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North Royalton highlights 118‑acre Abbey Road site and presses for Route 82 funding
Summary
City economic development staff told the Building & Building Codes Committee that a consolidated ~118‑acre industrial site on Abbey Road cannot be developed until sewer extension is completed; the mayor and director also reported federal outreach that could yield $5 million toward a $22 million Route 82 widening project.
Economic Development Director Tom Jordan told the Building & Building Codes Committee on June 17 that an owner has consolidated roughly 118 acres on Abbey Road zoned for industrial use and the city is marketing the raw acreage through Team NEO to attract large employers.
Jordan said the site “is of really no value until that sewer is completed,” and that Team NEO will present the parcel to national site selectors while the city inventories available utilities and considers whether to invest in required infrastructure. He said some areas of the site include ravines and undevelopable land, and that mitigation or additional utility capacity could be necessary before a commercial building could be placed on the property.
Why it matters: a single contiguous industrial site of that size would be regionally significant for Northeast Ohio site searches, but Jordan said the city cannot meaningfully market or secure tenants until sewer and other utilities are addressed.
Jordan also briefed Council on other development activity: McDonald’s and Taco Bell projects are progressing; St. Albert’s has begun summer construction; Royalton Car Wash is pursuing a façade renovation under the Store Front program (the Spaza family retains property ownership). He said Royal Victorian Gardens participated in the Store Front program but must complete a final inspection before receiving reimbursement.
Federal funding push: Jordan and Mayor Larry Antoskiewicz reported recent meetings in Washington, D.C., where senators and the city’s representative signaled support for Route 82 phase‑2 widening. According to Jordan, “Representative Miller has indicated that he would move forward with the $5 million appropriation towards the $22 million project,” and the city hopes a 2025 federal budget will include a line item to accelerate work.
Council operations and digital services: Council discussed restoring a mobile complaint submission feature after the Building Department’s software conversion. Jordan said the original contractor is no longer available; the city’s software can display violation counts publicly but Council requested the Clerk research an app or solution that lets members and residents submit photos and track complaints across departments.
What’s next: Jordan said Team NEO will market the Abbey Road parcel to national site selectors and the city will update Council as infrastructure needs and potential local match requirements become clearer. The Route 82 funding effort will continue as the federal budget process advances.
