Explanation
BACKGROUND: The purpose of this resolution is to support Columbus Franklin County Finance Authority, in partnership with CASTO, in conjunction with two Ohio Department of Development Brownfield Remediation round 1 grant applications for site cleanup at 427 Cleveland Avenue (Ford Model T Building) in the amount of $2,400,000 and 457 Cleveland Ave (North Building), in the amount of $3,100,000, both formerly the Kroger Bakery.
The 427 Cleveland Avenue (Ford Model T Building) property contains .92 acres and the 457 Cleveland Ave (North Building) property contains 8.507 acres. Both properties are identified by Franklin County Parcel numbers: 010-15761, 010-064942, 010-008646, 010-036573, and 010-006173 and are currently owned by Half Baked Holdings LLC.
Historical information indicates the properties had previous industrial uses, which included an assembly plant for the Ford Motor Company and more recently, the Kroger Bakery. Environmental assessment reports indicate that the 427 Cleveland Ave property needs asbestos removal, industrial equipment removal, as well as remediation to ACM flooring and fire doors throughout the building; and the 457 Cleveland Ave property requires remediation of a rail spur, asbestos, construction materials, industrial equipment, ACM flooring and fire doors throughout the building.
CASTO proposes to redevelop the properties into a mixed use project which is anticipated to be a catalyst for development along Columbus' Cleveland Avenue Corridor which was identified as one of five main corridors for transportation and future growth of the city.
Emergency legislation is necessary in order to meet Ohio Department of Development Brownfield Remediation round 1 grant application deadline of January 31, 2022.
FISCAL IMPACT: There are no costs to the City of Columbus associated with a resolution of support for the Brownfield Remediation Program grant funding.
Title
To resolve to support Columbus Franklin County Finance Authority, in partnership with CASTO, in their efforts to obtain two Ohio Department of Development Brownfield Remediation grant funding awards for use in the environmental cleanup and redevelopment of the former Kroger Bakery sites at 427 Cleveland Avenue and 457 Cleveland Avenue; and to declare an emergency
Body
WHEREAS, the State of Ohio Brownfield Remediation grant program will award up to $10 million per project throughout Ohio for the purpose of cleanup, demolition and redevelopment of contaminated or abandoned properties known as “brownfields”; and
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus contains brownfield properties which may qualify for Brownfield Remediation cleanup, demolition and redevelopment grant funding; and
WHEREAS, the Columbus Department of Development has been involved with brownfield redevelopment since 1999, first with the Clean Ohio grant program and now with the Ohio Brownfield Remediation grant program; and
WHEREAS, Ohio Brownfield Remediation grant funding will greatly complement the efforts of the Columbus Department of Development in helping to clean up and redevelop brownfield properties in Columbus; and
WHEREAS, the Columbus Department of Development has identified brownfield properties in the City of Columbus which may be eligible for two Ohio Brownfield Remediation grant funding awards at the site formerly known as the Kroger Bakery and CASTO has agreed to partner with Columbus Franklin County Finance Authority to clean up and redevelop the properties into a mixed use project; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Development in that it is immediately necessary to express the City's support for the application described herein to meet the Ohio Brownfield Remediation grant application deadline of January 31, 2022, all for the preservation of public health, peace, property, safety and welfare; Now, Therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
Section 1. That the Columbus City Council hereby supports Columbus Franklin County Finance Authority, in partnership with CASTO, in their efforts to obtain Ohio Department of Development Brownfield Remediation round 1 grant funding for the purpose of incentivizing the cleanup and redevelopment of the former Kroger Bakery site on property generally located at 427 Cleveland Avenue (Ford Model T Building).
Section 2. That the Columbus City Council hereby supports Columbus Franklin County Finance Authority, in partnership with CASTO, in their efforts to obtain Ohio Department of Development Brownfield Remediation round 1 grant funding for the purpose of incentivizing the cleanup and redevelopment of the former Kroger Bakery site on property generally located at 457 Cleveland Ave (North Building).
Section 3. That for the reason stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this resolution is hereby declared to be an emergency measure and shall take effect and be in force from and after its adoption and approval by the Mayor or ten days after adoption if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.