Urbana site earns EPA approval

The former Johnson Manufacturing Company property at 605 Miami St. in Urbana has cleared another hurdle.

From Urbana Daily Citizen
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The former Johnson Manufacturing Company property at 605 Miami St. in Urbana received another boost toward redevelopment for commercial or industrial use last week when the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency issued a covenant not to sue under its Voluntary Action Program (VAP) following the remediation of 12.66 acres located on the east side of the property.
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In 2011, with the assistance of Hull & Associates, the city obtained a grant from the Ohio Department of Development through the Clean Ohio Assistance Fund for assessment work at the site.

In 2014, the city filed an expedited foreclosure application with the county Board of Revision. The following year, no one bid for the property at public auctions and the property was forfeited to the city.

In 2017, the city took title to the property and, later that year, TIS Properties LLC partnered with the city to clean up and redevelop the site. The city and TIS both committed funds toward that end, and the Champaign Economic Partnership assisted in obtaining grant funding.

In 2020, the city transferred ownership of the east side of the property to TIS Properties LLC.

The city still owns the west side of the property, west of Dugan Run and the Simon Kenton Trail. City officials say remediation has been completed on the west side and that a covenant not to sue will be requested from Ohio EPA. At that point, the city hopes to find an end user.
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The city, TIS and the Champaign Economic Partnership continue work to redevelop the property.

Information provided by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, the city of Urbana and the Champaign Economic Partnership