Eastern Ave. South of SE 36th/Grand

[plmccordj]

Has anyone noticed that someone is clearing land on the East side of Eastern just South of Grand Blvd on the SE side? It looks like they have cleared trees and have smoothed out an area larger than a football field. Considering the area, I would think it would be something industrial going in there.

[G.Walker]

Yes, it's a very large area..probably a distribution center

[Pete]

It's a new 300,000 square foot manufacturing facility for Balon Valve (oil & gas products). They have a big operation nearby at SE 32nd and Hattie. Their web site says this is an expansion, so sounds like they will operate out of both facilities.

The company was founded by Domer Scaramucci -- has to be related Avis Scaramucci of Nonna's of Bricktown fame.


www.balon.com

Web cam of construction:

http://www.onsiteview.com/cams/view_...nse=OSV-XNFXq6

[Pete]

Further investigation revealed that their existing facility is about 700,000 square feet... This expansion will put them over a million! That's a quarter of the size of the old GM plant.

Also says they currently employ about 500 people but that number is obviously going to grow significantly.


This is a huge employer conducting a major expansion and I couldn't find anything in the press about it.


Another interesting tidbit: Balon's current president Jay Scaramucci is one of the eight owners of the Thunder.

[Spartan]

Talk about under the radar.

[G.Walker]

Projects/Expansions like this usually do fly under the radar, because its not downtown, and its in a blighted area of OKC, and its blue collar jobs, nonetheless, its good, as it provides great infill to a much needed area, and provides blue collar paychecks, which in return will stimulate the economy...not all projects like this make NEWSOK, but looks like it might be worthy...

[Jesseda]

Thats is why i love reading this board, i found out things before and things that are not even on the news or newspapers!

[G.Walker]

Its good that this is happening, I enjoy following up on this type of development more than anything, I think this type of industrial development has a bigger impact on the local economy...

[plmccordj]

Wow! That is pretty cool. I had no idea it was something that big.