By Sheila McLaughlin
The Cincinnati Enquirer

SHARONVILLE - Nisbet Lumber & Hardware, a long-time downtown Loveland business, received a green light this week to make Sharonville its new home.

City Council agreed to a seven-year, 75 percent tax abatement for the 93-year-old company to relocate to the former General Motors plant at 11575 Reading Road. The 190,000 square-foot building has been vacant for 18 months.

Ted Mack, Sharonville's economic development director, said Nisbet, which distributes and manufactures building products such as millwork, staircases, cabinetry and countertops, plans to bring 123 existing jobs to the city and to add 32 more over three years.

Nisbet's move is no surprise to Loveland officials, who already are preparing for the company's departure as soon as early next year from the downtown historic district, assistant city manager Tom Carroll said.

Nisbet, the area's largest home-building materials company, announced plans to expand three years ago when it acquired Brower Industries of Dayton, a supplier of kitchen and bath cabinetry.

The move will allow the company to consolidate its operations from four buildings in Loveland, Milford and Cincinnati, said Mark Rippe, of Nisbet Investment Corp.

Carroll said Loveland has received two or three inquires about redeveloping the 5.2-acre site along the Little Miami Scenic Trail. Commercial or residential development, or a mixture of the two, would be appropriate for the property, he said.

E-mail smclaughlin@enquirer.com