Sizeable Buildings to Muncy Township
by David Thompson with contributions by Cindy Knier
Bethlehem-based developer Arcadia Properties LLC plans to unveil a development Friday in eastern Lycoming County that local officials hope will create jobs for county residents.
The proposed project is at the Timberend property just north of Interstate 180 at the Lycoming Mall interchange.
Vincent Matteo, president of the Williamsport-Lycoming Chamber of Commerce, declined to give specific details to the Williamsport Sun-Gazette about the project prior to the announcement.
However, The Luminary has learned details include two buildings of sizeable proportions, and one smaller building, known as Arcadia Timber End.
The project consists of 1,100,000 square foot cross-dock warehouse/ distribution building; a second cross-dock warehouse/distribution building measuring 500,000 square foot and a 100,000 square foot flex building.
By definition, a flex building is designed to be versatile, which may be used in combination with office (corporate headquarters), research and development, quasi-retail sales, and including but not limited to industrial, warehouse, and distribution uses.
A typical flex building will be one or even two stories with at least half of the rentable area being used as office space, have ceiling heights of 16 feet or less, and have some type of drive-in door, even though the door may be glassed or sealed off
All information was available on Arcadia LLC’s website, “http://www.arcadiaproperties.net”>www.arcadiaproperties.net
Architectural features include 36′ minimum clear height with 50′ x 50′ bays; floor flatness ideal for high-density racking; painted concrete tilt-up wall panels; roof mounted direct gas fired heaters and exhaust fans; and ESFR sprinkler system.
Matteo put his seal of approval on the developer and expressed optimism the development would benefit county residents.
“Arcadia is a well-known and well-respected development company,” Matteo said. “We are confident they are going to create jobs for Lycoming County residents. This development is a sign that even in tough economic conditions, if we work together and plan well, the county can move forward,” Matteo said.
The official announcement will be held at 1:30 p.m. at Blaise Alexander Nissan in a bay garage overlooking the development site.
Slated to speak will be Matteo, Blaise Alexander, officials from Muncy and Fairfield townships, county Commissioner Rebecca A. Burke, state officials, and Charles Diacont and Richard Thulin, principals with the development company.
“I think it is important to show enthusiasm for developers who bring family-sustaining jobs to the area. Any time a developer shows interest in creating jobs here, we need to be excited about it,” Burke said. “In these economic times every new job will help Lycoming County.”
The property, which is in Muncy and Fairfield townships, is a Keystone Opportunity Zone. The zone is a state designation that exempts the property from municipal, county, state and school real estate taxes through 2010.
The property has access to utilities such as sewer, natural gas and water. The Halls Station water system, the first public water system ever constructed by the Lycoming County Water and Sewer Authority, brought public water to the area in early 2008.
Arcadia Properties, LLC is a privately owned real estate development and management company specializing in residential land development, warehouse, office, flex, retail, industrial and hotel development throughout eastern Pennsylvania. Arcadia also offers facility and construction management. Founded in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania in 1986 as Arcadia Development Corporation, it was restructured as Arcadia Properties, LLC in 1999. Richard E. Thulin and Charles R. Diacont are principals of Arcadia Properties, LLC.