Former auto business site to be remediated, developed into lot
A former eyesore and site of an arson could soon be remediated and developed into a viable residential lot.
The former Salsberry Bump Shop site at 443-445 Donnan Ave. in Washington is scheduled to undergo an environmental cleanup, allowing for construction on a lot that has been vacant for years.
An automobile repair shop and showroom were constructed on the lot by 1925, according to the Redevelopment Authority of Washington County. Businesses operated from the structure through 1999. The 3,500-square-foot building sat decaying until April 27, 2009, when three juveniles set it on fire. City council approved emergency action to demolish the building in May 2009.
“Its previous use was an auto-related business. With that comes hydraulic pits and drums and things that have petroleum-related hazards. We’ve identified there are some in the ground,” said Rob Phillips, redevelopment authority assistant community development director. “So we can build houses there, we have to go through this cleanup process.”
Using a $50,000 EPA Brownfield Revolving Loan Fund grant distributed by the redevelopment authority, Citywide Development Corporation will have the soil removed and tested. Those results will be reviewed, and EPA approval will be required to proceed with development.
The Salsberry family donated the 100-foot-by-250-foot lot to the CDC in 2016 in lieu of paying back taxes.
Phillips expects the CDC to sell the lots to Threshold Housing Development, a nonprofit organization that develops affordable housing. Threshold has been used by the redevelopment authority to complete several projects in the county, including construction of new homes on Summerlea Avenue after seven blighted structures were removed.
The plan on Donnan is to construct two, two-story homes with detached garages, much like the existing houses in the neighborhood, said Phillips, who expects remediation to take about a week.
“Its great for the city,” said Mayor Scott Putnam. “We’re putting a parcel back on the tax rolls and enticing new families to the city of Washington.”
Citywide Development Corporation will conduct a public meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall to present and receive comments about the project.