$3.5M in grants approved to clean up 3 brownfield sites in Youngstown
The Mahoning County Land Bank is taking $3.5 million in grants to clean three industrial locations in the Youngstown area.
Most of the money is going toward cleaning up the Youngstown Flea building, according to Debora Flora, executive director of the Land Bank.
“These grants will pay for costly environmental cleanup work and clear barriers to progress and development at these locations,” said Flora. “We’re very excited about the prospects of future activity at all three sites.”
These local grants came from a total $106.9 million approved across the state for brownfield remediation.
Which locations are included in the clean up?
The Mahoning County Land Bank said $2.7 million will go toward removing asbestos and other contaminants from the Youngstown Flea building’s windows glazing.
It’s located at 365 E. Boardman Street on the eastern edge of downtown.
The contaminated glazing on windows at the Youngstown Flea building, formerly owned by Northeast Fabricators, has been a barrier to its development, according to the land bank.
There’s $561,000 going to the Western Reserve Port Authority-owned property at 735 N. Garland Ave. on the east side of Youngstown.
This site used to be the McGuffey Mall, and the funds will go toward cleaning and removing environmental contaminants.
Anthony Trevena, executive director of the Port Authority, said the site has high potential for industrial development.
“We are grateful to receive resources from the State of Ohio to support the cleanup efforts at the McGuffey/Garland site,” said Trevena. “This crucial funding will enable us to prepare the site for redevelopment in the heart of Youngstown’s East Side.”
The third clean-up will happen at the South High Field House site, located at 1840 Erie St., which has been vacant.
Crews plan to clean and remove asbestos before demolishing the former field house’s stadium bleachers, a $225,000-project.
Valley Legends Stadium Consortium plans to build a 3,000-seat stadium, football field and track field on the site to become Valley Christian Schools’ home turf.
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This story was originally published August 13, 2024 at 6:00 AM.
