A partnership affiliated with Miller Bros. Construction Inc. has paid almost $1 million for the former United Metal Receptacle Corp. property in Pottsville.
MBC Grings Hill LP, Schuylkill Haven, now owns the 26.106-acre property at 14th Street and Laurel Boulevard, having bought it for $950,000 in three separate deeds dated July 1 and filed Monday in the Office of the Recorder of Deeds in Pottsville.
Laurel Partners LP, Pottsville, formerly United Realty Co., sold the property, which is divided into five separate real estate parcels for tax purposes.
The major business located on the site is Rubbermaid Commercial Products, which bought the plant in 2007 from United Metal Receptacle. The latter was founded in 1919 in New York, but had operated its business in Pottsville since 1955.
However, Newell Rubbermaid, Rubbermaid Commercial Products' parent company, announced on Feb. 12 that it would be closing the plant, which employs approximately 100 people, by September 2015. The company said it intends to combine the Pottsville operation with one in Winchester, Virginia.
Also located on the site is Ken's Tire Co., which also has stores in North Manheim Township near Cressona and West Mahanoy Township near Frackville.
James L. Miller, president of Miller Bros. Construction, offered insights into the plans for the properties in an email Monday night.
"At the present time, the lower east side buildings are currently rented to Rubbermaid until at least September 2015 with the option to stay month to month. The building occupied by Ken's Tire is leased to them for approximately three more years. Based on those leases there are no plans for those buildings except to continue to rent. The west warehouse building is 80 percent vacant and 20 percent rented month to month by Yuengling. The building is currently difficult to access. With the cooperation of WJP Engineers we intend to construct an entrance off of Laurel Boulevard and we will begin marketing that building shortly as warehouse or office space. The building will require extensive renovations and parking site improvements," Miller said.
The purchase provides an immediate monetary benefit in the form of transfer taxes to the state, city and Pottsville Area School District. The state will receive $9,500 in taxes, while the city and district will get $4,750 each.