Broccolini is planning to build a huge distribution centre, nearly 1.1 million square feet, in Cambridge, just outside Toronto. (Courtesy Broccolini / City of Cambridge)
Broccolini has started site preparations for two significant industrial developments on large properties in Southern Ontario – one in Cambridge and another in the Township of Southwold near St. Thomas.
The Montreal-based company, which develops, owns, and manages properties, is working on a 61-acre site in Cambridge right west of Toronto. It got approval from city council for an Ontario government Minister’s Zoning Order so it can speed up building a modern warehouse distribution centre.
The location is 140 Old Mill Road plus some nearby lands along the Hwy. 401 corridor.
In Southwold – just outside St. Thomas and south of London – Broccolini bought a big 622-acre site where the Ford St. Thomas assembly plant used to be before it shut down about ten years ago and was later torn down.
While Broccolini hasn’t officially announced any tenants yet, the Cambridge Chronicle reports that Amazon will occupy the new distribution centre planned for Southwold.
Broccolini has built several Amazon centres across Eastern Canada already and is currently working on projects for them in Ottawa, the GTA, and Quebec.
What’s Happening at Southwold / St. Thomas
This site near Talbotville sits just a few kilometres south of Hwy. 401 – which connects the GTA with London, Windsor and the U. S. border.
“Broccolini intends to renew the area’s legacy by redeveloping these lands and introducing new uses that reflect the modern industrial real estate landscape,” said James Beach, Broccolini’s vice-president of real estate development, this morning.
“This will bring significant and sustained employment opportunities back to the Township of Southwold and Elgin County.”
They’re already working on grading and cleaning up soil there “to ensure the land is prepared for immediate redevelopment,” according to their statement.
“Broccolini’s purchase of the Ford property is exciting news,” said Grant Jones, mayor of Southwold Township.
“Their innovative reputation and wealth of experience in developing large industrial sites is perfect for Talbotville; plus their building approach fits well with our excellent staff.”
Details on The Cambridge Distribution Centre
According to filings with Cambridge city officials, Broccolini plans a distribution hub almost 1.1 million square feet on land made up from addresses including 128, 134, 140 and 228 Old Mill Rd., along with some rural/agricultural areas nearby.
They formed an entity called 140 Old Mill Road LP just for this project which will serve one tenant only.
“This spot is great for a warehouse distribution centre since it offers direct access to Hwy. 401,” said Delis Lus, VP of real estate development at Broccolini. “We’ve also completed public consultations confirming this area’s zoning for industrial use.”
“We want to create a top-tier facility that meets high environmental standards during construction as well as daily operations.”>
They requested an MZO so they could start building possibly as soon as this month aiming to have it ready by September 2022.
The design includes buildings no taller than 49 feet tall with about100 loading docks plus space for825 carsand300 transport trailers parked outside. Previously, the land was zonedfor up tom14 buildings or tenants but now all are combined into one.>
class = “р１ “> They say hundreds will get jobs during construction, and once open there’ll be around700 full- or part-time positions available.>
class = “р１ “> The city originally marked Old Mill Road as suitablefor industrial use backin1999. Broccinoli’s now making sure every parcelof land involved gets properly zoned forthis single project.>
>RENXhas asked Broccinoli formore infoand updates about both developments.>
About Broccinoli
рсласс= “р１ “> Montreal-based Broccinoli has offices intorontoand Ottawa. They provideconstruction, develoment, andreal-estate servicesacrossindustrial commercial institutionaland residential sectors. They actas general contractors construction managersproject managersproperty managersand developers.
рсласс= ” р๑ > Their Real Estate Management division ownsmore than40 properties totaling over11 million squarefeetoff assets.
