MANSFIELD -- The Richland County Land Bank on Thursday is expected to accept the donation of the 13-acre "concrete jungle" that was part of the former Westinghouse property on the city's east side.
"I am pleased to report that, barring something unforeseen, the Richland County Land Bank hopes to agree to a letter of intent to donate (the property) with the Mansfield Business Park," said Richland County Commissioner Tony Vero, a member of the Land Bank.
"I do expect the agreement to pass," said Vero, who helped spearhead the effort to obtain the properties.
Westinghouse
Contracts were signed on Thursday to begin the demolition and remediation of former Westinghouse properties in Mansfield, including the "A" building in the background and the adjoining 13-acre concrete slab (part of which is seen here in the foreground).
GALLERY: Land Bank expected to accept 'concrete jungle' donation
Photos of the "concrete jungle" that was donated to the Richland County Land Bank on Thursday.
Westinghouse
The Richland County Land Bank on Friday is expected to advertise for bids to demolish and remediate former Westinghouse properties on Mansfield's east side. (Richland Source file photo)
Westinghouse
Contracts were signed on Thursday to begin the demolition and remediation of former Westinghouse properties in Mansfield, including the "A" building in the background and the adjoining 13-acre concrete slab (part of which is seen here in the foreground).
Westinghouse slab
A Michigan contractor has sent a letter to the Richland County Land Bank defending its $2.7 million bid to demolish former Westinghouse properties in Mansfield. (Richland Source file photo)
The Land Bank has scheduled a special meeting Thursday at 2 p.m. to vote on the donation, according to an email Tuesday from Andrew McGinty, chief deputy in the Richland County Treasurer's Office.
It's the second step in a trifecta of donations related to Westinghouse properties that began this summer when the Land Bank accepted the former "A" building at 200 Fifth St., a dilapidated structure that has dominated the eastern skyline since the company closed local operations in 1990.
The "concrete slab" area is located just east of the "A" building, surrounded by a fence that is largely collapsed.
Land Bank officials also hope to obtain another nearby smaller former Westinghouse building, now owned by Electrolux, based in North Carolina.
The Land Bank on Dec. 14 approved an application for state funds to demolish the "A" building and remediate the brownfield area, a project that would include the "concrete jungle."
This is a drone video showing an aerial view of the Westinghouse property in Downtown Mansfield. Video by Bryan Phillips
Bryan PhillipsEach of the state's 88 counties, as part of the two-year state budget approved this year, are guaranteed $500,000 in demolition funds and $1.5 million in brownfield remediation dollars.
That leaves $368 million that local governments can apply for on a first-come, first-served basis, though those entities will have to come up with a 25-percent match for any projects after the guaranteed funds are spent.
Richland County commissioners on Dec. 16 pledged up to $1 million in matching funds toward the cleanup. Mansfield City Council is expected to vote on a contribution to the effort in January.
The commissioners' guarantee allowed county Land Bank manager Amy Hamrick to submit an application to the Ohio Department of Development for the project, estimated to cost $5 million.