Southeastern Ohio Port Authority receives nearly $3M to remediate sites in Belpre, Marietta
The Southeastern Ohio Port Authority received $1,359,807 from the Ohio Department of Development’s Brownfield Remediation Program for asbestos abatement, soil remediation and some building demolition of the old Remington-Rand industrial property at 900 Greene St., pictured. No plans have been made yet for how the site will be redeveloped. (File Photo)
The Southeastern Ohio Port Authority received $1,594,764 from the Ohio Department of Development’s Brownfield Remediation Program for reimbursement of costs associated with the demolition of the old Toll Compaction facility on Farson Street, pictured in August partially demolished, where the new Memorial Health System women and children’s hospital is being built. (File Photo)
The Southeastern Ohio Port Authority received $1,359,807 from the Ohio Department of Development’s Brownfield Remediation Program for asbestos abatement, soil remediation and some building demolition of the old Remington-Rand industrial property at 900 Greene St., pictured. No plans have been made yet for how the site will be redeveloped. (File Photo)
The Southeastern Ohio Port Authority received $1,594,764 from the Ohio Department of Development’s Brownfield Remediation Program for reimbursement of costs associated with the demolition of the old Toll Compaction facility on Farson Street, pictured in August partially demolished, where the new Memorial Health System women and children’s hospital is being built. (File Photo)
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MARIETTA -- Nearly $3 million has been awarded to support remediation of the future site of Memorial Health System's women and children's hospital in Belpre and the former Remington-Rand property in Marietta.
It was part of $86.1 million announced by the Ohio Department of Development and Gov. Mike DeWine for the cleanup and redevelopment of 81 brownfield sites in 46 counties.
The department awarded Ohio Brownfield Remediation program funds to the Southeastern Ohio Port Authority in the amount of $1,359,807 for asbestos abatement, soil remediation and building demolition of the old Remington-Rand industrial property at 900 Greene St. in Marietta and $1,594,764 for demolition and soil remediation of the former Toll Compaction facility on Farson Street in Belpre, where the women and children's hospital is being built, according to a release from the governor's office.
The Ohio General Assembly is funding the program through the current operating budget, with each of Ohio's 88 counties being eligible for at least $1 million in funding, and the remaining funds being awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis, the release said.
SeOPA is the lead administrator of the brownfield funds for the county, according to SEOPA Executive Director Jesse Roush.
The Remington-Rand site covers 11 acres in the heart of Marietta and is a historical property, he said.
Roush clarified that the project will possibly include the demolition of some of the dilapidated buildings on the site.
The Remington-Rand property was built by the Safe Cabinet Company and originally included a pillared building nicknamed "The Bank" that had an auditorium and a wooden building attached to the back where the safes were produced. The property was expanded in 1925, with a 220,000-square-foot, four-story production center being added. In the 1930s, Remington-Rand moved into the property and started manufacturing office machines before merging with Sperry.
The plant started making propeller hubs in the mid-1940s during World War II. Then Sperry merged with Kardex, a company that designed file card systems.
Remington-Kardex built a new plant in Reno in the 1960s. For a time, the Greene Street plant was still used, but by the early 1970s it was idle and vacant.
The property was sold by Kardex to Henry Oldaker in 1995, then to Two Rivers Development Ltd. a few months later. It is now owned by Dos Rivers LLC, which auditor records show acquired it in 2022.
In 2019, the northeast corner of the building was redeveloped and leased to Westwater Supply, a plumbing and heating equipment firm.
Redevelopment plans for the property include a "mixed-use industrial and commercial space, with the potential for a residential component," the release said.
Dos Rivers LLC still has a decision to make about what will go at the site, according to Roush, and the property is in the initial phase of redevelopment.
"To see it start to move forward with initial redevelopment activities is encouraging," he said.
Attempts to contact Dos Rivers LLC were unsuccessful.
The $1.5 million awarded for the Toll Compaction site will be used for the demolition and removal of a 74,592-square-foot industrial building, along with the remediation of stained soils, the release said.
Roush said Memorial, who is building the women and children's hospital on the site, started the tear-down of the existing facility in the spring and grant funds can reimburse eligible expenses back to July 2021. Some sampling and remediation work and testing remains to be done.
The Toll Compaction site was previously used for manufacturing and chemical storage and the soil remediation is being done to meet the high environmental standards set by the Voluntary Action Program, according to a release about the funds from Memorial.
"Once completed, the site will be transformed into a state-of-the-art facility offering pediatric, obstetric and gynecological services, including a level II neonatal intensive care unit," the release said. "The upcoming women and children's hospital, in partnership with Akron Children's, will support families and provide specialized care for women and children unlike ever before with a modern, welcoming environment."
The redevelopment project will create 50 new jobs while retaining 200 existing positions, contributing significantly to the local economy, the Memorial release said.
The amount awarded for this project is the second highest award of this round of funding, Roush said.
The grant award allows Memorial Health to turn an underutilized property into a health care facility that will benefit generations to come, Memorial Health System President and Chief Executive Officer Scott Cantley said in the release.
"We are deeply grateful to Southeastern Ohio Port Authority and Governor DeWine for their support in making this vision a reality," Cantley said.
The project serves as a great example of what is possible in brownfield redevelopment when it is done properly, according to Roush.
"Brownfield sites typically occupy a portion of real estate that is desirable for development ... the opportunity to do something such as a women and children's hospital on a brownfield site is a unique opportunity for brownfield redevelopment," Roush said.
Michelle Dillon can be reached at mdillon@newsandsentinel.com.