Explanation
BACKGROUND: The purpose of this legislation is to provide the resolution of support of City Council required by the Clean Ohio Program in order for Franklin County and Gowdy Partners III, LLC to apply for a Round 6 Clean Ohio Revitalization Fund Grant for the cleanup and redevelopment of an additional four to seven acre +/- portion of the former Gowdy Field landfill (Gowdy North).
In 2005, the Columbus Department of Development worked with the Columbus Regional Airport Authority and Gowdy Partners, LLC to secure a $3,000,000 Clean Ohio Revitalization Fund grant for the cleanup and redevelopment of a 28 acre portion of the former Gowdy Field landfill that is now the regional headquarters of Time Warner Cable and soon to be the site of a new outpatient surgery center and offices for the Ohio State University Medical Center.
The Columbus Department of Development is interested in the cleanup and redevelopment of the Gowdy North site to serve as additional offices and other facilities for the Ohio State University Medical Center that wishes to invest approximately $20 million in new facilities, relocate approximately 109 Columbus jobs and create 33 new jobs. As the City operated the former landfill at Gowdy North, it is not eligible to apply for Clean Ohio grant funding. However, Franklin County, which neither owned nor operated the former landfill, is eligible to apply for Clean Ohio grant funding. Franklin County has agreed to work with Gowdy Partners III, LLC to complete the cleanup and redevelopment of the Gowdy North site, but cannot apply for a Clean Ohio grant without a resolution of support from the City.
This resolution will set forth the support of City Council for the efforts of Franklin County and Gowdy Partners III, LLC to apply for and obtain Round 6 Clean Ohio grant funds for the cleanup and redevelopment of the Gowdy North site.
FISCAL IMPACT: No funding is required for this legislation.
Title
To resolve to support Franklin County, in partnership with Gowdy Partners III, LLC, in their efforts to obtain Round 6 Clean Ohio Program grant finding for use in the cleanup and redevelopment of the Gowdy North site in the Columbus community.
Body
WHEREAS, the State of Ohio, Clean Ohio Program awards grants to communities throughout Ohio for the purpose of cleanup and redevelopment of contaminated properties known as "brownfields"; and
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus contains brownfield properties which may qualify for Clean Ohio cleanup and redevelopment grant funding; and
WHEREAS, the Columbus Department of Development has been involved with brownfield cleanup and redevelopment since 1999 through its administration of the Columbus Brownfield Redevelopment Program and its associated task force; and
WHEREAS, Clean Ohio grant funding is critically important to the efforts of the City of Columbus in helping to clean up and redevelop brownfield properties in Columbus; and
WHEREAS, the Columbus Department of Development seeks the support of Columbus City Council for the efforts of Franklin County, in partnership with Gowdy Partners III, LLC, to apply for Round 6 Clean Ohio grant funding for the Gowdy North site and to demonstrate unity and commitment to cleaning and redeveloping brownfield sites in Columbus; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
Section 1. That Columbus City Council hereby supports Franklin County, in partnership with Gowdy Partners III, LLC, in their efforts to obtain Round 6 Clean Ohio grant funding to facilitate the cleanup and redevelopment of the Gowdy North site in Columbus.
Section 2. That this resolution shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.