Farnsworth Commerce Corridor

The Farnsworth Commerce Corridor is the industrial engine of Waterville, home to the city’s largest employers including Kaufman Engineered Systems, Surface Combustion, and Parker Hannifin. Located in the southwest quadrant of the city with direct access to US-24, this district is zoned for light industry and advanced manufacturing. The area is characterized by high-capacity utility infrastructure and a “campus-style” setting that balances industrial productivity with neighboring residential and institutional uses.

Strategic Initiatives

Westward Expansion & Incentives

To accommodate growing demand for industrial space, the City has extended Community Reinvestment Area (CRA) Zone #1 westward. This allows new developments along the Waterville-Monclova Road corridor to qualify for real property tax abatements, lowering the long-term cost of occupancy for logistics and tech-related users. The strategy prioritizes a “campus-style” layout with consolidated open spaces and screening to ensure harmony with adjacent residential areas and the Browning Masonic Community.

Infrastructure Connectivity: Pray Boulevard

Critical to the corridor’s growth is the planned southern extension of Pray Boulevard. This infrastructure project will connect Waterville-Neapolis Road directly to the Anthony Wayne Trail and South River Road, creating a secondary north-south arterial that relieves congestion and opens up interior parcels for development. Future plans also include evaluating the adjacent rail line for potential “Rails-to-Trails” recreational conversion, further enhancing workforce quality of life.