LAPORTE — The City of LaPorte has annexed more land to accommodate another expansion of the Thomas Rose Industrial Park.
The annexation consists of 92 acres of farmland owned by developer Bob Qualls, who requested the annexation to have the property served by municipal water and sewer.
Municipal utility service is prohibited from being extended outside the city limits under an ordinance adopted several years ago.
“I think he recognizes that you’re not a real player in the industrial market unless you’re served by utilities. That access to utilities is absolutely essential to any industrial development so they’re positioning themselves to be successful long term at the site,” said Bert Cook, executive director of the LaPorte Economic Advancement Partnership.
Qualls owns another 17 acres of undeveloped land already in the city that will be part of the expansion of the park, Cook said.
Construction of a second spec building owned by Qualls at the park for light industrial use is in the process of being finished.
His first 150,000 square foot spec building, constructed about three years ago, is fully occupied and leased by Gravure Ink and American Renolit Corp.
Gravure Ink makes a thin paper containing various designs resembling the grain on wood, such as maple, hickory, cherry and oak.
The designs on paper are shipped to be glued on plywood and particle board panels used for products like cabinetry.
The rest of the spec building is used by American Renolit Corp. for storage.
The LaPorte based company is a maker of plastic films at its manufacturing facility at 1207 E. Lincolnway. The films are used in graphics, signage and the labeling industry.
Cook said he’s not sure how the newly annexed property will specifically be used, but feels light industry similar to what’s already in the park will go up on the land.
“That would be the likeliest scenario,” he said.
Cook said he doesn’t expect any problems with attracting industry to the site once water and sewer lines are extended a short distance from the park to the expanded area.
He said there’s rail service for transport of supplies and product to and from the companies, along with a NIPSCO substation at the park to meet demand for electricity.
“It makes for really nice sites that are well served by utilities,” he said.
Qualls is owner of Qualls Development Group, which leases industrial space to companies at four different locations in LaPorte, Rolling Prairie and Knox.
The company was founded in 1992 when Qualls purchased the old American Home Foods building at Indiana 2 and Fail Road on the city’s east side. The 400,000 square-foot facility is now home to Harper Collins Publishing.
Other buildings owned by the firm include one on Fail Road occupied by Alpha Baking Co.
Work on developing the Thomas Rose Industrial Park on the city’s northeast side dates to back to the 1990s.
It grew from just over 100 acres to 344 acres from two expansions, in 2008 and 2015. Cook said there are about 20 companies at the park employing roughly 1,000 people.
“It’s been a good project for the city,” he said.
In early March, the city annexed the 39 North Conservancy District, consisting of mostly industrial and residential development on about 960 acres of land.
The city plans to increase water capacity at the newly incorporated property to meet demand from anticipated new development.
© Copyright 2025, nwitimes.com, Munster, IN