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$1.6 million grant targets old paper mill

Middletown will receive  funds to clean up a portion of a property on First Street.

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By Ryan Gauthier, Staff Writer 2:46 AM Saturday, November 21, 2009

MIDDLETOWN — The city of Middletown is set to receive a $1.6 million grant to clean up a portion of a former paper mill on First Street.

The funding is part of $28 million in Clean Ohio Revitalization Fund grants to communities all over the state. Gov. Ted Strickland and Ohio Department of Development Director Lisa Patt-McDaniel announced grants Friday, Nov. 20, for 16 brownfield cleanup projects.

“Too many of our workers and businesses are reeling from this global economic recession, which makes our partnerships with local communities and our efforts to improve Ohio’s business climate even more important,” Strickland said. “Clean Ohio investments encourage business development and job creation by revitalizing our communities and previously used industrial properties.”

Middletown’s grant is intended to remediate issues at the STM Property at the former Sutphin Wrenn Union Paper Mill, 810 First Ave. The city owns two vacant parcels on the land.

According to grant application materials filed earlier this year, the city is hoping to negotiate a commercial project that could create more than 200 jobs and an annual payroll of about $8 million.

The project would include asbestos abatement, building demolition, contaminated soil cleanup and groundwater monitoring. The city hopes to have the project completed and begin new construction on the site by the end of 2011.

Contact this reporter at (513) 523-4139, ext. 86102, or at rgauthier@coxohio.com.

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if you want to know the truth about the buildings that are being torn down with grants and other government funds dig a little deeper and see who really owns these properties that will probably explain alot, if i owned these building i would have to pay for demolition out of my own pocket come on journal investigate this and print it so we all can really know the truth

darrell
8:32 PM, 11/21/2009

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Middletown is to become one flat giant parking lot with no cars to park on it. What sense is there to this madness? I have heard nothing in regards to attracting new businesses to the Middletown area through the establishment of a business-friendly environment. Without businesses and jobs, what possible purpose could demolishing the city serve? Oh, that's right- this will be some of those construction jobs (even though they are temporary) created by the Stimulus funds.

Gregg Nicholl
6:06 PM, 11/21/2009

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SO what is this sudden need for the state & local communities to demolish everything in their path ? Is it the influx of OUR tax money aka stimulus funds ? It seems more has been torn down in Middeltown this past year than in the last 100 years.

delbert
9:19 AM, 11/21/2009

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