Explanation
BACKGROUND: The need exists to enter into an Enterprise Zone Agreement with Pinchal & Company LLC (“Pinchal & Company”). The Ohio Enterprise Zone law O.R.C. Section 5709.62(C) requires the City to enter into a Council-approved agreement between the City and participating companies.
Pinchal & Company is a privately owned real estate investment company that focuses on development, acquisition, operation, and portfolio management throughout the United States. The company has acquired more than 30 million square feet of institutional grade industrial product and often owns approximately 5 million square feet at any given time. Pinchal & Company serves a range of tenants, including Fortune 500 Companies, government agencies, and investment grade companies. Pinchal & Company was founded in 1986 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas.
Pinchal & Company is proposing to invest a total project cost of approximately $29,680,750, which includes approximately $1.5 million in leasehold improvements, $2.18 million in acquisition cost and $26 million in real property improvements to construct a new speculative distribution and warehouse facility consisting of approximately 583,740 square feet at 1594 London Groveport Road, Columbus, Ohio 43137, parcel number 495-232641 (the “Project Site”). The company anticipates that the development of the proposed project will lead to the relocation of an unknown number of positions from within the City of Columbus and the creation of 20 net new full-time permanent positions with an estimated new annual payroll of approximately $624,000 at the proposed Project Site.
The Department of Development recommends a 75%/10-year Enterprise Zone tax abatement on real property improvements. Real property improvements are expected to begin as soon as October 2020 with a scheduled time of completion of December 2021. A separate ordinance (Ord 1627-2020) authorizing an EZA for an additional speculative distribution and warehouse facility on the same parcel number will be submitted as well. The existing parcel number will be split into two or three separate parcels at a future date. Furthermore, the project figures and numbers are the same for each project.
The Columbus City School District has been advised of this project. This legislation is presented as 30-day legislation.
FISCAL IMPACT:
No Funding is required for this legislation.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Development to enter into an Enterprise Zone Agreement with Pinchal & Company LLC for a tax abatement of seventy-five percent (75%) for a period of ten (10) consecutive years in consideration of a total proposed capital investment of approximately $29,680,750.00 and the creation of 20 net new full-time permanent positions with an estimated annual payroll of approximately $624,000.00 and with an anticipated project start date of October 2020.
Body
WHEREAS, the Columbus City Council authorized the designation of the Central Enterprise Zone by legislation, Ordinance Number 779-85, dated April 22, 1985; and subsequently amended the Zone by Ordinance Nos. 2722-85 in 1986; 2080-89 in 1989; 1949-92, 2690-92 and 2249-92 in 1992; 1079-94 and 1228-94 in 1994; 2196-95 and 2817-95 in 1995; 0533-99 in 1999; 1785-00 in 2000; 1464-02 in 2002; 0225-03 in 2003; and 0032-2012 in 2012; and
WHEREAS, the Director of the Development Department of the State of Ohio determined that the Columbus Enterprise Zone as amended by the aforementioned Ordinances continued to contain the characteristics set forth in Section 5709.61(A) of the Ohio Revised and recertified said Zone in 1986, December 20, 1989, September 28, 1992, October 22, 1992, December 17, 1992, May 31, 1994, June 24, 1994, June 16, 1995, October 5, 1995, December 19, 1995, April 1, 1999, September 25, 2000, January 27, 2003, August 19, 2003 and most recently on April 3, 2012 as an “urban jobs and enterprise zone” under Chapter 5709 of the Ohio Revised Code; and
WHEREAS, Pinchal & Company LLC (“Pinchal & Company”) is a privately owned real estate investment company that focuses on development, acquisition, operation and portfolio management throughout the United States; and
WHEREAS, Pinchal & Company has acquired more than 30 million square feet of institutional grade industrial product and often owns approximately 5 million square feet at any given time; and
WHEREAS, the company serves a range of tenants, including Fortune 500 Companies, government agencies, and investment grade companies. Pinchal & Company was founded in 1986 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas; and
WHEREAS, Pinchal & Company is proposing to invest a total project cost of approximately $29,680,750, which includes approximately $1.5 million in leasehold improvements $2.18 million in acquisition cost and approximately $26 million in real property improvements to construct a speculative distribution and warehouse facility consisting of approximately 583,740 sq. ft. at 1594 London Groveport Road, Columbus, Ohio 43137, parcel number 495-232641 (the “Project Site”); and
WHEREAS, Pinchal & Company anticipates that the development of the aforementioned project will lead to the relocation of an unknown number of positions from within the City of Columbus and the creation of 20 net new full-time permanent positions with an estimated new annual payroll of approximately $624,000 at the proposed Project Site; and
WHEREAS, the City is encouraging this project because of plans to construct a new distribution and office warehouse facility in the Southeast corridor of the City; and
WHEREAS, the City desires to increase employment opportunities and encourage the creation of new jobs in the City in order to improve the overall economic climate of the City and its citizens; and
WHEREAS, the City desires to enter in such a binding formal agreement to foster economic growth for the preservation of public health, peace, property, and safety; and NOW, THEREFORE:
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of the Department of Development is hereby authorized and directed to enter into an Enterprise Zone Agreement with Pinchal & Company LLC to provide therewith an exemption of seventy-five percent (75%) on real property improvements for a term of ten (10) consecutive taxable years in association with the project’s proposed total investment of approximately $29,680,750, which include approximately $26 million in real property improvements, and the creation of 20 net new full-time permanent positions with an estimated annual payroll of approximately $624,000 ("Project").
SECTION 2. That the City hereby finds and determines that the project will (1) create jobs in the State and City (2) the project is economically sound and will benefit the people of the State and City by increasing opportunities for employment and strengthening the economy of the State and City; and (3) receiving the aforementioned tax abatement is a critical factor in the decision by representatives for Pinchal & Company LLC to move forward with the proposed project.
SECTION 3. That the City of Columbus Enterprise Zone Agreement is signed by Pinchal & Company LLC within ninety (90) of passage of this ordinance, or this ordinance and the abatements and credit authorized herein are null and void.
SECTION 4. That this ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.