Site History
This redevelopment project is located along the west shore of Boardman Lake between 12th and 16th Street and contains approximately 13.59 acres. This property is an irregular-shaped parcel of land bounded by vacant land and a railroad (right of way) ROW to the north, Boardman Lake to the east, additional vacant land and railroad ROW to the south, and to the west by industrial concerns and railroad ROW owned by the Michigan Department of Transportation to the west.
Redevelopment
Based on review of historical documents including historical atlas maps, this property had been utilized for railroad purposes since at least 1904 through 1982. Additional occupants have included an ice house, an asphalt batch plant, a vehicle fueling area and a bulk fuel storage area. Contaminants present included industrial waste lagoon leachate emanating from the Cone Drive facility, uphill from the subject property. The petroleum-based sludge presented itself in seeps along the shoreline and was present in shallow excavations, such as those for building footings. Surface contamination from stored petroleum and from asphalt plant operations was pervasive. Railroad track ballast containing heavy metals contamination was present and copper arsenic and creosote from railroad tie debris was also of concern throughout the property.