Local buinsessman Dario Zulich, developer and president of TESC Contracting Company, said he thinks he can meet the demand for serviced industrial lots as the mining industry starts to recover locally.
Zulich received approval for the rezoning of 108 acres on the Kingsway beside the Sudbury landfill site, where he wishes to build an industrial park. The approval was granted by the city's Planning Committee on Oct. 5, and now must be approved by city council.
He said the heavy industries, involved in manufacturing and fabrication, would be located to the rear of the property and away from the roadway. Commercial office buildings and possibly a motel would be beside the Kingsway.
“This will be a world-class development with a lot of glass, chrome and aluminum and visual appeal,” Zulich said. “Because it is located at the entrance to the city I want to ensure my development is aesthetically pleasing from the street level.”
He said he planned on locating his world headquarters in Greater Sudbury on the site in a building with up to 200,000 square feet of space.
“I am excited to be the developer on this project,” Zulich said. “The property is beautiful. It is situated on the Trans Canada Highway, fully serviced with sewer and water. But it also has hydro and gas and fibre optics. It is prime to develop.”
He said he hoped the initial phase could be be underway by next year.
“I already have interest from those who want to buy property at my site when it is ready,” Zulich said. “I can meet that demand.”
Upcoming investments by the two major mining companies and the city's responsiveness to the needs of business are contributing factors to the city's economic future, he said.
“The former Inco and Falconbridge are going to make major capital expenditures here,” he said. “They are spending billions of dollars. This will create a boom like we have never seen — five years of incredible growth in Sudbury.”
There is going to be a demand for not only industrial space in the city but also for apartments, for motels, restaurants, engineering offices, and car lots — subject to the recovery in the world economy, Zulich said.
Zulich's experience with city hall was the second reason why he chose to situate his headquarters in Greater Sudbury, he said.
Even the imposition of development fees of $9.21 or about a dollar a square foot per square metre of building by the city was not unreasonable, he said.
“What the city wants to happen (on the Kingsway) is what I want. This city is pro-development. I always want to call Sudbury my home.”
TESC employs 700 employees in its operations in Canada. Anywhere from 250 to 400 people are employed in Sudbury, depending on what work the company is engaged in. It has offices in Saskatoon and Hamilton.
TESC is building the new residence at Laurentian University, slated to be complete by April 2012.
