Two Painesville Properties Awarded Brownfield Grants

As part of the 112 brownfield remediation projects Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced on June 17, two Painesville properties received state funding for future economic development: Painesville Tower LLC and the Painesville Plaza Hotel Site.

Painesville Tower LLC, located at 30 S Park Place, received $655,000 in clean up funds to remediate the site which includes abatement of environmental issues present throughout the property. The former Lake County National Bank Building was constructed in 1957 and expanded in 1967, and consists of the original three-story building and five-story addition. The property has been occupied by many banks throughout its history, most recently Chase Bank, but has remained vacant for many years. After remediation, rehabilitation work on the site will begin, redeveloping the property as dormitory-style housing for students of Lake Erie College.

The second award went to the Painesville Plaza Hotel Site, the former site of a Holiday Inn built in 1969 off E Main Street. Originally developed as early as 1884, numerous operations have occurred on the site including a brewery, the U.S. Metallic Binding Company and a hotel. The property has primarily been vacant since 1975. The $613,113 in awarded funding will go towards the removal of lead-contaminated soil and installation of a groundwater use restriction. After remediation, the property will be redeveloped as a mixed-use development, including a 120-unit apartment building and up to 20,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space.

"We are thrilled that both of these projects are moving forward," said Painesville Economic Development Director Cathy Bieterman. "The Brownfield Program was created for these types of projects, to bring underutilized vacant properties back into productive re-uses that help our local economy. Both of these projects are significant steps for revitalizing downtown Painesville."

The State of Ohio's definition of a Brownfield is "an abandoned, idle, or under-used industrial, commercial or institutional property where expansion or redevelopment is complicated by known or potential releases of hazardous substances or petroleum." As with many industrial communities throughout Northeast Ohio, a history of environmental concerns are often found. Painesville Economic Development Department's objective is to work with these existing underutilized properties and turn them into tax-generating, job-creating valuable properties.

For more information on Brownfield Projects in Painesville, visit www.painesville.com/brownfields.