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Michigan millionaire buys Pasco land
The distributor of health care products has purchased 174 acres for an industrial park at I-75 and SR 52.
By JAMES THORNER
Published May 18, 2005
A Michigan health care products millionaire has bought 174 acres northeast of Interstate 75 and State Road 52 with plans for a 1.5-million-square-foot industrial park.
Alon Kaufman, president and chief executive of HoMedics, acquired a chunk of the Grossenbacher family tract in December. According to Pasco County records, the sales price was $4.6-million, or about $26,500 an acre.
Incorporated as Pasco Industrial Inc., Kaufman has applied to build an industrial park with room for 15 buildings. Square footage in each building would range from 71,000 to 165,000.
The interstate forms the proposed park's western boundary. One Pasco Center, an existing business park, is the property's southern neighbor, along with the Flying J truck stop.
Though development of the property could be years away, its potential as a jobs creator warms the hearts of the Pasco Economic Development Council, the county's main business recruiter.
Over the past few years, the development council lobbied the county to earmark the Grossenbacher land for industry before it was swallowed by housing developments.
The goal is to create enough jobs in Pasco to reduce the morning exodus of commuters to Tampa. Tens of thousands of Pasco residents leave the county for work each day.
Development council director Mary Jane Stanley has complained about housing development encroaching on what used to be industrial land in Wesley Chapel. But there's still hope for SR 52, she said.
"What do you have at State Road 54? Nothing. What do you have at State Road 56? Nothing. State Road 52 is where you have to go," Stanley said.
Kaufman has released few details about the industrial park. His headquarters in Commerce Township, Mich., said the Pasco site is investment property, not a future home for HoMedics.
The private health products company employs about 1,000 and distributes products such as foot massagers, foot baths, heating pads and toothbrushes.
[Last modified May 18, 2005, 00:50:19]
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