August 10, 2024
Seven Mahoning Valley projects – three projects in Youngstown, three in Warren and one in Newton Falls – won $5. 8 million in state brownfield remediation grants that will contribute to economic development.
Local projects include Youngstown Flea and McGuffey Mall in Youngstown, as well as a former Republic Steel and the former Peerless Winsmith in Warren.
The seven local projects are among 61 projects statewide that received $106. 9 million in grants that Ohio’s Brownfield Remediation Program announced Friday through the state’s Department of Development.
Gov. Mike DeWine said, “There is no undeniable way to eliminate pollution at those sites; they all need qualified corrective measures, which are too costly for communities to take on alone. Through this program, we help local communities with hazardous housing so that they can be reimagined and remodeled.
The Mahoning County Land Bank won the investment for the 3 Youngstown projects, while the Trumbull County Land Bank won the grants for all 4 projects in that county.
Mahoning earned $3,466,471 for his projects, while Trumbull earned $2,337,830.
Funding for the program comes from the government’s operating budget. Each of the state’s 88 counties is eligible to receive at least $1 million in funding, with the rest of the budget allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, according to DeWine’s office.
The investment awarded Friday will assess and clean up abandoned, unused or underutilized industrial, advertising and institutional land due to a known or potential release of hazardous ingredients or petroleum, according to DeWine’s office.
Since the program was introduced in 2021, more than $450 million has been awarded to 374 projects. Ten Valley projects ($3. 4 million for the former St. John’s Hospital)Joseph Riverside in Warren and $6. 9 million for 20 Federal Place in Youngstown) secured investments in 2022.
TRUMBULL COUNTY
A two-hundred-acre portion of Republic Steel’s former Warren plant, called Two Hundred West, is receiving $1. 14 million from the Brownfield Grant Program.
The commission includes the rehabilitation of the site of the old steelworks, unoccupied since 2012 and made up of structures in poor condition. The site contains environmental contaminants, in addition to metals, petroleum compounds and coal tar, discovered in soil and groundwater.
Planned remediation measures include soil excavation, groundwater treatment, and possible steam mitigation.
The site will be used for advertising or publicity purposes, with groundwater extraction being prohibited, there are no existing plans for this.
They won a $300,000 state grant for brownfields in 2022 for a pollution assessment.
The site, two hundred to the west, is west of the Mahoning River and adjacent to the Cleveland-Cliffs coke plant.
In total, there are 1,025 acres at the former Republic Steel plant.
The Western Reserve Port Authority sold 560 acres in December to Kimberly-Clark for $9. 9 million. The Fortune 200 company has not announced plans for the site, but it is expected to be used for production.
The 560 acres purchased through Kimberly-Clark are part of the 825-acre assets that are a prime business growth area and transportation hub to Lordstown.
Peerless Winsmith’s former assets at 1401 W. Market St. in Warren won a $905,748 grant on Friday.
The commercial site used for the manufacture of electric motors from the late 19th century until 2013.
The assets have deteriorated structures that require environmental cleanup to cope with pollution caused by past industries.
Planned remediation includes soil excavation, groundwater remediation, and vapor intrusion mitigation, with limited use of assets due to contamination.
It is currently the home of Clover Recycling and the cleanup will allow the business to grow.
The task is to create 30 new jobs and retain 10 existing jobs.
Trumbull Industries, at 300 Dietz Road NE, will receive a grant of $123,750.
The assignment includes an environmental assessment of the former Van Huffel Tube Co. , which operated from the 1930s to 1985. The location, owned by Dietz Road Ltd. Partnership, includes several structures used for storage and production through Trumbull Industries.
The assessment will identify any environmental considerations to download an “additional no action” letter, which will allow the homeowner to discharge an improvement loan.
The allocation will retain 75 jobs and create 10 new jobs by expanding Trumbull Industries’ operating capacity.
The First Street Park and River project in Newton Falls won a $165,000 grant. The area, which was used for settling ponds and agricultural purposes, currently consists of a densely vegetated wooded area with a giant active settling pond and 3 old dry settling ponds.
The site presents possible disorders such as abnormal elevation that may simply be buried debris. An asset assessment has been completed and an immediate assessment of the extent of environmental concerns is required, adding land and soil contamination.
It is intended that the site will potentially be used as a park or open space, and the evaluation will facilitate this conversion.
MAHONING COUNTY
The Valley’s biggest prize was awarded Friday: $2. 68 million to Youngstown Flea, 365 E. Boardman St. The task involves the rehabilitation of the historic commercial site, built in 1870 and once used for heavy manufacturing.
The building is owned by Youngstown Flea Inc. , a nonprofit organization that provides artisans and food vendors with a place to sell their wares.
The site contains hazardous materials, adding asbestos and other pollutants, to its windows and window frames.
The planned paints are asbestos removal, partial demolition and removal of infected materials.
The task aims to repair and remodel while preserving its historic integrity, creating a mixed-use area for networking and business events. The task aims to create 155 jobs.
The former McGuffey’s shopping center on the city’s East Side earned $560,962.
The site once housed a grocery shopping center built in 1954 and was converted to an indoor shopping center in 1972. However, until 2007 it sat empty and deteriorating. It was demolished in 2014. The Western Reserve Port Authority purchased it in 2022 for $162,000 with plans to renovate it.
The funds will be used to demolish giant concrete slabs covering the area near the intersection of McGuffey Road and North Garland Avenue, remove contaminants, add asbestos and prepare for long-term development.
While it was open, a dry cleaner and a fuel station caused pollution.
The plan is to target long-term development, as it could become more available through an extension allotment near the U. S. Highway. 62. The allocation would create nine jobs.
Also called McGuffey Plaza, the location was one of the first breakthroughs built through Cafaro Co. , carried out in partnership with developer Edward DeBartolo Sr. It once included branches, supermarkets, banks, a bowling alley, a bakery, and a hardware store.
Youngstown City Councilman Jimmy Hughes, D-2nd Ward, last year donated $250,000 from his district’s American Rescue Plan budget to clean up the site.
The former South High School athletic complex earned $225,138 for the cleanup.
The project, owned by the City of Youngstown, includes the demolition and demolition of the former South Field House at 1840 Erie St. , as well as the demolition of the outfield bleachers. Once finished, it would be filled in and leveled.
The Valley Legends Stadium Consortium, a component of Valley Christian Schools, has proposed purchasing the city’s stadium and building a 3,000-seat stadium with a grass soccer field and a track.
The commission aims to supply a network of sports facilities, stimulate the revitalization of the neighborhood and create 35 jobs.
The consortium plans to spend around $9 million on the sports complex in two phases. Valley Christian is running to increase the budget for the project.
Today’s newest and more in your inbox
BAZETTA – The death of a woman whose body was discovered in a wooded domain at Mosquito Lake State Park on April 30 has left the city dead.
Youngstown artist Albert Parella will be the subject of the upcoming Bites and Bits of History show in Tyler. . .
PRAISE IN THE COURTYARD: First Presbyterian Church of Hubbard, 22 Westview Ave. , will present “Praise in the Courtyard” at 7. . .
Today’s latest and more in your inbox