by: Rex Smith, Fox 8 Cleveland. See article.
CLEVELAND (WJW) – Since it closed in the 1990s, the site of the former National Acme plant on Cleveland’s east side has sat vacant, decaying, and has been considered an eyesore.
Once partially demolished, it’s a site that would need major renovations before another company could build on it.Near record cold for Cleveland Guardians’ home opener
A partnership between the city of Cleveland and nonprofits the Cuyahoga Land Bank and the Site Readiness For Good Jobs Fund is now moving forward on eliminating the cleanup portion for any company around the world that wants to invest in Cleveland.
Mayor Justin Bibb said at a news conference that the best way to attract new companies and jobs is to have sites that are “shovel-ready.” So, that’s what they’re doing.
“It’s a symbol of hope, a symbol of opportunity, and a symbol of progress of what can happen in Cleveland when we have partners working together that prioritize investing back in the urban core of our great city,” Bibb said.
Bibb and the Site Readiness For Good Jobs Fund also announced that they’re now under contract to clean up the 22 acres just south of the National Acme property, which means they’re cleaning up 37 acres in total.
It was called the “largest developable land in the city of Cleveland.”Speed cameras banned in Ohio counties, townships
Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel attended the news conference and spoke about how this is a move Gov. Mike DeWine supports — clearing up underutilized brownfield sites across the state like the National Acme site.
Tressel said the project needs to be a home run to ensure a better future for the workforce in Cleveland.
“It’s got to bring hope back to our center city, it’s got to make sure that we help prepare a workforce that will help us attract today’s new — whether it’s manufacturing, the IT areas or AI, you name it,” Tressel said.
Councilmen Michael Polensek, Ward 8, and Anthony Hairston, Ward 10, both spoke at the news conference about their push for this project to help revitalize the neighborhoods they represent.
The site falls within Polensek’s Ward 8.
