Depression-era building to be evaluated for brownfield grant

Oct 12, 2009

The city of Ozark has requested and received a brownfield grant from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Now, the old fieldstone community building in the historic downtown square is wrapping up phase one of an environmental evaluation for the brownfield cleanup program.

The old community building was constructed over 80 years ago by the Works Progress Administration during the Depression. The age of the building alone warrants the next phase of the DNR evaluation, which involves environmental remediation of the site, but grant money that would fund the work is being sought after by many other cities as well. The building contains a lot of asbestos, and water leaks have put people on the lookout for mold.

Many people in the city recognize that they have no need for the building anymore, as they have a new community center, but they don’t want it torn down because of its history. Different options for the building’s future include renovating it or selling it to a new owner who would then have to bring the building up to code.

For the full story, go to Springfield News-Leader.

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