WEIRTON – The earth was moving at the site of the former Jimmy Carey Stadium this week, as preparations are under way for a possible new tenant at the property. According to Pat Ford, executive director of the Business Development Corp. of the Northern Panhandle, the organization recently received a $90,000 targeted brownfield assessment grant for the property located near Virginia Avenue in Weirton's downtown. As part of the grant, provided through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the soil and remaining structures will be tested for contaminants before any future development can take place. Article Photos WORK — Work crews were on site at the former Jimmy Carey Stadium property Tuesday and Wednesday to remove old fuel tanks and begin clearing the land for remediation work. According to officials with the Business Development Corp. an agreement has been signed for a possible new business to locate at the site. — Contributed That work began this week. “We got the notice from the EPA Monday,” Ford said, noting crews arrived Tuesday and had the work, including removal of old fuel tanks, completed Wednesday. An analysis of the property will be performed over the next few months. “They're going to be taking core samples from the entire property,” Ford said. “It's a very comprehensive analysis of the site.” Ford explained the work is important because the BDC has signed a contract with a manufacturer to possibly locate on the former stadium property, with plans for a $3 million investment into the site and the possibility of up to 24 new jobs being created. The agreement includes a lease, with future ownership, but the site must be remediated first, with other zoning and permitting requirements also needed. “The closing is contingent upon the prospect getting the property rezoned and getting the necessary permits,” Ford said. The BDC also previously had received a $10,000 grant for a Phase I study of the site, and a $12,000 grant for a planning study. The former Jimmy Carey Stadium is the last of three properties the BDC purchased from the Hancock County Commission in December 2013 to have projects announced. The former Newell Memorial Field previously has been announced as the future home of Hancock County Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep-Ram. In addition, the former Weirton Heights Volunteer Fire Department, on Pennsylvania Avenue in Weirton, will be the new home of an expanded Domino's. “We'll be able to pay back the half-million dollars from the Hancock County Commission in its entirety,” Ford said. “I think that's reflective of how strong the market is in the Northern Panhandle.”
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