REAL ESTATE

Greengarden Gateway buys former Lord site, weighing indoor sports development

Local buyers are considering redevelopment options for the 14-acre former Lord Corporation property at West 12th Street and Greengarden Boulevard. An indoor sports facility remains a possibility.

ERIEBIZTODAY BRIEFOctober 7, 2026 at 5:00 PM EDT

AI-generated illustration of workers reviewing plans inside a representative Pennsylvania industrial building under restoration — AI-generated editorial illustration · Representative scene, not a photograph of the people, property or event described.

Greengarden Gateway has purchased the former Lord Corporation property from Finish Thompson, YourErie reported on October 7. Finish Thompson had returned the site to the market after determining it could not finance its earlier plans.

The buyers are considering an indoor court sports facility among the possible uses. They said the city has offered help with maintenance and code compliance, and they hope to start construction in 2027. The report describes possible development, rather than a finalized project or completed investment.

WHY IT MATTERSErieBizToday analysis

The sale creates a new decision point for a 14-acre industrial property on Erie's West 12th Street corridor. If an indoor sports venue is ultimately financed and built, tournament visitors could create opportunities for hotels, restaurants and other services. Erie Sports Commission director Ben Huggler identified the possibility of attracting visitors in slower winter months, giving the concept a potential seasonal business role.

That opportunity depends on a project that remains under consideration. A selected use, workable financing, necessary approvals and confirmed construction plans would show whether the buyers' hoped-for 2027 start is achievable. The earlier owner's financing difficulty is a reminder that a property purchase and a development proposal are separate milestones. Neither establishes future visitor numbers, spending or permanent jobs.

An ErieBizToday briefing examining the news and its implications for Pennsylvania businesses and communities, drawing on the sources and further reporting linked below.