A group of private developers purchased the old International Paper sites in Bastrop. Ashley Mott
Almost a decade after the end of International Paper Co. operations in Bastrop, the former mill sites are in new hands.
Over 150 acres on nearly two dozen tracts of land were purchased by a group of developers in September. They hope to attract a large commercial property to the location.
Selling points include a rail spur and access to Union Pacific and AL&M rails. A natural gas line also runs through the property and several water wells were maintained on the site.
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Kenneth Harper, a member of the purchasing LLC, Toda-One, said for years IP would not sell and wanted to keep timber-related enterprises off of the property in the future. The partners, however, were able to obtain the land without any restrictions. He declined to comment on the purchase price.
His goal is to see the property return to commerce and generate fresh business activity in Morehouse Parish.
Two smaller parcels have already been sold by the developers. Approximately 20 acres behind Simmons' Sporting Goods was sold to Jeff Simmons, and a second small piece in a separate location was purchased by an adjoining property owner.
Harper said the goal is to keep the main part of the Louisiana Mill site —approximately 100 acres — intact for a large-scale employer but all of the land is for sale.
"Some kind of timber-related business would be ideal (for the property) because there is nowhere to sell timber around here, logs or pulpwood," Harper explained. "You've got to bring them to West Monroe or take them to Arkansas."
Kay King,President/CEO of Morehouse Economic Development Corporation, said the old IP site has all of the infrastructure necessary to support a huge industry, including water and sewer access.
The land also has direct access to U.S. 165 and Louisiana 425. Both highways are four lanes through Bastrop.
King said the real value of the property is the ability to subdivide it into smaller parcels, such as 50 or 60 acres, if a business is interested — an option IP would not entertain but the new developers will.
In the past, railroad related industries, including a company focused on the repair and refurbishment of rail cars contacted King about the land, but they were only interested in a small piece and had to look elsewhere. Now, there are more possibilities and King believes interest will grow as more learn about the sale.
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“We are all eagerly waiting to see the IP property to be put to good use again," Dorothy Ford, Executive Director of the Bastrop-Morehouse Chamber of Commerce, said. "Having met with one of the investors and with one of the investors being a local man, I feel confident they will be successful in marketing the property and choosing a business or businesses that will be beneficial to Morehouse Parish.
"Also, knowing that Simmons' Sporting Goods has already purchased some of the acreage for a possible expansion of their existing property shows the potential of this former IP site.”
Jeffery M. Messinger of Messinger and Associations, a Bastrop-based land surveying firm, is one of the partners in Toda One. He also wants to see a new industry brought to the community
"Bastrop is a wonderful place," he said. "It just needs some job opportunities."
"I am very glad that the group who purchased all of the mill property are the ones that purchased it," Mayor Henry Cotton said. "I’m not sure that any other group with any other objectives would work so well with the city. We could not have had a better group purchase it. They are from this region, and we are just elated. ... They do have a vision, and we are cooperating with them and they are cooperating with us fully. We could not be more pleased."
Cotton believes the IP land across the railroad tracks behind city hall would be perfect for a new city park, a Central Park that would enhance events held at the courthouse square and provide an opportunity for more live music performances in the community.
No formal action has been taken on the park concept, but the city has secured a lease for the former International Paper Learning Center on East Cypress Avenue, a building that would add a mid-size option to the city's event venue offerings.
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"It has a large training room that I imagine could house a couple of hundred people, and it has a full kitchen with a wet bar area," Cotton said. "It’s got three other major rooms that can be used for meeting rooms and conference rooms. The building, I feel, will be more flexible and more functional than our municipal center, which is quite larger."
Other buildings on the main tract were also part of the sale. One moved with the Simmons purchase, but a 30,000 square foot storage building remains as well as a 12,000 square foot building near a parking area on East Jefferson.
No environmental concerns are present on the tracts of land the developers purchased according to Harper. IP retained ownership of a dump off of Cooper Lake Road and a portion of the southernmost mill site where old tanks and an Entergy transformer station are located.
In addition to Harper, who is based in West Monroe, and Messinger, Toda One is comprised of partners Thomas Oswalt of Rayville and Mason Oswalt and
Rockland Burks of Monroe.
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