Cincinnati applies for funds to redevelop Providence North site

Published May 26, 2009 at 12:00 a.m.
Cincinnati’s Office of Environmental Quality has applied for Clean Ohio Assistance Fundsthat will be used to determine the contamination of the ProvidenceNorth redevelopment site and develop a comprehensive remediation plan.

TheProvidence North redevelopment site is located in the West Endneighborhood of Cincinnati and has had seen previous samplingactivities performed over the past five years. The Payne Firm discovered volatile soil and groundwater contamination in the area while performing due diligence work for a client.

The City has since worked with the firm, the West End Community,the Ohio Department of Development and the Ohio EnvironmentalProtection Agency to determine the extent of the contamination andprotect residents in the affected area.

The site (map)is located at Central Avenue and Findlay Street, and is currently ownedby the City of Cincinnati along with several other private parties andincludes several adjacent rights-of-way.  The City’s property currentlysits vacant while the privately owned portions have a reproductioncompany, a vacant lot, a former electrical supply company, a closedauto repair shop, a vacant apartment building, a dry cleaning supplydistributor/warehouse and a closed church.

The property islocated next to several apartment buildings with the Samuel AdamsBrewing Company located directly south.  Altogether, there are sevenbuildings on the site with only two being used currently.

Thesite, while in poor physical and environmental condition, is a primeopportunity for redevelopment as outlined by the city.  The West End Comprehensive Plan (pdf)recommends working with existing businesses in the area adjacent to thesite in order to retain existing jobs and facilitate future expansion.

One nearby business in particular that has expressed interest in expanding on the site is the adjacent Samuel Adams Brewing Company. The brewing company currently employs around 100 people at theiradjacent facility and represents approximately $90,000 in annual cityearnings taxes.

These earnings taxes are considered to be atrisk if the city is unable to address the remediation of the ProvidenceNorth site and encourage future business growth in the area.

Thesite also appears to be a great redevelopment opportunity given itscentral location and close proximity to the central business district,Music Hall, Cincinnati Museum Center, City West, Findlay Market and theGateway Quarter.

Writer: Randy Simes
Source: City of Cincinnati
Photography by Randy Simes



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