Ravenna Cleveland Road property to get state funds to help clean up site for redevelopment
A Ravenna property long eyed as part of a potential light-industrial corridor in the city has received brownfield funding from the state so future development can be explored.
The former Portage County Engineer's site at 643 Cleveland Road will get $91,700 in funding to aid in the clean up of the property.
More: Ravenna council OKs Cleveland Road land swap
The property has long been discussed by city administration as a key element of the city's economic development plans to make Cleveland Road a light-industrial corridor.
In 2013, Portage County traded its former Workforce building on West Main Street as well as the county engineer's property on Cleveland Road to the city in exchange for the city forgiving a debt. The city then gave both properties to Family & Community Services. The agency renovated the West Main Street building into the Center of Hope and agreed to return the Cleveland Road property to the city once it is cleaned up.
F&CS still owns the property and the brownfield funding will help with the assessment and cleanup of the site. A brownfield is property that has been contaminated or polluted and therefore difficult to redevelop.
The funding is part of $350 million that was approved by the Ohio General Assembly last summer.
“This project is going to provide assessment and remediation for this site,” said State Rep. Gail Pavliga, who represents Portage County. “Our hope is that this will result in future development for Ravenna and that it can have some positive impact within the community.”
Ravenna City Council President Andrew Kluge said he hadn't heard about the funding for the property.
"That's good news," he said.
Reporter Diane Smith can be reached at 330-298-1139 or dsmith@recordpub.com.
This article originally appeared on Record-Courier: Brownfield funds approved for Cleveland Road site in Ravenna
