Eric Schwartzberg - Staff Writer 

Project is funded by Brownfield Remediation Program grant. 

Beckett Paper site cleanup begins, paving way for redevelopment

Beckett Paper site cleanup begins,

Demolition and environmental remediation are now underway at a portion of the former Beckett Paper property, marking a significant milestone in the transformation of one of Hamilton’s most prominent industrial sites.

Funded through a $2.18 million Brownfield Remediation Program grant from the state of Ohio, the project includes demolishing deteriorated structures, removing concrete slabs, foundations, pavement and demolition debris, and addressing environmental conditions that have limited redevelopment of the property for decades, city officials told Journal-News.

Visible work launched June 29 at the 8-acre site on the west side of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, about a quarter-mile north of High Street in downtown Hamilton. The property sits near the convergence of the downtown, German Village, and historic Dayton Lane neighborhoods.

The project follows months of environmental review, engineering, permitting and contractor procurement required to safely undertake remediation at a historic industrial site.

Cleanup of the site is expected to be wrapped up by the end of the year. The historic buildings on the north side of the property will be preserved, according to Mallory Greenham, Hamilton’s director of economic development.

“Located in the urban core of Hamilton, the Beckett Paper campus has long been recognized as one of Hamilton’s most important redevelopment opportunities,” Greenham said. “Completing the cleanup will remove significant barriers to private investment and position the property for future redevelopment.”

The property sits near the convergence of the downtown, German Village and historic Dayton Lane neighborhoods. The site’s industrial use dates back to the mid-1800s, and many Hamilton residents have deep ties to the site, with generations of families having worked there.

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Photo Caption: Crews clear debris and dismantle aging structures as remediation accelerates at the former Beckett Paper site Wednesday, July 1. City officials say the work marks a key moment in Hamilton’s push to prepare the property for future redevelopment rooted in its industrial legacy. It is being funded through a $2.18 million Brownfield Remediation Program grant from the state of Ohio. Nick Graham / Staff  Nick Graham / Nick Graham - Photographer/Videographer