Representative Troy Announces $5.7 Million in Brownfield Remediation Grants to Three Lake County Projects

COLUMBUS — State Rep. Daniel Troy (D-Willowick) today announced $5.7 million in grants to the Lake County Land Reutilization Corporation for Brownfield Remediation Projects in the county.

This funding comes from the Ohio Brownfield Remediation Program, which awarded $60 million this week to aid in the clean-up and redevelopment of 51 brownfield sites across 27 Ohio counties, including three projects in Lake County.

These projects include the redevelopment of the former Sears Department Store and auto center at the Great Lakes Mall in Mentor. A $2,500,000 grant was awarded for asbestos abatement, removal of the in-ground hydraulic lifts, petroleum decontamination of the soil, and other cleanup of the property, which has been vacant since 2019. The funding will also be used to redevelop the space as a mixed-use commercial and residential development.

“I am pleased to see these brownfield grants being awarded to three different sites in Lake County, two of which are in my Ohio House district,” Rep. Troy stated. “The former Sears store and its companion auto service and repair facility have been sitting dormant for some time, and this grant will help start the process to remove hazardous equipment and substances to allow for future redevelopment of that area for future public and private use in that area of Mentor.”

A $2,499,542 grant has been awarded to begin the decontamination and removal of the Former Eastlake Power Plant, which has been closed for over a decade.

“This grant will begin the process to finally remove contamination and abandoned structures at the former coal-fired plant property on Eastlake’s Lake Erie shoreline near the mouth of the Chagrin River. Many constituents have communicated with me about the need to restore the sea wall area and other parts of the old CEI plant property for recreational use and lakefront access. I’m thrilled to announce the commencement of that process!” Rep. Troy added.

The project will include the demolition of 11 vacant buildings, hazardous material removal, and soil decontamination across the 76.2-acre space along Eastlake’s lakeshore. This cleanup project is the first step in transitioning the site into a mixed-use venue including potential recreational, industrial, and commercial use. Early estimates suggest that the redevelopment effort could result in up to 50 new construction jobs.

The final Lake County project is the remediation of 8 North State Street in Downtown Painesville. The 63,000-square-foot vacant, commercial building is contaminated with asbestos and has significant deterioration. A $658,351 grant has been awarded to decontaminate and restore the space, allowing for redevelopment as a mixed-use commercial facility with plans to include a ground-floor entertainment hub and upper-level office space. The revitalized space is estimated to create 190 new jobs.

“Even though the North State St. property in the City of Painesville is not in my district, I am very familiar with that site from my years working as a County Commissioner two blocks away. This grant to remediate that parcel will help bring in new development and strengthen our county seat’s ongoing downtown revitalization efforts,” Rep. Troy commented.

Before returning to the General Assembly, then-County Commissioner Troy helped create the Lake County Land Reutilization Corporation (Land Bank) and served for many years as its board vice-chair. As a result, he is very aware of the vital role that the land bank can serve in the proper administration of these grant dollars.

As a member of the House Finance Committee, Rep. Troy was a strong advocate to help restore and increase demolition and brownfield remediation funding in the current state operating budget. He has consistently stressed that “we need to redirect more state resources toward the redevelopment of deteriorated sites in our older communities rather than abandon them by continually eating up green space in our outlying areas. I am very pleased to see funding for those types of projects in our community.”