A former slag landfill next to the new CBIZ building on Rockside Woods Boulevard is being transformed into a parking lot drivers of electric vehicles will appreciate; it will feature electric vehicle (EV) charging stations.
The city is participating in Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency’s (NOACA) EV Charging Station Program. Municipalities that owned properties with existing or proposed parking lots located near major transportation corridors, heavily populated areas and areas known as “JobsHubs” were encouraged to apply. Independence’s property on the southeast quadrant of the Interstate 77/Interstate 480 interchange makes it an ideal spot.
“The fact that the land is not developable allowed us to capitalize on this opportunity,” says Independence economic development director Jessica Hyser. “Independence is a high priority area because of the large volume of people who come through the city on a daily basis. We want to make sure we’re taking into account future changes in the way people are driving and the type of vehicles they’ll be driving so we have the amenities not only for businesses and their employees, but also for those who may be visiting our community.”
The parking lot will include two Level 2 ports and one DC fast charging port, with room for more.
“The parking lot allows for 285 parking spaces,” says Don Ramm, city engineer. “The city is committed to contribute 80% of the construction, up to $2.1 million. As we move into the construction phase of the project, the engineering department will be responsible for overseeing the management and inspection of the physical work on the site to ensure compliance with the plans and specifications for the work, and to ensure quality assurance and quality control.”