For generations, the former General Motors property in Perkins Township, Ohio helped power American manufacturing. After operations ceased in 2017, the 129-acre site sat vacant, leaving behind a property with deep local roots but an uncertain future. 

Today, that same site has entered a new chapter. Through brownfield redevelopment in Perkins Township, Aligned transformed the long-idle industrial property into the NEO-01 digital infrastructure campus, returning the site to productive use while preserving its connection to the community it has served for decades. 

The transformation reflects a broader approach to redevelopment: investing in existing industrial sites, supporting local communities, and preparing infrastructure for the needs of today’s digital economy. 

Watch the Transformation 

See how the former General Motors property in Perkins Township evolved from a long-vacant industrial site into Aligned’s NEO-01 digital infrastructure campus. 

Project Highlights 

• 129-acre former industrial property returned to productive use  

• Historic General Motors site redeveloped into a modern digital infrastructure campus  

• Long-vacant brownfield transformed through private investment  

• Projected 99% reduction in water use and discharge compared to previous industrial operations  

• Continued investment in Perkins Township’s long-term economic future 

A Site with a Long Industrial History 

The Perkins Township property has been part of the region’s industrial story for more than a century. Originally home to New Departure Bearings and later General Motors operations, the site supported generations of manufacturing jobs and economic activity. 

When manufacturing operations ended, the property remained dormant for years. Like many former industrial sites across the country, it represented both a challenge and an opportunity: how could land with such an important history once again contribute to the community? 

Brownfield Redevelopment in Perkins Township 

Rather than develop undeveloped land, Aligned chose to reinvest in an existing industrial property. 

Redeveloping brownfield sites allows communities to breathe new life into dormant properties while preserving open space and building on existing infrastructure. It’s an approach that respects a community’s history while preparing it for future opportunities. 

The Perkins Township campus reflects that philosophy by giving new purpose to land that has long been part of the community’s identity. 

Supporting Today’s Essential Infrastructure 

The industries may have changed, but the site’s importance has not. 

Where the property once supported American manufacturing, it now supports the digital infrastructure that enables everyday life, from healthcare and banking to education, communication, cloud services, and business operations. 

As technology continues to shape how people live and work, infrastructure like the NEO-01 campus helps provide the reliable digital foundation those services depend on. 

Looking Ahead 

The transformation of the Perkins Township campus is more than a redevelopment project. It demonstrates how communities can build on their industrial heritage while preparing for what’s next. 

What was once a vacant industrial property is once again contributing to the local economy, supporting critical infrastructure, and serving a new generation of businesses and communities. 

Sometimes the next chapter doesn’t begin with new land. It begins by reimagining a place that has been part of the community’s story all along. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

What was on the Perkins Township site before Aligned? 

The property was home to New Departure Bearings and later General Motors manufacturing operations. After industrial activity ended in 2017, the site remained vacant until it was redeveloped into the NEO-01 campus. 

Why did Aligned redevelop a brownfield site? 

Aligned prioritizes opportunities to reinvest in existing industrial properties whenever possible. Redeveloping brownfields can return dormant land to productive use while preserving undeveloped land elsewhere in the community. 

What is the NEO-01 campus? 

NEO-01 is Aligned’s digital infrastructure campus in Perkins Township, Ohio. The campus supports the digital services businesses and communities rely on every day. 

How does this redevelopment benefit the community? 

The project returned a long-vacant industrial property to productive use through long-term investment. It also represents a projected 99% reduction in water use and discharge compared to the site’s previous industrial operations.