“This started two years ago when the city declared it a public nuisance,” said Holt. “Then we worked with our partners at the Montgomery County Land Bank and at the Ohio Department of Development to start the groundwork for addressing this blighted property.”
The former MTC property on Linden is west of Woodman Drive, right on the Riverside-Dayton border. It sits between the Eastown Shopping Center in Dayton and a multi-building Claypool office complex in Riverside. Riverside city officials said the demolition does not involve any Claypool buildings in the 4100 block of Linden.
City of Riverside economic development specialist Lori Minnich said the Ohio Department of Development’s Revitalization & Demolition Program is funding 75% of the demolition, while the Montgomery County Land Bank is paying for another 12.5 percent.
“We worked closely with the Montgomery County Land Bank in securing funds to remove deteriorating eyesores in our business areas and neighborhoods,” Minnich said.
Holt said the city is paying the last 12.5%, and that the estimated total project cost is $530,000.
Jergens Construction and its contractors first had to meet EPA requirements, according to the city, as the property contained asbestos that had to be removed before any other work could begin.
As the demolition began, many interior walls of the buildings could be seen covered in graffiti, evidence of people trespassing in the buildings over the years they have been closed.
The target date for completion of all demolition activities is around Jan. 15, 2024, then the property will be seeded in the spring to prepare for redevelopment.
