Laurie Wink, The News-Dispatch
LA PORTE - Officials of Stop Intermodals - Save Our County said Tuesday that First Industrial Realty Trust of Chicago is the developer exploring the possibility of a La Porte County intermodal facility.
First Industrial Realty Trust Inc. leases, develops, buys, sells and manages industrial facilities in the nation's top 25 industrial markets, according to its Web site.
One is the development of First Park Kenosha, a 169-acre business park in the Chicago and Milwaukee markets. The park's first occupant will be Rust-Oleum, which will operate a 600,000-square-foot distribution center
In a statement, SISOC said the public should know the name of the possible intermodal developer because it's one more piece of a puzzle.
"SISOC had hoped that the developer would be more forthcoming in making themselves and their intentions known to the community," the organization said in the statement.
"It is hoped that they will now declare their full intentions and thereby bring an end to the stress of not knowing experienced by members of the community potentially affected by such a development."
Matt Reardon, director of economic development for La Porte County, said he had no direct information about a specific developer and speculated Cressy & Everett of Mishawaka, Ind., has been talking to a number of developers.
County Commission president Barbara Huston said she had heard from Cressy & Everett that First Industrial Realty Trust was interested but has no additional information.
Dave Christian, co-chair of the county's 21-member Intermodal Task Force created to study any intermodal proposals, could not be reached for comment.
A Nov. 26 joint statement issued by Christian and Huston indicated a Real Estate Investment Trust "with national and global reach" was continuing to ponder an intermodal for La Porte County.
Christian and others have said a proposal could come by January, but until one is received, the task force will not spend any public funds.
The task force decided not to send a representative to a conference in California on health and environmental impacts on communities of trade, ports and movement of goods. SISOC will have a member there and will share information with the Intermodal Task Force as well as its own members.
SISOC was formed in August as an effort to oppose a transportation and distribution hub that residents fear would threaten their quality of life.
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