partnership. "That access to utilities is absolutely essential to any industrial development, so they’re positioning themselves to be successful long term at the site."

Qualls owns another 17 acres of undeveloped land already in the city that will be part of the expansion of the park, he said.

About three years ago, Qualls built a 150,000-square-foot spec building fully occupied and leased by Gravure Ink and American Renolit Corporation.

Gravure Ink makes a thin paper containing various designs resembling primarily the grain on trees such as maple, hickory, cherry and oak.

The designs on paper are shipped to be glued on plywood and particle board panels used in products like cabinetry.

The rest of the spec building is used by American Renolit Corporation for storage.

The LaPorte-based company is a maker of plastic films at its manufacturing facility at 1207 E. Lincolnway.

The fllms are used in graphics, signage and the labeling industry.

Construction by Qualls of a second spec building at the park, also for light industrial use, is in the process of being finished likely by fall, Cook said.

Cook said he’s not sure how the newly annexed property will specifically be used but feels light industry similar to what’s already in the park will go up on the land.

“That would be the likeliest scenario,” he said.

Cook said he doesn’t expect any problems with attracting industry to the site once water and sewer lines are extended a short distance from the park to the expanded area.

He said there’s rail service for transport of supplies and product to and from the companies, along with a NIPSCO substation at the park to meet demand for electricity.

“It makes for really nice sites that are well-served by utilities,” he said.

Qualls is owner of Qualls Development Group, which leases industrial space to companies at four different locations in LaPorte, Rolling Prairie and Knox.

The company was founded in 1992 when Qualls purchased the old American Home Foods building at Indiana 2 and Fail Road on the city’s east side.

The 400,000-square-facility is now home to Harper Collins Publishing. Other buildings owned by the firm include one on Fail Road occupied by Alpha Baking Co.

Work on developing the Thomas Rose Industrial Park on the city’s northeast side dates to back to the 1990s.

It grew from just over 100 acres to 344 acres from expansions in 2008 and 2015 before the latest addition to the grounds.

Cook said there are about 20 companies at the park employing roughly 1,000 people.

There was only about 50 acres of undeveloped ground at the park before the annexation.

“It’s been a good project for the city,” he said.

In early March, the city annexed the 39 North Conservancy District consisting of mostly industrial and residential development on about 960 acres of land.

The city plans to increase water capacity at the newly incorporated property to meet demand from new development anticipated from the future water system upgrades, which are presently in the design stage, Cook said.

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: LaPorte annexation opens door to industrial park expansion