Dr. Charles Hurt, one of the largest landowners in Albemarle County for more than two decades, has reportedly signed a deal to purchase the 61-acre Hyosung Tire plant in Scottsville. The 180,000-square-foot plant is currently assessed at $3.9 million, down from a $4.2 million assessment in 2008. However, the property recently bore a $2.2 million price tag. Hurt has not offered comment about the price of purchase.
The former U.S. Rubber Company plant was built by the U.S. Department of Defense in 1944 to manufacture tires for military vehicles. During the years after the war, the plant continued to manufacture tires while U.S. Rubber became Uniroyal, merged with B.F. Goodrich Company and eventually was bought by Michelin Group. Hyosung purchased the company in 2002.
During the peak of business operations, the plant employed more than 300 people. By 2009, that number was down to 106 employees, and the plant closed. The site is currently zoned heavy industrial, which means it can by used by-right as a manufacturing plant, a tow yard, a farmers market or, with a special use permit, an airport.