Closed plywood mill site could soon come to life providing jobs to Jasper

If all goes as planned, the old Louisiana Pacific Plywood Mill on the east side of town, which has been dark and silent for many years now, could soon return to life with the sound of saws and hammers as Gated Rentals, a Houston Area firm re-opens the facility with the goal of producing small affordable compact homes for what is known as mini-home communities. The board of the Jasper Economic Development Corporation has apparently been working on the project for some time and voted on Tuesday evening to assist the company with opening a factory or plant here to build and distribute the small homes. JEDCO Executive Director Eddie Hopkins says that indications are that the firm could provide up to no jobs in the construction field as the homes are assembled here and transported to various locations. Word is that Gated Rentals, a group that was formed to develop and operate non-subsidized rental home communities for working class families, began with one site in New Caney, but has expanded to three others in Willis, The Woodlands and Crosby. To assist or entice the company in coming to Jasper, JEDCO would basically provide $365,000 for infrastructure needs such as sprinklers and other fire suppression, internet access and an emergency generator. As for now, it does not appear that JEDCO will be providing any funding in connection with the land or property and all those portions of the deal will be worked out between Gated Rentals and the owners of the property, Ben and Mike Bruce of Evadale. The plant site, which is located on Highway 63 East, not far from the intersection of Highway 190, offers two points of access to Highway 63 and also a railroad siding owned and operated by the Burlington Northern Santa Fe. The site was originally built and operated by the Owens-Illinois Corporation as a plywood mill in the early 7o's. However, in later years the plant was owned and operated by the L-P Corporation until it closed in May of 1997. James Taylor, who is listed on the company's website as a Managing Partner and Chief Executive Officer, said Wednesday morning, "It is not a done deal at this time. We received a proposal from JEDCO and that is all I can say."