West Side Market, Midline Projects Win Key Brownfield Grants

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Although each county in Ohio was limited to $1 million in Ohio Brownfield Remediation grants in this round of funding awards, Cuyahoga County made the most of it despite its voracious appetite for such grants as it repositions its former, massive industrial base in the post-industrial era.

Two projects in Cleveland won funding — the renovation of the West Side Market in Ohio City and the repositioning of the former Cleveland Cooperative Stove Co. site in the newly announced Midline redevelopment district in the Central neighborhood.

At the other end of the scale, tiny Vinton County, population 12,630, also made the most of its Brownfield opportunity, securing $1 million for two projects. But not every county in Ohio sought up to $1 million each from an $88 million pot of money.

Thus, only $61 million in grants were awarded for communities in 75 counties. That will leave $27 million to roll over into the next round which will add to a budgeted amount of $109 million. Applications are already being submitted for that $136 million in total available Brownfield funds, to be awarded sometime after July 1.

In this round, the West Side Market, 1979 W. 25th St., won a $763,750 Brownfield grant for the clean-up and remediation of the 1912-built public market house. The city-owned facility is in the midst of a major stabilization and renovation project.

“This project will complete remaining asbestos abatement, lead remediation, and interior demolition within Clevelandʼs iconic West Side Market and its adjacent arcade to safely prepare the complex for a major redevelopment effort,” the Ohio Department of Development said in its award statement.

“Clean-up will enable restoration of the century-old market hall, expansion of kitchen and vendor spaces, and new food-service and event uses that will draw additional visitors and businesses. The project is expected to create 193 new jobs,” the statement said.

This comes after the Ohio Department of Development awarded in December a $5 million maximum Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credit to support planned renovations totaling more than $71.33 million.

That work will enhance the market’s infrastructure, accessibility, and building systems while activating underutilized spaces. New event spaces, a courtyard, and food hall will also be added.

On the other side of town, in the city’s newly announced Midline Priority Investment Area spanning 350 acres of the Central, Fairfax and Kinsman neighborhoods, a $236,250 Brownfield grant will chart the repurposing of an historic site that is literally falling down.

The former Cleveland Cooperative Stove Co., 6700 Central Ave., was the world’s largest foundry for iron stoves in the late-19th century. But the main building at the corner of Central Avenue and East 67th Street has to be demolished immediately as it at risk of collapsing into the street and the adjacent Norfolk Southern (NS) Railroad

The building’s roof partially collapsed into the structure and the rest blew off in a storm earlier this year, said Brad Whitehead, managing director of the Site Readiness for Good Jobs Fund which bought the property last year.

“A big storm made this an emergency (demolition),” Whitehead said. “It’s structurally unsound. If we can renovate the big building just south of that, we will. All the others are still under investigation.”

While Central Avenue and East 67th Street are closed to traffic as a precaution, dozens of daily freight and passenger trains continue to roll by the factory. Its 60-foot-tall brick walls stand only 25 feet from the center of the nearest of two parallel NS tracks, city documents show.

The city on May 11 issued an emergency demolition permit to B&B Wrecking & Excavating Inc. of Cleveland to take down the three-story brick structure at the street corner. The demolition and removal of debris is expected to cost $437,840 and take five to 10 working days to complete, according to plans submitted to the city.

Once the main building is down, the Brownfield funding will allow the Cuyahoga Land Bank and Site Readiness Fund to conduct comprehensive Phase I and II environmental assessments, asbestos and regulated-materials surveys, plus remedial planning of the 2.45-acre site.

There are other historic structures and walls on the site which could be kept and repurposed or demolished depending on the Brownfield-funded assessments. A new user of the site has not been publicly identified.

“Assessment work will position the property for demolition, cleanup, and redevelopment into new and renovated light-manufacturing space,” the Ohio Department of Development said. “The project is expected to create 222 new jobs and retain two existing jobs.”

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