On December 16, 2022, the Ohio Department of Development awarded $8,400,230 in grants to the Port of Greater Cincinnati Development Authority for the assessment and remediation of four brownfield projects in Cincinnati. This is in addition to the $7,596,263.53 awarded for six brownfield projects previously announced on April 26, 2022 and June 17, 2022. Brownfields are abandoned, idled, or underutilized properties where expansion or redevelopment is complicated by real or perceived environmental contamination.

The grant awards were part of the Ohio Brownfield Remediation Program which provided nearly $350 million in grants for the clean-up of brownfield sites across Ohio to assist in the remediation of hazardous substances or petroleum at industrial, commercial, or institutional properties and prepare them for future economic development.

The projects awards announced on December 16, 2022 within the City of Cincinnati are:

• Carew Tower Abatement - Awarded $6,439,500 for cleanup/remediation
  • Originally constructed in 1930, Carew Tower features a 48-story office tower on a five-story base of retail shops. The original complex also included a 30-story hotel, which is now a separate condominium unit. The existing building remains in operation but is predominantly vacant and suffering from steady deterioration. Remediation includes asbestos abatement, interior demolition, and a full roof replacement. Following remediation, former office spaces will be converted for residential use.
• City Club Apartments Union Central - Awarded $1,917,945 for cleanup/remediation
  • The 31-story Union Central Tower was constructed in 1913 and, at the time of its construction, was the fifth-tallest building in the world and second tallest outside of New York. The structure has been vacant since 2020 and in need of redevelopment. Remediation will include asbestos abatement, selective demolition, and environmental work on all 32 floors and basement levels. Upon redevelopment, the vacant historic building will include approximately 218 apartments, resident amenity spaces, approximately 25,000 square feet of commercial space and roughly 40 parking spaces for residents.
• Former Reliable Castings Redevelopment - Awarded $42,785 for assessment
  • Beginning as an iron foundry in the 1920s, this property became Reliable Castings in the mid-1930s with expanded site operations from 1950 to the 1980s. The facility ceased operations in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic and has since been acquired by The Port. The foundry has not been operational since 2020 and has since significantly deteriorated. Remediation will include environmental assessments and remediation, demolition of the structures and abatement of any asbestos-containing materials. Following remediation, the plan is to make the site available for some sort of redevelopment.
• Mad Tree Coal Boiler - Awarded $150,000 for cleanup/remediation
  • The current site of MadTree Brewery and Tap Room was occupied as early as 1917 by Cincinnati Frog and Switch. Other occupants included Kimball Motor Company, Perfect Manufacturing Company and an electrical substation on a portion of the property. Additionally, paper mill operations began as early as 1940 and remained until late 2014 when the last facility closed. Remediation includes abatement and demolition of an abandoned coal boiler and silos. After remediation, the demolished part of the property will be covered with asphalt to accommodate additional parking for the brewery.

 

Project awards previously announced within the City of Cincinnati are:

• Crosley Building Remediation - Awarded $2,443,861.53 for cleanup/remediation
  • Built in 1929 by Samuel Hannaford and Sons, the Crosley Building served as the home to the Crosley Radio Corporation until 1946. The site was used primarily for industrial purposes until it was abandoned in 2006 and was later condemned in 2012. The nine-story building is in poor condition and has asbestos and lead paint present throughout. After remediation of both, the building will be redeveloped as The Crosley, a 200-unit affordable housing project, including commercial and studio space and a rooftop garden and lounge space.
• 3401 Colerain - Awarded $1,396,152 for cleanup/remediation
  • This property is immediately adjacent to the former Crosley Building and manufacturing facility. The building was constructed in 1914 with additions in 1940. During that time, the property served as a support facility, including locker rooms and break rooms for the Crosley Radio Corporation. Most recently, the site served as manufacturing and office space for Reliable Castings. Remediation activities include asbestos abatement and capping of soil on the site. After remediation, the existing building will be demolished, and the site will be redeveloped as part of the Crosley Building development.
• Model Laundry Facility - Awarded $1 million for cleanup/remediation
  • Activity on this property dates to the late 1800s when the site was used as a planning and sawing mill. Later, the site was utilized as a plaster relief workshop, commercial dry cleaning, and automotive repair shop. Remediation activities include bioremediation and chemical oxidation on the site as well as disposal of impacted soil. The property is in Madisonville, a growing neighborhood that faces a housing supply shortage. After remediation, the site will be an attractive property for a mixed-use development.
• Lunkenheimer Foundry Remediation - Awarded $1,721,250 for cleanup/remediation
  • Constructed in 1908 for the Lunkenheimer Foundry, this 150,000-square-foot building was once home to manufacturing of bronze, iron, and cast steel valves. The deteriorating building has been vacant since 2017, and four underground storage tanks and substantial amounts of lead paint, asbestos, and sub-soil contamination are present on the site. After remediation of contaminated substances, the development authority plans to prepare the site for redevelopment.
• Shillito’s West Remediation - Awarded $900,000 for cleanup/remediation
  • Formerly a department store, this long-vacant property is at a key corner in the downtown central business district in Cincinnati and part of the national register historic district. A 2019 Asbestos survey identified extensive quantities of asbestos throughout, including in the drywall joint compound, floor mastic, floor tiles, pipe insulation, duct seam tape, window glazing, etc. Cleanup includes abatement of all necessary materials. Once completed, the property will be able to be rehabilitated or demolished for redevelopment of the site.
• Lower Mill Creek Area Wide Urban Setting Designation - Awarded: $135,000 for assessment
  • This property is located along the Mill Creek Corridor in Hamilton County and part of a history of industry in Greater Cincinnati. Because of industrial use and the property’s location along the creek, it must undergo a groundwater assessment prior to redevelopment. After assessment and any needed remediation, the Port plans to redevelop the property as part of a larger industrial redevelopment strategy.

For more information on Brownfield Redevelopment within the City of Cincinnati, visit the Office of Environment and Sustainability website: https://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/oes/green-economy/brownfield-redevelopment/