Building materials company to renovate long-vacant facility on Indiana short line

A Franklin, Ind., building materials company recently began renovating a facility located on the Louisville & Indiana Railroad (L&I).

84 Lumber will manufacture wood truss products at the building, located 20 minutes from downtown Indianapolis.

"They will be occupying a building that's been sitting vacant for over nine years," said Cheryl Morphew, president and chief executing officer of Johnson County Development Corp. in a prepared statement. "They'll be repurposing a vacant building and bringing job opportunities."

And they'll be shipping building materials via the L&I. A rail spur is already located on the property.

"84 Lumber has been a major player in the building materials market for many years," said L&I Director of Marketing and Sales Scott Lurkins. "We look forward to growing our business with them as they expand their footprint in Indiana."

L&I officials expect to begin delivering shipments to 84 Lumber in mid-2016.

One of six short-line railroads operated by Anacostia Rail Holdings Co., the L&I serves numerous customers along the Indianapolis-Louisville, Ky., corridor and in the Port of Indiana-Jeffersonville.