Cincinnati Ohio Economic Development

Clean Ohio Council Funds Clean Up Project in West End

On November 18th, the Clean Ohio Council unanimously approved a $662,922 Clean Ohio Revitalization Fund (CORF) grant for the Calmego West Redevelopment project. Located west of the Samuel Adams Brewery and near the intersection of Central Avenue and Poplar Street in the West End, the approved project involves asbestos abatement, demolition of buildings, and clean up of contaminated soil on approximately .4 acres of property. Over the past 5 years, the Samuel Adams Brewery Company has invested over $2 million to expand its existing operations near the Calmego West site. The Calmego West expansion would allow Samuel Adams to relocate & expand its truck staging operations and would provide the company with future expansion options to the west of its main facility.

“We are excited to hear that the City has received a Clean Ohio Revitalization Fund grant for the Calmego West project. Both the City and State have been very supportive of our expansion plans and this support went a long way as we have evaluated our expansion options” said Michael Childs, Director of Brewery Operations for the West End brewery. “We look forward to breaking ground on this project that will allow us to expand our presence brewing great beer in this great community”

This is just the latest step in a very complex project that has involved the City, Samuel Adams, the West End community, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA), and the Ohio Department of Development (ODOD). Under the direction of the Strategic Program for Urban Redevelopment (SPUR), the City’s Department of Community Development, Office of Environmental Quality, Office of Budget & Evaluation, Greater Cincinnati Water Works, the Metropolitan Sewer District, Real Estate Division, and Departments of Law, Fire, City Planning & Buildings,
Transportation & Engineering, & Finance have been instrumental in the project’s success to date.

“The approval of this grant is the next step in what’s already been a 5 year partnership between the City, Samuel Adams Brewery Company, OEPA, ODOD, and the West End community,” said Michael Cervay, Director of the Department of Community Development. “As a continuation of our partnership’s previous efforts, this grant has provided the resources we need to clean-up this site, create 10 jobs, and retain 10 jobs in the City.”

Since it’s creation in 2001, Cincinnati’s Strategic Program for Urban Redevelopment (SPUR) team has worked to remove barriers to the redevelopment of underutilized land within the City to create jobs, increase the tax base, and improve and enhance public health. Over its 10 years in existence, the SPUR team has contributed to remediation and redevelopment efforts of over 350 acres of property. The team’s active projects comprise 205.8 acres that will house over 1600 new and retained jobs and an estimated leveraged investment of over $120,000,000.

This grant is the only one located within the City of Cincinnati this round and it still requires the blessing of the State’s Controlling Board, which is expected in January. Demolition and clean up work on this project is expected to begin Summer 2012.

For more information on the Calmego West Redevelopment project, visit the City of Cincinnati’s website at http://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/cdap/pages/-43213-/. For more information on the Clean Ohio Fund, visit http://www.clean.ohio.gov/.

For more information contact:
Sam J. Stephens
Department of Community Development
P 513.352.6251
samuel.stephens@cincinnati-oh.gov