Last month, the Columbus Dispatch published a story about the history of the Grandview Yard transformation from a blighted brownfield site into a transformative mixed-use district that has reversed a communities downward trend. GOPC’s Aaron Clapper submitted the below response to the Dispatch which was not published, but we share now celebrating this transformation and the role Ohio’s Brownfield Programs play in remediating similar sites across Ohio.
The Dispatch rightly celebrates Grandview Yard’s transformation of the shuttered Big Bear complex into a thriving mixed-use district. But one ingredient in that success deserves more attention: Ohio’s investment in brownfield cleanup.
When Big Bear departed, it left behind buildings and land full of refrigerant chemicals, asbestos, and heavy metals. In 2009, the state awarded $2.85 million to remove and mitigate these environmental contaminants. This investment made possible for the redevelopment that continues today.
The success of Grandview Yard demonstrates why Ohio’s current Brownfield Remediation Program matters. Since 2021, the state has committed $900 million to brownfield assessment and cleanup across Ohio. These grants often provide the critical “but-for” funding that sufficiently lowers risks for the public and private sector: With more than 9,000 brownfields likely remaining in Ohio, we have a lot of opportunity—and costs—ahead of us.
Grandview Yard shows what is possible when Ohio invests in brownfields. State leaders should keep the momentum going.
-Aaron Clapper is the Director of Outreach and Projects at Greater Ohio Policy Center, and the author of the organization's recently released white paper, "The Economic Benefit of Brownfields: How the Brownfield Remediation Program is Boosting Ohio’s Economy."
Cover photo: Grandview Yard via Ohio Development Services Agency (Source: Flickr)