By LISA CAPOBIANCO
STAFF WRITER
The first lot of the Southeast Bristol Business Park was a scene of activity last Wednesday, as city staff and leaders celebrated the groundbreaking of a 128,000 square foot storage and distribution center for the Connecticut/Western Massachusetts PODS franchise.
Uniprop AM, LLC bought 14 acres of land fronting CT-229 (Middle Street) within the business park for $703,040. Connecticut Portable Storage LLC, which operates as the Connecticut/Western Massachusetts franchise of the portable storage container company PODS, will occupy the facility.
When Glenn Couch, regional vice president of Uniprop, and Rob Robitaille, partner of the Uniprop AM franchise Connecticut Portable Storage, found Bristol, they thought it would be a great location for the distribution and storage point for PODS.
Started in April 2004, the franchise has grown considerably, as it now has at least 30 employees and 13 trucks, as well as 2,500 containers. With storage centers currently in New Haven, East Hartford and Massachusetts, the company plans to consolidate its two Connecticut locations into the new facility in Bristol’s business park.
“We just continue to grow,” said Robitaille. “Because of our growth, we are still adding jobs, so not only will [current] employees be moving in here, but we’ll be adding a few more.”
The design builder of the project is ACG North America, Inc., and the grand opening the facility is expected to take place this December.
“It will take us probably about four months to completely transfer [all the containers we have in the other location] into this building,” said Robitaille, adding that he looks forward to the completed project.
William Mascetti, president of ACG, thanked various departments in the city of Bristol for their assistance and expertise in making the project a reality.
Mascetti said the building’s appearance will be similar to other PODS facilities throughout the U.S., and will have concrete wall panels, high efficiency mechanical systems and LED lighting.
“Our design has incorporated the most efficient building components,” said Mascetti.
Couch also thanked the city for “showing an extreme interest.” From the very beginning, since the first meeting with city officials and the Bristol Development Authority (BDA), said Couch, the community has been great to work with.
“We are truly excited. We had many opportunities and choices, but the city of Bristol came forward,” said Couch, who thanked various city departments, such as the planning department. “There has been nothing but a real willingness on the part of the city to work with us.”
Mayor Ken Cockayne said the groundbreaking marks an exciting day for Bristol.
“We’re looking for partners, and that’s what we have,” said Cockayne. “We’re going to have a beautiful building here, as an anchor coming into the industrial park.”
Justin Malley, executive director of the Bristol Development Authority, said it feels exciting to see PODS making its way to Bristol, adding that the city will continue supporting the company for years to come.
“To finally be here to see it happening is so much fun,” said Malley. “We worked really hard to get to this point, but we’re going to continue to support PODS and Uniprop as they continue to work here in Bristol.”
Adjacent to State Route 229 with easy access to I-84, the 51.5 acre business park has a total of 12 lots, and is the home for businesses like GMN, CMI Specialty Products,and Precision Threaded Products.
City Councilor Dave Preleski, who serves on the BDA board, said the quality of the new facility’s design will “lead the way” for other developers in the business park.
“When you get a first class developer doing a nice first class job…it increases the value of other lots around them,” said Preleski.
Before company officials began their work on the site plans for the new facility, the BDA board approved modifying some guidelines of the business park. One of the guideline changes was permitting a distribution facility, such as transportable storage units.
Although the business park has guidelines that the city hopes to uphold, said Malley, the BDA also wants to be flexible in order to meet the needs of businesses looking to locate in Bristol.
“Every business is unique, and every business has its needs,” said Malley. “We’re here to work with a business, so our guidelines can work for them.”
City staff and leaders put on their hard hats at the Southeast Bristol Business Park during the groundbreaking of the 128,000 square foot storage and distribution center for the Connecticut/Western Massachusetts PODS franchise.