MANSFIELD — A small gaggle of Canadian geese waddled on the green grass Wednesday morning at the site of the former Westinghouse, oblivious to the demolition still going on just to the east of their webbed feet.
The northern waterfowl were simply enjoying the former industrial site, equally oblivious to the fact the Ohio Dept. of Development awarded another $1,076,044 on Tuesday to a demolition and clean up of a 14-acre site that began two years ago along East Fifth Street.
The award was included in the $58.2 million in state support to help clean up and redevelop 61 hazardous brownfield sites in 33 counties, announced by Gov. Mike DeWine, Lt. Gov. Jon Husted and ODOD Director Lydia Mihalik.
ODOD is awarding the funding through the Ohio Brownfield Remediation Program, which was created by the DeWine-Husted Administration in 2021. The Tuesday announcement includes approximately $55.9 million for 46 cleanup/remediation projects and nearly $2.4 million for 15 assessment projects.
Since the launch of the program, the Department of Development has awarded more than $560 million to support 550 projects in 86 counties.
Ohio lawmakers are funding the program through the current operating budget. Ohio’s 88 counties were each eligible for at least $1 million in funding, with the remaining funds awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.
The Richland County Land Bank was awarded $1.7 million in total grants, including $657,500 for a demolition and remediation project at the corner of Broadway and Main streets in Shelby.
Andy McGinty, the chief deputy in the Richland County Treasurer’s Office and an executive committee of the county Land Bank board, said Wednesday the additional Westinghouse money will help finish the demolition, complete any needed site remediation and help to install a stormwater control system.
McGinty said R&D Excavating of Crestline hopes to have the final concrete pit removed and the site prepped for grass and straw by the end of the year.
“The weather has been favorable and they are still chugging along,” McGinty said.
Demolition and cleanup on the sprawling former Westinghouse site began in December 2022, including the former “A” building at 200 E. Fifth Street. and the adjoining 13-acre “concrete parcel” once the Land Bank gained control of the land.
(Photos taken Wednesday morning at the former Westinghouse industrial site on Mansfield’s east side. The story continues below the photos.)
Richland County Commissioner Tony Vero, a Land Bank board member who helped launch the Westinghouse effort, said local officials knew the multi-million project would not be easy.
“We knew heading into the demolition that cleaning up a 14-acre, former industrial site would more than likely result in discovering unknown challenges,” he said Wednesday.
“However, having a site available for re-development remains the goal and we have yet to encounter a challenge to date that would prevent that happening,” Vero said.
“It is not often a community has the opportunity to develop 14 acres of downtown real estate with complete site control, and are fortunate to have that opportunity,” he said.
In announcing the additional grant, the ODOD said, “unexpected subsurface findings, including old tunnels and groundwater wells, have posed unique challenges. Supported by technical assistance from the U.S. EPA, the 13-acre site near downtown Mansfield is
anticipated for future mixed-use redevelopment to stimulate the local economy.”
Shelby project at Broadway and Main funded
ODOD’s award for Shelby will finally fund a long-planned project to remove vacant buildings and clean up four parcels in an area that’s been described as the “biggest eyesore” in the city.
Shelby resident Troy Baker purchased the buildings around 2021 — expressing interest in a public/private partnership with the Land Bank.
In July 2023, an influx of new state grant money opened the door for the Land Bank to consider seeking funds to demolish and clean up the site.
Four months later, the Land Bank board approved plans to seek $2.5 million in 2024 state funds for brownfield remediation for five different projects — including Baker’s buildings.
However, a recent vote by the board on June 5 put the estimated $697,000 project on the back burner — with guaranteed brownfield funds going towards the demo and cleanup of former Westinghouse properties in Mansfield.
In July, Shelby Project Coordinator Joe Gies, a Land Bank board member who could not attend the June meeting, said he had discussions with the Land Bank regarding future action with the Shelby site.
“They (Land Bank) firmly want to do something to help,” he said. “Maybe it’s another round of grants or there’s some other ideas that we’re trying to brainstorm to get that building down.”
“They didn’t walk away,” Gies said. “This just might be different from what it was before.”
Funding approved for assessment of former dry cleaner location
The Land Bank also received $60,625 to assess the soil on a vacant lot at 473 Sherman Place in Mansfield that was formerly used as a dry cleaning business.
The lot, located in a residential neighborhood, was cleared after the original building was
demolished due to structural collapse.
McGinty said officials didn’t know if the business was used as a dry-cleaning operation or merely a drop-off site for clothes.
If no contaminants are found, the property will be sold as a side lot to neighboring residents, he said.
