A new substation under construction by Met-Ed in South Annville Township is a last step before a 1-million-square-foot DHL warehouse in Annville is ready for occupants.

Read More: Lebanon County gaining traction as key freight corridor for movement of goods

The warehouse, the first of three in an overall 3 million square feet of space approved for DHL’s Clear Spring Logistics Park, had originally been scheduled for completion in June.

Through a subsidiary, Exel Inc., DHL acquired the 198-acre site from MFS in August 2022 for approximately $20.1 million. The company previously estimated that it would spend $283 million on construction of the overall facility.

The first building in DHL’s Clear Spring Logistics Park was scheduled to be completed this month. The first of three proposed warehouses in the company’s original plans for the site, this warehouse “B” has 1 million square feet of floor space. (LebTown file photo by Will Trostel)

Met-Ed spokesperson Todd Meyers said the substation will not only serve the electrical needs of the new warehouses and other development occurring now, but will also position the local electric grid for future growth in Annville, Palmyra, and surrounding townships.

Meyers said that crews have installed footer structures and equipment for the new substation along Route 422, with fencing expected soon.

“Our goal is to have the substation completed and in service by the end of the year,” said Meyers. “The timetable is dependent on delivery of substation materials from suppliers.”

Through a spokesperson, DHL said that this aligned with the company’s own timeline.

A roundabout once earmarked for Route 934 and Clear Spring Road to support the flow of traffic from the DHL logistics park reached a roadblock in September when Exel withdrew an offer for supplemental construction funds, citing an Aug. 12 decision by North Annville Township supervisors to restrict trailer sizes on Clear Spring Road.

Read More: Route 934 roundabout reaches apparent dead end; PennDOT to retain grant funds

Another facility in the park, EaglePoint, consists of a single 1.1 million-square-foot warehouse that can later be expand to 1.3 million square feet. All 1.1 million square feet remain listed as for lease on the company’s website.

As previously reported by LebTown, the building was designed to feature 40-foot clear ceiling heights, up to 204 loading doors, 655 car parking spaces, and 308 dedicated trailer storage spaces. (Will Trostel)

The land for the EaglePoint facility was acquired by NorthPoint Development from MFS for just over $12 million in December 2021. NorthPoint Development has previously estimated total costs to be $103 million.

NorthPoint Development did not respond to LebTown emails this week regarding its own timeline or whether the facility would be poised to open with a tenant following construction of the substation.

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Davis Shaver is the publisher of LebTown. He grew up in Lebanon and currently lives outside of Hershey, PA.

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