Mericle Commercial Real Estate Services has broken ground in CenterPoint Commerce & Trade Park West, Pittston Township, Pennsylvania, for a Home Depot Rapid Deployment Center (RDC). The new 465,600 square foot distribution facility is scheduled to open next year, serving retail locations throughout the Northeast.
The Home Depot is expected to employ approximately 350 workers at the new center, which will include approximately 18,622 SF of office space and 170 dock doors. The 50.85 acre-site will allow for parking of 240 cars and 431 trailers.
Bob Besecker coordinated the project for Mericle. The Home Depot was represented by Bill Wolf of CB Richard Ellis’ Allentown office and Tony Kepano of CB Richard Ellis’ Atlanta office. Mericle will lease the building to The Home Depot.
Governor’s Action Team Regional Director Steve Yokimishyn worked with Governor Ed Rendell and Action Team State Director Mike Rossman to craft an incentive package for the company.
“We are thrilled to have a company of The Home Depot’s stature as our anchor tenant in CenterPoint West,” said Besecker.
Mericle began developing CenterPoint West and the neighboring CenterPoint Commerce & Trade Park East in the fall of 2005. The Home Depot facility will be the 18th building constructed in CenterPoint East and West, pushing the total square feet developed by Mericle beyond five million. More than 2,000 people work in the parks.
Besecker said the assistance received from local and state leaders has been critical to CenterPoint’s tremendous success. “CenterPoint is a great example of a winning public-private partnership,” said Besecker.
Real estate taxes on the The Home Depot building will be abated 100% for 10 years via the Local Economic Revitalization Tax Assistance (LERTA) program. All new buildings constructed in CenterPoint are LERTA-eligible. The LERTA program was approved for CenterPoint by Pittston and Jenkins Township, the Pittston Area School District and Luzerne County.
Founded by Robert K. Mericle in 1985, Mericle Commercial Real Estate Services has developed more than 19 million square feet of industrial, office and flex space. More than 13,400 people work in the buildings developed by Mericle in Northeastern Pennsylvania.