LEBANON, Ind., Aug. 09, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CSX today announced that a portion of the Lebanon Business Park in Lebanon, Indiana, has been designated a CSX Select Site .
Select Sites are development-ready properties along the CSX network where standard land use issues and comprehensive due diligence items have been previously addressed. These properties are pre-positioned to meet manufacturers’ needs, which significantly reduces the time required to construct facilities and ultimately bring products to market.
“Since 2010 when we partnered with the City of Lebanon and constructed a spur to bring rail service directly into the park, we have been looking to strengthen our position as the only master-planned business park in the area to offer rail service,” said Mark Hosfeld, Vice President of Leasing and Development for Duke Realty in Indiana.
“Thanks to CSX’s proactive approach to addressing land use considerations and due diligence items, we’ll now be able to reduce the time and risk involved in delivering additional rail-served facilities in the park.”
The $4 million investment in the rail spur was made a reality through a public-private partnership between the City of Lebanon and Duke Realty.
“Lebanon Business Park’s designation as a CSX Select Site further enhances the steps Duke Realty and the City of Lebanon have taken over the years to make this a premier rail-served development site,” said Mayor Matt Gentry.
“The CSX Site Select program allows Boone County to compete globally and meet the needs of potential clients in a way many business parks cannot,” said Molly Whitehead, Executive Director of the Boone County Economic Development Corporation. “This designation compliments the infrastructure already in place and helps us take advantage of even more opportunities.”
First developed in the late 1990s, the Lebanon Business Park is located 25 miles northwest of downtown Indianapolis near Interstate 65. The 1,250-acre masterplan has grown to include nearly 8 million square feet of industrial, manufacturing and distribution space in 17 buildings. The CSX Select Site designation applies to 250 undeveloped acres in the southwest portion of the park, which could be directly served by rail.
“We are thrilled to add the Lebanon Business Park site to CSX’s Select Site program. Direct rail service provides a real competitive advantage to many businesses, and the combination of site readiness and Boone County’s commitment to economic growth are key factors in attracting new jobs and investment to the area,” said Adam Hess, Industrial Development Director for CSX Transportation.
CSX introduced the Select Site program in 2012 to better serve new or existing customers on its network. CSX partners with The Austin Company, a nationally-known site selection consulting firm, to screen candidate sites and assist communities with the application and certification process.
“When standing on the property, it feels like rural Indiana. Yet, when looking on a map, the site is located in an established industrial park in Greater Indianapolis,” said Jonathan Gemmen, Director, The Austin Company.
To receive CSX Select Site designation, the location must meet a rigorous list of criteria, including infrastructure and utility availability, environmental reviews, appropriate zoning and entitlement, rail serviceability, proximity to highways or interstates, and other attributes. Once certified, the sites are featured on a new user-friendly web portal that includes press releases, promotional materials and direct marketing to site selection professionals.
To learn more about CSX Select Sites online, visit www.csxselectsites.com
About CSX
CSX, based in Jacksonville, Florida, is a premier transportation company. It provides rail, intermodal and rail-to-truck transload services and solutions to customers across a broad array of markets, including energy, industrial, construction, agricultural, and consumer products. For nearly 190 years, CSX has played a critical role in the nation’s economic expansion and industrial development. Its network connects every major metropolitan area in the eastern United States, where nearly two-thirds of the nation’s population resides. It also links more than 240 short-line railroads and more than 70 ocean, river and lake ports with major population centers and farming towns alike. More information about CSX Corporation and its subsidiaries is available at www.csx.com . Like us on Facebook ( http://facebook.com/OfficialCSX ) and follow us on Twitter ( http://twitter.com/CSX ).
About Duke Realty
Duke Realty Corporation specializes in the ownership, management and development of bulk distribution and medical office real estate. The company owns and operates approximately 137 million rentable square feet in 21 major U.S. metropolitan areas. Duke Realty is publicly traded on the NYSE under the symbol DRE and is listed on the S&P MidCap 400 Index. More information about Duke Realty Corporation is available at www.dukerealty.com . Duke Realty also can be followed on Twitter , LinkedIn , Facebook and YouTube .
Rob Doolittle, CSX Transportation (202) 626-4939 Rob_doolittle@csx.com Helen McCarthy, Duke Realty (317) 708.8010 helen.mccarthy@dukerealty.com
