Commission Announces Sale In Technology Park
SYRACUSE — Syracuse Redevelopment Commission approved two economic development agreements finalizing the sale of 40 to 45 percent of the Syracuse Technology Park during a meeting held Wednesday, May 10. Dustin Johns, owner of Innovation Inc LLC, purchased seven lots within the park. Total cost for the lots was $770,563.
Johns, who also owns Indiana RV LLC, builds Travel Lite RV. Larry Siegel, a member of the redevelopment commission, said Johns, “is an innovator in the RV industry … he’s got some neat ideas and the sales are reflecting that.”
Johns is currently leasing space in southern Elkhart County and is bursting at the seams due to increased production.The new facility in Syracuse will have two buildings with room for future expansion.
One building will be a 10,000 square-foot fiberglass shop while the second will be a 54,000 square-foot manufacturing facility. Johns said the corporate headquarters will be very architectural with reflective glass, nice street lighting and LED lights lining the roof line. “It will be a nice modern touch,” Johns said. “It’s really going to be sharp.”
Johns hoped to break ground on the property in March but is still in the process of lining up contractors. Plans are to have the buildings constructed and up and running as soon as possible.
Siegel noted this milestone was 15 years in the making. The Syracuse Technology Park was completed in 2014 and in 2015 was certified as a shovel-ready site.
Members of the Syracuse Redevelopment Commission are Siegel, Dan VanLue, Paul Stoelting, Ernie Rogers and Town Manager Henry DeJulia.
The commission also approved an interlocal agreement with Elkhart County. DeJulia also noted a public hearing to annex the tech park at the Syracuse Town Council meeting Tuesday, May 16.