CLEVELAND, Ohio – Gov. Mike DeWine announced on Monday that more than $58 million has been directed toward 61 hazardous brownfield sites in the state, including nearly $19 million going to the Cuyahoga County Land Reutilization Corp. for cleanup and remediation of eight areas.
The largest of the Cuyahoga County awards is $10 million for the Woodhill Homes project that involves demolishing 61 barracks-style apartment buildings and dealing with asbestos, lead-paint and soil contamination. The plan is to build 370 housing units on the site as part of the proposed New Woodhill Center.
Another award of slightly more than $2 million is for the Lakewood Detroit Apartments project and includes asbestos abatement, soil remediation and structure demolition at the site of a former automotive sales and service operation. The plan is to develop 190 residential units along with commercial space.
And more than $1.13 million will be applied to asbestos removal and interior demolition at several structures in the East Bank of the Flats that comprise the Old River Road Assemblage. The plan is to convert a warehouse at 1235 Old River Road into 100 market-rate apartments, and to provide for additional retail, residential and commercial development.
Altogether, the state’s newly announced awards involve 46 cleanup-remediation projects and 15 assessment projects in 33 counties.
The Ohio Brownfield Remediation Program, administered by the Ohio Department of Development, dates back to 2021. So far, it has resulted in $560 million in awards to assist with 550 projects in 86 counties.
Peter Krouse writes about the environment for cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer. He can be reached at [email protected].