CONCORD, NC — Demolition of the former Philip Morris manufacturing and distribution facility at The Grounds at Concord is scheduled to begin within the next 30 days.
The 3.5 million square feet facility sits on a site that encompasses just over 2,000 acres, and, according to JLL Carolinas, offers “superb interstate access, substantial in-place utility infrastructure, a minimum of 35 megawatts of power, Norfolk Southern rail access and proximity to the Charlotte metro area’s attractive labor pool.” Officials with Bootsmead LeaseCo LLC say the facility itself covers roughly 500 acres, and will take the better part of the year to demolish.
“This is a great day for Concord,” said Concord Mayor Bill Dusch. “While the former Philip Morris plant is a proud chapter in our community’s history, we are excited to move forward and believe a greenfield site of this magnitude will catalyze economic development in Concord for years to come. We are grateful for Bootsmead’s partnership and long-term commitment to our community.”
The owners of The Grounds at Concord met with local and state officials before deciding it best to clear the site. The idea is that it will appeal more to potential buyers and developers without the existing facility.
“It is critically important that we have available real estate to accommodate the types of industries looking at North Carolina today, and The Grounds at Concord is responding to that demand,” said Chris Chung, CEO of the Economic Development Partnership of N.C. “When demolition is complete, this site will join several other premier megasites across our state and will be an important asset as we recruit new business and economic activity to North Carolina.”
JLL Carolinas, hired by Bootsmead in 2018 to market the site, says it can be divided into multiple parcels that could support a variety of uses.
