Explanation
BACKGROUND
The purpose of this ordinance is to authorize the Director of the Columbus Department of Development to apply to for a Clean Ohio Assistance Fund (COAF) grant in the amount of $750,000.00 for environmental clean up at the former Timken site at 1025 Cleveland Avenue in the Milo-Grogan neighborhood of Columbus.
The grant application will be submitted to the Ohio Department of Development, Clean Ohio Council, for consideration in partnership with the Milo-Grogan Community Redevelopment Corporation; a Section 1728 Corporation whose principal owners are Jerome Solove Development and Samstel Investment Group in cooperation with the Fifth Avenue Lumber Company. The redevelopment project called CityGate, will involve the 30 acre former Timken site and the 2.5 acre Fifth Avenue Lumber site, where it is anticipated that approximately $12.5 million will be he invested to construct up to an estimated 550,000 square feet of mixed use space with the full potential of creating more than 400 new jobs.
The Ohio Department of Development did not award a $3 million Clean Ohio Revitalization Fund (CORF) grant that the Columbus Department of Development applied for in 2005, which prompts this legislation to apply for the $750,000.00 COAF grant.
Environmental cleanup activities will include excavation of contaminated soil, upgrading of the current oil recovery system and engineering controls such as clean fill capping with vapor barriers and venting systems where appropriate. The Timken Company has cleared the site of virtually all structures.
This legislation is submitted as an emergency to commence the Clean Ohio Program grant application as soon as possible, and is in follow-up to Columbus City Council's Resolution No. 034X-02, passed March 11, 2002, supporting efforts to obtain Clean Ohio Program grant funding.
FISCAL IMPACT
There are no costs to the City of Columbus associated with applying for Clean Ohio grant funding beyond the Co...
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