A consulting company is helping the Ross County Land Bank get properties approved for reuse. Kevin Coleman was at their meeting Monday with the Ross County Commissioners.
The land bank works to get dilapidated buildings fixed or demolished...and also to get demolished sites available for reuse.
Matthew Wagner is with Tetra Tech, a large global company that helps with environmental cleanup. He said he is doing an assessment of the southern part of the abandoned B&O railyard in Chillicothe, next to the Transit Facility at 7th and Watt streets.
This was the "boneyard," with many spur tracks where junked railcars were burned
Wagner said the Ohio EPA approved it for commercial and industrial reuse, but the Land Bank would like it ok'ed for all uses, including residential. It's based on how deep the soil is tested for contaminants. Commercial and industrial use requires testing down to two feet, while residential requires ten feet.
Wagner is also helping with two other so-called brownfield sites in Chillicothe: demolished gas stations that had underground storage tanks.
Kevin Coleman covers local government and culture for iHeart Media Southern Ohio. For stories or questions, contact the iHeart Southern Ohio Newsroom or Kevin Coleman