HTI gets new name

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The city’s administration has a new name for the former Hydraulic Technologies LLC (HTI), located at 850 South St.

According to Mayor Thomas O’Leary, the facility is now being referred to as the South Street Commerce Center and is actively being shown to prospective tenants.

“We have had several inquiries,” O’Leary said.

The Galion City Council approved the donation of HTI from its parent company Ligon Industries LLC, in December.

“The Toledo Port Authority is our real estate agent. The city is required to have an agent that handles real estate, according to the Ohio Revised Code,” said O’Leary.

O’Leary said the property is available for lease or sale and can be subdivided.

“Some of the potential buyers have said they do not need the office space that is there so we have been talking to Galion City Schools to see if they are interested in opening an alternative school there,” O’Leary said.

O’Leary said the office area of the former HTI plant would also make a great place for a technology training center.

“There are job openings across the county but not enough skilled workers to fill them. This could be a place where potential employees could get the training they need to be hired into some of those positions,” O’Leary said.

HTI, which specialized in custom-welded hydraulic cylinders and employed 70 positions, announced its closure in April. The move was made by Ligon Industries LLC, HTI’s parent company.

O’Leary said there are no immediate repairs and improvements for the HTI building, but would be needed when a tenant leases the building. Those costs – along with insurance, utilities and taxes – would fall on the tenant.

During the past few months, the mayor has worked with officials from JobsOhio, the private economic development agency, and InSite Consulting Group, based in Greer, S.C., to determine the marketability of the South Street location, which is roughly valued at $4.3 million.

Law director Thomas Palmer said the city administration is focused on economic development throughout the city with many projects in the works.

“Opportunities are presenting themselves and we are aggressively pursuing them,” Palmer said.

A meeting was held Thursday evening at the Gill House with Jennifer Kime and Jamie Thompson Downtown Mansfield, Inc. to assist city officials with ideas and suggestions to revitalize the city’s uptown area when it comes to increased economic activity, tourism, music, events and investment.

The former HTI building at 850 South St., is now being referred to as the South Street Commerce Center and is available for sale or lease.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/38/2016/02/web1_HTI20162514952326.jpgThe former HTI building at 850 South St., is now being referred to as the South Street Commerce Center and is available for sale or lease.
Facility now called South Street Commerce Center

By Kimberly Gasuras

[email protected]

Reach Gasuras on Twitter @kimberlygasuras

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