Cincinnati applies for funds to redevelop Providence North site

Cincinnati’s Office of Environmental Quality has applied for Clean Ohio Assistance Funds that will be used to determine the contamination of the Providence North redevelopment site and develop a comprehensive remediation plan.

The Providence North redevelopment site is located in the West End neighborhood of Cincinnati and has had seen previous sampling activities 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 Environmental Protection Agency to determine the extent of the contamination and protect residents in the affected area.

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

The property is located next to several apartment buildings with the Samuel Adams Brewing Company located directly south.  Altogether, there are seven buildings on the site with only two being used currently.

The site, while in poor physical and environmental condition, is a prime opportunity for redevelopment as outlined by the city.  The West End Comprehensive Plan (pdf) recommends working with existing businesses in the area adjacent to the site 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 their adjacent facility and represents approximately $90,000 in annual city earnings taxes.

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

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

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