Dear Editor,
One of the problems our communities face is that when the previous businesses and industries folded, they literally abandoned their properties, leaving a huge mess for the communities to clean up.
While I’m not as familiar with the Westinghouse property in Mansfield, my understanding is that in Ontario the former GM site was contaminated with toxins that are difficult (expensive) to clean up. Often these expenses get shouldered by the taxpayers.
Even small businesses leave their signage up, where it remains until it often falls off the buildings. These things make the properties unattractive to prospective businesses. Real estate people know the value of “curb appeal,” and too many locations in our area don’t have it.
I think that any effort to “de-rust” the rust belt may want to look at how other communities have dealt with the remains of the once-thriving businesses that powered their communities.
Another thought is in regards to communities that are in proximity to military installations. For some communities, their sole purpose was to support their local base.
When the government closed the base, the communities were crippled – not unlike what happened in our area with the closings of Westinghouse, Tappan, General Motors, and the steel mills. Did they (the communities) recover, and if so, how?
Just thought I’d share these thoughts, I hope they are useful.
Bob Coon
Ontario, Ohio
