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Calamityville funding decision will be worth millions to area

Map: Proposed Calamityville site

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By Christopher Magan, Staff Writer Updated 2:12 PM Monday, May 18, 2009

City leaders and Wright State University professors who want to build a multimillion dollar disaster response training center will learn today, May 18, if the state will give them taxpayer dollars to clean up environmental hazards at the proposed site.

Called “Calamityville,” the proving ground for medical first responders could be a unique attraction and powerhouse — generating up to $75 million in economic impact annually and creating up to 30 high-paying jobs.

The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Development will announce whether Fairborn will get up to $2.8 million to remediate a hazardous chemical spill, clean up environmental problems and prepare the former Cemex cement plant at 506 E. Xenia Drive for Calamityville.

The development could come as the U.S. Air Force prepares to bring more jobs to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base as part of the Base Realignment and Closure process.

“I think, to the city of Fairborn, this is a significant redevelopment opportunity that will bring folks to the area,” said Debbie McDonnell, city manager. “Fairborn needs to revitalize itself.”

McDonnell said the city has already secured $200,000 from the federal government for the cleanup. “Ohio EPA indicated it was a very good project,” she added.

But some questions linger about the true extent of contamination at the site after two environmental consultants hired by the city and university gave differing opinions on how much cleaning up the Cemex site, which is the preferred location for Calamityville, will cost.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2342 or cmagan@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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