Brownfield Redevelopment site:
The 11.42-acre brownfield site is on the east bank of the Huron River in the city of Huron, who also owns the property. The site is on the north side of U.S. Route 6 (Cleveland Road East) and west of the River Road’s intersection with Route 6. The site is outlined in yellow on the image at right which is a screen capture from the Erie County Auditor’s office.
Although the site is not adjacent to Lake Erie, it is within Ohio’s designated Coastal Management Area (learn more).
Approximately $8.5 million in public funding has been spent to acquire and remove existing buildings on this site and land to its immediate south, which is the 8.5-acre Huron River Boat Launch. The launch is owned by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
The ODNR purchased the entire 20-acre peninsula in 2006 for $3.25 million. The city of Huron applied for a $3.14 million grant for the ODNR to construct the ramps at their present location in exchange for the northern land of the peninsula. As part of this land transfer process, the city of Huron had to guarantee that a minimum of a 30-foot public pedestrian access must be maintained around the perimeter of the site.
Through the partnership of the ODNR divisions of Wildlife and Watercraft and the city of Huron, the three-lane boat launch ramps, restroom facilities and parking area opened in 2010.
The city of Huron stated demolition on the remaining buildings on their portion of the peninsula in 2011.
The main building on the redevelopment site was imploded on January 8, 2012 (watch video). The other structures and grain silos were tore down by wrecking ball and other means. The estimated 48,000 tons of concrete rubble is being recycled on-site into material that can be reused to create the base for streets, sidewalks, parking lots and potentially riprap for the refurbishing the seawall along the river. The debris removal process should be complete by mid-October 2012.
Historically, the site's uses included a Lake Erie port, a railroad spur for Norfolk & Western and an agriculture/industry site. Both water and sewer line mains are available on site for connecting to.
Timeline:
On Wednesday October 3, 8th grade students from Erie Couty schools will be given the opportunity to listen to the following advisory panel presentations and ask questions of the presenters before undertaking the development of their brownfield redevelopment land-use plans. Each school district participating in the competition will select teams of students to move on to the county-level competition. On Friday December 7, 2012, the teams of students from each school district will present their plans to a panel of judges with the opportunity for all competing teams to question the team making each development proposal. At the end of the day, a winner will be chosen.
Advisory Presentations (2011 are below. 2012 will be posted after they are presented to students).
To download each speaker’s PowerPoint presentation, click on the image.
LAND USE PLANNING
Erie County Planning Department
Tim King
419.627.7524
tking@erieCounty.oh.gov
ZONING
City of Sandusky Planner
Carrie Handy
419.627.5873
chandy@ci.sandusky.oh.us
FINANCE
Economic Development Consultant
Greg Sherman
419.433.7632
gregoryesherman@cs.com
ENVIRONMENT
Ohio Department of Natural Resources
Office of Coastal Management
Brenda Culler
419.626.7980 x4100
brenda.culler@dnr.state.oh.us
Watch the ConAgra building demo from Jan. 8, 2012 (click here).
Links (ABC order):
Teacher Contacts/Teams by School:
( team projects will be added after they are presented in December)
For questions about the Erie County Land Use Debate, contact: