Lordstown's mayor says he's not giving up on 1,000 jobs. 

His tenacity comes after TJX pulled the plug on the HomeGoods Distribution Center project.

It seems like the Village of Lordstown is taking one hit after another.  First GM Lordstown losing its second shift and now TJX announcing that HomeGoods will look for someplace other than Lordstown for its next distribution center after feeling unwelcomed by some members of the community.

The empty plot of land that sits next to the turnpike and across from GM Lordstown will stay that way for now as TJX decides they no longer want to do business in Lordstown.

Lordstown Mayor Arno Hill tells 21 News, "It was brought up there were some other sights. They felt that there was just too much resistance here.  They said they've never gotten this much resistance from any place."

Along with the cancellation of the project means the hope that 1,000 new jobs are coming is also lost.

Richard Sherry, who loves his peaceful walks on Silver Fox and Pleasant Valley, agrees Lordstown needs the economic boost but says the location of the facility was all wrong.  "You don't know what kind of riff-raff it's going to bring in. The noise it's going to bring with it, it would be impossible to get out on Bailey Road," Sherry said.

Some others who protested the project, and did not want to appear on camera, claim TJX allegedly wanted a 15 year, 100% tax abatement without paying school taxes.

But Mayor Hill says tax abatements were never discussed.

21 News also called Lordstown School Superintendent Terry Armstrong who says even though three members of the school district had an informal sort of meet and greet with TJX there was no official proposal.  Both sides were waiting for the zoning to go through.  It's important to mention that the schools are entitled to 50% of the income taxes paid.

But for now, Mayor Hill is not ready to throw in the towel.  "I'm not going to give up until they actually land someplace else," Mayor Hill said.

According to a statement from the company, TJX desires strong relationships with the communities they are in and given that they have withdrawn their zoning request. 

The full statement from the company can be read here: 

"We have appreciated hearing from the Lordstown community over the past month and understand that a group of neighboring residents continue to have concerns about our HomeGoods distribution center project. At HomeGoods, having a strong relationship with our communities is important to us and a core part of who we are and how we do business. Given this, we are respectfully withdrawing our zoning application from the Lordstown Planning Board and are reconsidering our options for this distribution center project. We want to offer our most sincere thanks to the entire Lordstown community, especially those who provided their support for our project."

In a meeting earlier this week, community members attempted to present to the company alternative locations within the Village to build after complaints about potential noise, truck traffic, and more.  But Lordstown's mayor tells 21 News those sites don't fit the company's business model.

At issue were concerns voiced by several community members who live near the property site along Bailey Road south of the Ohio Turnpike. 

That's where the TJX companies and it's HomeGoods brand want to invest $160 million in a distribution center. 

The company has purchase and sale agreements for 290 acres, pending appropriate approvals and zoning changes. 

The site also borders Hallock-Young Road, and neighbors to the west of the site are not pleased. 

Neighbors previously told 21 News that they were concerned about the number of trucks, lights, and noise at the distribution center. 

Earlier this month the company responded to those concerns, saying it had changed its building and site plans in order to accommodate concerns. 

In that statement, the company told 21 News, "In response to meetings with those who reside close to this site, we have added enhancements to our site design which provide substantial green space and forested area, maintain designated areas that would remain zoned for residential building only, and alter certain road infrastructure to mitigate traffic concerns."

The 1.2 million-square-foot distribution center, with an estimated completion date of 2020, was expected to create about 1,000 jobs in the first five years of operation and commit approximately $160 million to land, facilities, and equipment. 

The company is 86th on the Fortune 500 list, with annual sales of more than $30-billion.

A similar center in Tucson, Arizona created 900 jobs and 10 percent of them pay more than $52,400.

However, Valley leaders say they're working to see if there's any remedy. 

Nearby Warren city has already sent letters to the company saying that if Lordstown wouldn't accept the company, Warren would be more than happy for the chance. 

Warren Safety-Service Director Enzo Cantalamessa previously said, "In the event it can't or won't go to Lordstown, here in the city we stand at the ready willing to offer anything we can to bring it to Warren. From the standpoint of geography, where it could be located in the city of Warren is comparable in the standpoint of highway access and infrastructure through our utilities."

Mahoning County Commissioner Anthony Traficanti took to social media Friday morning saying that he was reaching out to see if the company would consider locations in Mahoning County.  

Meanwhile, Valley Congressman Tim Ryan released a statement saying that he would continue to fight to try to keep TJX in the Valley. 

That full statement can be read here: 

“I am very disappointed that TJX HomeGoods, a Fortune 500 company, has felt it necessary to drop their plans to locate in Lordstown.  Throughout many conversations I have had with the Village of Lordstown officials and HomeGoods’ leadership, I have strongly supported this project since the very beginning.  I have also said publicly that these opportunities don’t come along very often and we need to do all we can to land this investment. Upon learning of this news, I immediately informed HomeGoods’s leadership that I want to work with them to find suitable alternative sites in our area for the thousands of jobs and millions of dollars of payroll that HomeGoods would bring to our region.  We cannot let this opportunity slip away.  I will do everything in my power to help HomeGoods find a home here in the Mahoning Valley. 

“I also want to thank Mayor Hill and his team for his determination to help make this project a reality.  While things didn’t work out, it was not from a lack of effort on his part.  I look forward to continuing to work with him and the Village of Lordstown on other potential economic development opportunities that they may have.”