A company called Audcomp is an IT company that also invests in Real Estate and they have offered to buy about 3 acres of land in Lucas Point Industrial Park at the north west corner of Dodge and Thompson Streets for $40,000 per acre. Their offer was accepted by Cobourg Council at their C.O.W. meeting on Monday night, 29 March (subject to ratification at their regular Council meeting next week – Update: It was ratified). Audcomp plan to construct a building of approximately 8,000 ft2 to 14,000 ft2 to accommodate their tenant, Davey Tree of Canada who plan a National Distribution/Logistics Centre for their Canadian operations. They are a US based company and plan more than 50 new local jobs paying approximately $50/hour. Audcomp will be providing a 20 year lease to Daveytree with an option of an additional 10 years.
Although the deal has not yet closed, Audcomp says that they will
…. warehouse tools and equipment at this location to distribute to field locations across Canada. Currently they utilize their USA distribution centre located in Kent, Ohio and it has become necessary to establish their own Canadian distribution/logistics centre. They have also deemed it necessary to have their Emergency Preparedness Task Team at this location. This team would manage all emergency logistics across Canada. Additionally, this location would be utilized by the three divisions within the proposed tenants operation; Rail, Utility, Residential and Commercial thus the distribution and logistics for all divisions would be stationed at this proposed location. This distribution centre will ship all tools, skill saws, ladders, wood chippers and other equipment across Canada.
Audcomp says that they “will submit for Site Plan Approval as soon as the Township confirms our offer to purchase. We will commence construction as soon as the Township building department grants us permits. We are self funded, thus we are ready to commence this project.”
Audcomp says that Davey Tree is a North American company founded in 1880. Their world headquarters is located in Kent Ohio (photo above) and their Canadian head office is located in Ancaster Ontario. Davey Tree is an employee owned organization and is the largest employee owned company in the state of Ohio. Davey Tree is an industry leader in horticultural and environmental services. They are innovative and provide leading edge scientific research in this field. Davey Tree is the largest tree service organization in Canada. They have contracts with provincial and federal branches of government for removal of trees, branches and other botanical growths. Davey Tree is part of the government emergency preparedness taskforce team responsible for responding to wind and ice storm tree cleanup and removal.
Audcomp is a Canadian company headquartered in Ancaster, Ontario.
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This is great news. It sounds like some decent jobs and an increase in the future tax base. There are municipalities losing industry and jobs so any news like this is a win.
Interesting that “…their Canadian head office is located in Ancaster Ontario” but they are locating the “National Distribution/Logistics Centre for their Canadian operations” here in Cobourg, some 200+ km away.
That’s very good news and a credit to our town, but one has to wonder why not Ancaster? Do we offer some significant advantage here in beautiful Northumberland County? Or what?
Good point JimT.
Other than an office in Ottawa (Carp), The existing Cobourg office is the furthest east. Most of Davy’s offices are in the GTA and west to Hamilton and London Perhaps Davey is planning expansion in eastern Ontario & Quebec.
The new jobs (50 or so) are certainly a welcome addition to Cobourg and Northumberland. I think the claimed pay rate ($50/hr) is overstated. $50/hr translates to about $100K per year. Senior management and some technical staff could well be paid this, but not warehouse/shipping/clerical staff.
$50.00 bucks an hour? I am retired but $50.00 an hour would buy me a lot of Tim Horton’s coffee and maybe a doughnut.
Or maybe you wouldnt mind paying for parking when using the free beach?😁
Just for the record I don’t use your beach free or otherwise. What about you do you use your free beach and pay for parking?
Cheap real estate 1/2 half the price Port Hope is charging for their Business park land , and a 1/4 of the price that land like this sells for in Durham In fact I called a local realtor at Royal LePage Frank Commercial Division and their serviced Land Industrial Business Park on the south side of the 401 Bowmanville is averaging between $400 and $500,000.– per acre especially for serviced land. And not necessarily with a 401 exposure , but the drive time is about the same from the 40 . Are these jobs real or just incentive to get the Town to sell the land cheaply
Will these Davey Tree people be Taking jobs from our existing 3 Tree service Co.
This $40,000.– figure was the same price they had on these lots over 15 yrs ago when Joe Sheffer was the Economic Development officer for the Town Remember Joe ?
Why might be a good question to ask your Council
and extra $200,000.– would equal a lot of Taxes over a number of years folks !
Like it or not .
If the lots were 40 k 15 years ago and they are still for sale, should they now charge alot more as you suggest? Give your head a shake. You can put a negative spin on almost anything.
Sorry : Informed — But if the truth & facts were told from the on set then it wouldn’t be so Negative all the time — I hate Political PROPOGANDA and slanted info. Check out the sale of the High profile corner at the corner of Willmott and King st the Gold Mac Group purchased 10 yrs ago . Joe Sheffer originally put that deal together it stalled when the Town fired him it was resurrected several yrs latter
The question you should be asking is why did the town sell it so cheaply .
Call Port Hope and ask what they are selling their serviced industrial land for
Keven Narroway 905-885-2004 Ext 3306 Economic Devl. Off.
I Just checked as I knew you would not the last acreage to sell was at $87,500.– and there are dozens waiting for them to open the next phase of the Business park and service it approx. 1 yr from now
A seller can put whatever price he wants on his property. The buyer can say yes or no. In the end, the price is what a willing buyer and a willing seller agree to.
Perhaps the price is a reflection of what is needed to draw business to Cobourg.
Yes but when your dealing with public property and Tax Payer dollars
you have an obligation to at least recover market values for the Constituents
not sell at discounts to favorites Public office Comes with Obligations and reasonability $50.– per hour for ware house Etc Come on ! thats the 1 manager
Market is set by transactions between a willing buyer and seller. If you advised the Town that “market” was $100K and the deal was lost and the property remained unsold for a lengthy period, then my assessment would be that the property was overpriced.
There is no indication that the buyer has connections with the Town and was therefore a “favorite”
I too was shocked at the low price for an acre of land. There is a small lot downtown I believe on Queen Street for sale for over $600,000 dollars. It’s great that there will be more jobs for the area. Can we afford to practically give away the land to entice employers. Is there a stipulation on any resale of that property down the road? A person could make a good dollar buying, building then reselling the property or leasing it out.
Is $40,000. — per acre rather cheap for serviced industrial land
that was the going price out there 15 yrs ago if I recall correctly .
Any new jobs ?
Hell of a steal! BUT, taxes will be paid & it sounds like good paying jobs?
Is there anything you don’t complain about?
The article says:
“They are a US based company and plan more than
50 new local jobs paying approximately $50/hour.“
Does that answer your question?
Does promised job numbers recall a similar one made re the Pharma marijuana organization on William Street in the recent past that is gone already ?