CONNVERSVILLE, IND. — An affiliate of Phoenix Investors has purchased a 1.7 million-square-foot manufacturing plant in Connersville, about 65 miles east of Indianapolis. The purchase price and seller were not disclosed. The facility sits on 186 acres at 4747 N. Western Ave.
Philco Corp. built the first phase of the property in 1953. In 1961, Ford Motor Co. acquired Philco — a pioneer in battery, radio and television production — and renamed the division Philco-Ford in 1966. Ford expanded the Connersville plant in various phases throughout the 1960s.
Ford operated the plant from 1961 until it spun the division off as Visteon Corp. in 2000. Visteon closed the plant in 2007. Since 2013, CliqStudios Cabinets has occupied one-third of the plant, which features a clear height of 30 feet, 50 docks and drive-in doors, two rail sidings. Phoenix plans to make upgrades to the facility.