Benwood Seeks Public Input on EPA grant to Demolish Former Union High School

From WTOV: — The City of Benwood is hoping to seek public input on a U.S. EPA Brownfield Cleanup Grant that could help demolish the former Union High School.

“It’s best for everybody if that old building is gone,” Dave McLaughlin, Benwood operations and development director, said. “It’s full of asbestos; there’s no use for it. It’s like the Bellaire Bridge; it’s Bellaire Bridge No. 2 is what it is. Someday it’s going to cause a problem.”

Built in 1913 from consolidated Benwood and McMechen High Schools, it served as a high school until 1968 when it became Union Junior High, educating grades 7-9 until its closure in 2003. Since then, it has been used for private businesses and storage. Recently, it was deemed unusable, and now McLaughlin said the city is interested in redeveloping the property.

“We are applying for brownfield grant funds in the amount of $1.5 million is the estimated cost, to remove the asbestos and/or possibly remove the entire building, that would then make the property available for development,” McLaughlin said.

As a part of the application process the city will conduct a public meeting on Jan. 22 at 6 p.m. at Benwood City Hall. This will be a way for the community to provide input on whether they support or oppose the project.

If demolished, McLaughlin said the city wants to partner with the owners of the property to offer more housing.

“Like a senior housing project,” McLaughlin said. “We need some homes for seniors to live in, and Marshall County lacks homes for senior citizens. So, we are hoping to put some type of facility in there that would help alleviate that problem.”

The project is expensive due to the school’s condition, and McLaughlin said that’s why they’re applying for the grant.

“The city of Benwood, a small town like Benwood, they really don’t have the funds to go spend a million dollars to tear a building down,” McLaughlin said. “So, we are trying to make the area as safe as we can. But they don’t have the money to do it, either. So, hopefully the money comes through from the brownfield grant and that alleviates the problem.”