The hulking West Fork Incinerator along Mill Creek has finally cleared its biggest hurdle. Asbestos abatement at the long vacant site wrapped up Monday, officials say, opening the door for demolition later this year and, eventually, a fresh life for the parcel as a new link in the Mill Creek Greenway.
Abatement Marks A Key Milestone
The end of asbestos removal is being treated as a major turning point for the project, according to WKRC. Demolition is expected to begin later this year once the hazardous materials work is certified and contractors are officially on the job.
State Grant Covers Hazardous Materials
The high price tag for cleaning up decades of contamination is being covered largely by state brownfield funding. Ohio awarded roughly $5 million to pay for asbestos, lead, and other hazardous materials cleanup, according to WVXU. City funding records list the West Fork grant at about $5.05 million, reflecting a coordinated push from state and local officials to get the site ready for teardown and reuse.
The Port Is Soliciting Work
The Port of Greater Cincinnati Development Authority, working through the Hamilton County Land Reutilization Corporation, is steering the remediation effort and lining up the next round of work. The agency issued a public Request for Bids for additional asbestos and universal waste abatement in 2025, with demolition contracting to follow, according to The Port of Greater Cincinnati Development Authority. The Port moved abatement into the field last year and plans to procure demolition services once all remaining hazardous materials are removed.
A Long Vacant Mill Creek Landmark
The West Fork Incinerator quit burning trash in the 1970s and has sat mostly empty ever since, turning into an industrial eyesore along the West Fork of Mill Creek while officials hunted for funding and a viable reuse plan, Cincinnati Business Courier. City Council records indicate councilmembers approved a transfer of municipal funds to help The Port get the property ready for demolition, a sign that local leaders are invested in finally dealing with the aging structure.
Neighbors Hope For Trails And River Access
Neighborhood leaders told reporters they are hoping the cleared site delivers more than just an empty lot. They want new trails, safer river access, and small amenities that can better connect South Cumminsville to the Mill Creek corridor, according to WVXU. Advocates say tying the property into the Mill Creek Greenway would be a visible payoff for years of brownfield work up and down the valley.
What To Watch Next
With asbestos abatement complete, the next steps are less dramatic but just as important: contractor selection, permitting, and site mobilization. Local reporting says demolition is expected to start later this year once those pieces are in place. Public project listings identify the property at 3300 Millcreek Road and show The Port’s intent to move from abatement into demolition contracting, so neighbors should expect fencing, equipment, and staging activity to pick up in the months ahead.
