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‘Monumental’ deal is reached to sell Valley Delphi plants
By Ed Runyan
BAZETTA TOWNSHIP
Trumbull County Commissioner Paul Heltzel says the sale of 1.2 million square feet of manufacturing space and 203 acres at the Delphi Automotive complex on North River Road will be one of the largest real-estate deals in Trumbull County history.
“This is a monumental effort,” Heltzel said Tuesday of the work that went into helping Delphi find a buyer for plants 12, 14 and 15 at the north end of the complex.
Neither local officials nor Delphi will reveal the identity of the buyer, but Rachelle R. Valdez, Delphi spokeswoman, said the deal is expected to close in August. The name of the buyer will be announced later, Valdez said.
Officials won’t say anything about the jobs or investment that will result, but Walt Good, a vice president for the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber, said the sale should have a “positive impact for the area.”
In a statement, Delphi said: “We are pleased to have found a suitable buyer for the land, and we believe the sale of the property will be positive for the local community and the state of Ohio.”
Delphi credited the Ohio Department of Development, Western Reserve Port Authority and Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber for helping to make the deal happen.
“We appreciate the support and cooperation these organizations extended to help us find the most positive solution for the community,” Delphi said.
Rose Ann DeLeon, executive director of the port authority, said the “potential buyer definitely has the experience and financial expertise to bring jobs and businesses back to those buildings.”
DeLeon said she has seen an increase in collaboration and cooperation among those in the Valley’s economic-development community during the 18 months she’s been here, and it was a “good experience” to see that collaboration on this project.
Heltzel said it is important that James A. Spencer, president of Delphi Packard Electrical/Electronic Architecture, whose office is in Streetsboro, listened when Heltzel wrote to him on July 27, 2010.
In the letter, Heltzel asked Spencer to consider selling the property to a Mahoning Valley organization such as the port authority rather than demolish the facilities. At the time, rumors were circulating that Delphi wanted to demolish much of the complex, which straddles the Bazetta/Howland townships line.
Heltzel said a large number of other local officials participated in “hundreds of hours” of talks on the sale.
They included the port authority’s attorney, Dan Keating; the Trumbull County Planning Commission’s director, Bill Miller; Warren’s community development director, Michael Keys; representatives from U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan’s office; and Darlene St. George, Howland Township administrator.
The deal does not involve any government financing, Heltzel noted.