The 7.3‑acre complex, encompassing roughly 260,000 square feet of brick factory space, had been earmarked for demolition by Weston Inc. earlier this year, with the company seeking approval to tear down 183,000 square feet of the structure to make way for a new industrial user.
NewPARA Ellis secured the property through Winton Works Ltd., a subsidiary of his larger development portfolio, and partnered with TCWB OR LLC—an affiliate of Equity Advantage—to hold a 95% stake, while Winton Works retains 5%. The pair employed a reverse 1031 exchange to defer capital‑gain taxes while acquiring the site.
The factory was the site of America’s first commercially manufactured automobile, built by Alexander Winton in 1898, and by the early 1900s it was the nation’s largest automotive plant, producing 500,000 square feet of production space. In 1930, General Motors absorbed the plant, later turning it into its Cleveland Diesel Engine Division until 1962.
Ellis’ redevelopment strategy is staged: an initial phase focuses on securing and maintaining the existing buildings, after which the complex will be repurposed to attract new industrial tenants. A local former factory worker, who has now retired, expressed cautious optimism, saying the project could revitalize the neighborhood and preserve its industrial heritage. Following the stabilization work, the developer plans to present a detailed master plan to the Cudell community council by July.