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The disbursement of $1.3 million for road improvements adjacent to a newly opened Warren industrial park will be voted on Sept. 29.
The Ohio Department of Development sent the Roadwork Development Grant request Thursday to the Ohio Controlling Board. If approved, the funds will be used to reconstruct and widen sections of Nevada Avenue SW and Victoria Street SW. The corners of Nevada Avenue SW at the Victoria Street SW and West Market Street intersections also will be widened, according to state paperwork.
"As a result of the project and state assistance provided, traffic flow and accessibility to the West Warren Industrial Park will be improved," according to the Department of Development.
A groundbreaking for the industrial park, located on 86 acres in the former Westlawn neighborhood and the now-demolished Western Reserve High School, took place in August 2023. Wiley Runnestrand, Mike Martof and Chuck George, representing Sapientia Ventures and its affiliate West Warren Development LLC, are managing partners overseeing the $9 million venture.
"That was 86 acres of undeveloped land," said Michael Keys, the city's director of Community Development. "So, it was kind of being used for dumping and things.Turning into an industrial park is one of the great things that's happened on that side of town."
The first building on the site was completed in the beginning of 2026 and is being offered for lease, Runnestrand said Monday.
"There's a number of people that are interested, and we're hoping to have an announcement sometime in the near future," he said.
The 100,000-square-foot-structure is a Class A manufacturing space with a 32-foot-high ceiling.
"Older historical manufacturing had clear heights more in like the 20- to 24-foot range, and what that allows is for higher pallet stacking, so (it allows a) greater density of material in the space," Runnestrand said.
The facility also features upgraded sprinkler systems, higher insulation levels, thicker floors, flatter concrete and a 480-volt power supply.
"So everything's safer," Runnestrand said.
According to Sapientia's initial project proposal, the park operators will:
• Focus on light industrial, distribution, advanced manufacturing, industrial flexspace, and research and development.
• Seek multiple mid-sized tenants.
• Offer resilient space able to be repurposed over time.
• Serve as an anchor project to revitalize the west side of Warren and provide high-paying economic opportunities for current and future residents.
• Pursue a strategic vision to create a technology place within the city of Warren able to capture supply chain opportunities from large blue-chip opportunities moving to Ohio.
Keys said the future roadwork will add value to the industrial park.
"We have to make improvements to the roads because of the extra truck traffic that's going to be coming in now," he said.
Mayor Doug Franklin could not be reached for comment.