Kassab said ROK is currently in negotiations with two prospective tenants; one is a distributor and the other is a light industrial enterprise. The two operations could bring up to 175 jobs to Ridgefield.
“If our negotiations are successful, these two tenants would take up about 60 percent of the industrial space to be constructed, leaving room for the addition of more businesses in the future,” Kassab said.
Construction is anticipated to start in late spring 2015.
Port CEO Brent Grening said the transaction is a continuation of the port’s effort to spur business growth in the industrial park area.
“Demand continues at that location, and we’re glad the port could meet that demand,” Grening said. “Adding this much new industrial space and the businesses it will draw is a boon for Ridgefield.
“Ridgefield has become a great place to establish a business,” he added. “The investment risk taken by ROK with the purchase of this property, and its plan to build new industrial buildings, indicates that Ridgefield is on the map when it comes to development.”
Major factors in ROK’s decision to purchase the property, Kassab said, were its proximity to I-5 and to existing business development.
“You’re not out there all by yourselves,” Kassab said. “There are other neighboring businesses, yet there’s still room for expansion.”
While this is Kassab’s first project in Ridgefield, he indicated that it won’t be his last.
“I see Ridgefield as a growing community, and a place for us to lead a new wave of development,” he said. “Historically our development efforts have been to fill a need in a community, and we hope to do this in Ridgefield.”
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