The Ohio EPA has granted $1.1 million to clear the long-abandoned Oak Rubber site in Ravenna, aiming to revitalize the area.
This place has been vacant for about a decade, and it’s about time something was done. Ohio EPA Director Anne Vogel is set to announce this exciting news at a press conference on Monday right at the site on S. Chestnut St.
The plan is to remove around 1,700 tons of debris from the 2-acre area. It’s a team effort involving the Ohio EPA, the city of Ravenna, and the Akron Regional Air Quality Management District.
Back in 2021, Ravenna tried to start demolishing the building, but it was a slow process. There were issues with people living in it and vandalism. Dennis West, the city’s economic development director, mentioned that they were trying to save some bricks and beams for reuse, which slowed things down.
Then, in May 2022, a fire broke out at the site, leaving a mess of bricks everywhere. The factory, once known as Crest Rubber Company, has three buildings that total 125,000 square feet. Some parts are even from the late 1800s!
The last thing it was used for was a flea market, but after the owner passed away, it became a target for vandals. Now, with this grant, it looks like Ravenna is finally on the path to cleaning up this old site.
