INTERSTATE CAPITAL AND SITE HISTORY

Residents of Leoni Township,

My name is Greg Dilone Jr., Managing Partner & CEO of Interstate Capital. Founded in 2019, Interstate Capital is a Michigan-based industrial developer with a singular focus on speculative and build-to-suit industrial development across our great state. Most of our team grew up here in Michigan and are sincere patrons of preserving what makes our state such a great place to live and raise a family.

Our team specializes in unlocking job-creating potential in overlooked markets, particularly in mid-sized cities. Collectively, we have developed more than 30 million square feet of modern industrial space and have served as good stewards to every municipality we’ve had the pleasure of working with.

Interstate Capital has created this website to be as transparent as possible and to present our future intentions for the Pine Hollow Golf Course. We are seeking a rezoning to Heavy Industrial, and we are pursuing this simply because Light Industrial zoning does not encompass all the types of companies that would seek to invest in and grow within a welcoming community for decades to come.

Our vision for Pine Hollow Golf Course is a clean, modern, and responsibly planned industrial site that supports long-term economic value for Leoni Township. This vision does not include hazardous, disruptive, or high-impact industrial activities. Our focus is on creating a stable, well-managed environment that contributes meaningfully to the community and region—while following all required state and local regulations throughout the development process.

Our request for rezoning is also expected to be on a conditional basis, with many true heavy industrial uses removed. A conditional rezoning approval would specifically exclude a long list of undesired uses.

We are seeking to position Leoni Township to benefit from the many opportunities emerging from the current tariff and supply chain realignments happening across the United States. There are few places left for automotive suppliers and future “American-made” manufacturers to locate, as data centers and solar fields have consumed much of the country’s industrial real estate. Leoni has a unique opportunity to be proactive—selecting from hundreds of potential users—and to choose one that best fits the character and goals of your community.

Over the past several years, Interstate Capital has partnered with smaller municipalities to deliver world-class opportunities. We have intentionally avoided focusing solely on major markets—where approvals and tenant attraction may be easier—instead choosing communities that can truly benefit from job creation and added tax revenue.

Since our first project in Battle Creek (launched in 2019, right before COVID), and subsequent growth into Pavilion Township and Portage, Michigan, we’ve delivered nearly 2 million square feet of space and supported the expansion of major tenants such as Pfizer, Ford, Zoetis, FedEx, and Allen Distribution.

As part of our process, we develop sites with locally sourced labor, with as much as 80% of each project’s workforce coming directly from the surrounding community. These developments have generated over 1,000 construction jobs, more than 550 permanent positions, and new tax revenue to support vital municipal services—roads, schools, fire, and police. We continue to prove the power of intentional industrial real estate development to revitalize Michigan’s local economies.

Interstate Capital has been engaged in the purchase of Pine Hollow Golf Course since November 2024, working with Leoni Township officials on the potential project since early January 2025.

In May 2025, we initially submitted a rezoning request for Pine Hollow Golf Course. Notices were sent and meetings were scheduled, but due to an oversight regarding the listing of both parcel IDs, the process had to restart. This process typically takes up to 90 days, involving sequential recommendations: Township Planning Commission → Jackson County → Township Trustees. After approval, the project would still undergo several months of plan review, and only upon satisfying every stipulation would we receive site-plan approval and building permits.

In August 2025, we resubmitted and paid the rezoning fee again. Unfortunately, another procedural oversight—regarding notification to mobile home park occupants—required the process to restart once more. Each delay not only extends the timeline by 90 days but also affects a longtime community member who wishes to sell their property and has endured significant stress in recent weeks as the community has voiced opposition.

This brings us to today—a discussion that began with 5 or 6 residents and has now grown to nearly 100. Over the past 12 months, Interstate Capital has given genuine consideration to the potential impacts on surrounding residents.

Without being asked, we have designed the layout to include substantial buffers to protect neighboring homes. Of the 234 total acres, only about 100 acres are proposed for development. We plan to leave most of the 95% of wetlands untouched, except for minimal widening of the drive for utilities and vehicle movement.

To respect nearby residents, the plan incorporates a substantial buffer between the site and surrounding properties, maintaining distance, privacy, and minimal visual impact. The intended operations will generate far less traffic than the commercial development currently master planned for the site, with predictable activity and no constant public flow—reducing congestion and neighborhood disruption.

Future occupants will be required to meet strict standards for clean, enclosed, and professionally managed operations. Interstate Capital is committed to being a responsible developer and good corporate citizen, delivering a state-of-the-art facility that meets all township requirements and strengthens Leoni Township’s long-term future—without introducing unsafe or incompatible uses.

If we are granted zoning approval, we will be held to strict township oversight and performance guidelines. Interstate Capital will also pay for required public utility improvements, road upgrades, traffic lights, and turn lanes as determined by future engineering and traffic studies. These studies will ensure that all improvements meet standards acceptable to Leoni Township.

At its core, this project is about creating lasting value for the community. Our approach prioritizes responsible planning, predictable operations, and long-term benefits for Leoni Township—without adding unnecessary impacts to nearby residents.

Our team is committed to bringing excellence to Leoni Township and finding a path forward that benefits, not burdens, the community. We believe this project can attract the right kind of employers—those who bring new jobs and long-term investment, ensuring the next generation of families can live, work, and thrive right here in Leoni Township.

We look forward to a constructive discussion on December 9th at 6 p.m. We hear the voices of residents loud and clear. If we are able to move forward, we will take great pride in involving the community to identify a user that best fits both today’s needs and the future vision for Leoni Township.

We believe that together, we can find common ground and build a better future for Michigan—and for our children.

Thank you for your time, your voices, and your commitment to your community.

Sincerely,

Greg Dilone Jr.
Managing Partner | CEO
Interstate Capital