Land purchase doubles Thorold Multimodal Hub footprint
A subsidiary of the BMI Group has purchased a new industrial complex in Thorold that will double the size of the Niagara Region’s Thorold Multimodal Hub.
The newly-acquired property adds 170 acres of land and more than 500,000 square feet of warehouse space, creating room for industrial, manufacturing and logistics businesses to locate, grow or build new facilities. The site is a former automotive parts plant, which closed its doors in 2008.
“The purchase of the former Hayes Dana Property is of major significance,” said Thorold Mayor Terry Ugulini. “The vision of a Thorold Multimodal Hub that is being developed in partnership with HOPA continues to take shape along the Welland Canal Trade Corridor.”
The facility’s new owner, The BMI Group, through its subsidiary Bioveld Canada, specializes in redeveloping and adapting brownfield sites for modern industrial uses. The BMI Group already owns a 155-acre site with over 600,000 square feet of buildings within the existing Thorold Hub.
“We see incredible potential in this new space,” said Justus Veldman, The BMI Group Managing Director. “Our success in attracting users to the first phase of the Thorold Multimodal Hub, through our partnership with Hamilton Oshawa Port Authority (HOPA), gives us the confidence to expand our investment in the Niagara Region.”
As part of HOPA’s Niagara Ports network, the Thorold Multimodal Hub has already created marine, rail and conventional logistical supply chain solutions for tenants.
Additional warehouse space and outdoor areas widen the service offering, and help to address Ontario’s industrial supply chain challenges. The facility offers up to 55-foot ceiling heights, overhead doors, loading docks, multiple spray booths, rail transload capability and multiple heavy cranes.
The space can be configured to the needs of large or small-footprint businesses and offers a variety of options for new-build construction of industrial spaces as well.
The new addition brings the space available at the Thorold Multimodal Hub to 400 acres of land and over 1 million square feet of indoor space, in multiple configurations, located immediately adjacent to the Welland Canal, with access to the CN rail line via rail service provider Gio Rail.
The Hub is also uniquely suited to support companies focused on energy transition. Hub tenant Char Technologies recently announced more than $11 million in investment in their facility.
HOPA Ports developed the Thorold Multimodal Hub model to bring together users that can benefit from the marine, rail and highway connections, as well as the facility’s proximity to the US border.
“Now more than ever, companies are looking at how they can streamline their supply chains and lower their costs,” said HOPA Ports President & CEO Ian Hamilton. “By nurturing this industrial ecosystem, and making the most of Niagara region’s valuable transportation assets, we’re able to strengthen Canadian supply chains and facilitate Canadian trade and competitiveness.”
Following the launch of the first phase in December 2020, more than a dozen companies have already made the Thorold Multimodal Hub home.