Group seeks use for closed tire plant in Opelika

By Michael Tomberlin -- The Birmingham News
December 09, 2009, 5:40AM

BFGoodrich's decision to close a 1.6 million-square-foot tire plant in Opelika with 1,000 jobs threatens to leave tread marks on one of the state's most dynamic local economies.

Now, Birmingham's EGS Commercial Real Estate Inc. is part of a team that includes economic development officials and Auburn University trying to find a solution that prevents a skid there.

The closing of the massive BFGoodrich plant in Opelika has prompted an immediate effort to find a new use for the facility.

"What impacts us more than anything is not necessarily having that building on the market, but we lost 1,000 jobs," said Al Cook, director of economic development for the city of Opelika. "That was probably 25 percent of our manufacturing work force. They were 25 percent of the entire budget for Auburn-Opelika United Way."

Michelin, owner of BFGoodrich, closed the tire plant in October, ending 46 years of production there. But officials in Lee County are not hanging their heads over the plant's demise; instead, they have sprung into action.

The same consulting firm that steered the $4.5 billion ThyssenKrupp steel plant to Mobile County has been working with Opelika officials to prepare for the loss of BFGoodrich, Cook said.

A task force has been formed with representatives from the tire company, labor groups, county and city officials, the business community and Auburn University.

"Everybody who can have an impact or is impacted by the closing is on board," Cook said.

EGS is on board to market the property, along with Cushman & Wakefield and global real estate firm Grubb & Ellis. The building and its 369 acres have an asking price of $11.5 million.

"The reason we want to be involved in this building is that it's the biggest available industrial building in Alabama, to our knowledge," said Mark Byers, head of industrial real estate for EGS. "We felt with our depth of brokerage and economic development experience, we could do more for this building that simply put a for sale sign out in front." Typically, the buyer of a building so vast ends up razing all or part of it to erect something new in its place. Byers, however said the scale of the BFGoodrich plant and its location could make it appealing for other industrial companies.

EGS is highlighting is the plant's proximity to major auto plants -- Kia across the state line in Georgia, Hyundai in Montgomery, Honda in Lincoln and Mercedes-Benz in Vance. More here.