AVON LAKE, Ohio — Proposed future plans for the site of the former NRG Energy Avon Lake power plant were unveiled to the public on Tuesday.
The Avon Lake Environmental Redevelopment Group, LLC (ALERG) hosted a public meeting alongside city leaders and partner firms at the Avon Lake High School Performing Arts Center.
The century-old power plant was shut down in 2021. ALERG, a subsidiary of Charah Solutions Inc., completed its acquisition of the plant and the adjacent property from GenOn in April. "We kind of knew when it was coming," recalls then-plant manager Dan Rogatto. "When it actually happened, it hurt."
Rogatto is now part of the team wanting to revitalize the lakefront property where the plant now stands.
ALERG is responsible for the shutdown and decommissioning of the coal power plant, as well as the demolition and environmental remediation at the 131-acre site.
While that process takes place, ALERG, commercial real estate firm Avison Young, and architecture design firm Gensler are showcasing their vision for the future of the property. Renderings show plans to keep the plant's iconic stacks, while taking advantage of open space along the lakefront.
PHOTOS: Renderings of proposed redevelopment of Avon Lake power plant site
Meanwhile, local union workers want to make sure that the work being done to the plant is being handled by workers from the state. Chuck Brooky with Laborers' Union Local 758 in Lorain County is for the project but against the hiring of workers from outside of Ohio.
"We are all trained in asbestos," Brooky told 3News. "We have the hours and we are all licensed. With out-of-state workers, we don't know what kind of training they have."
Consultants for the project say there will be plenty of jobs available and say the venture could be very profitable for Avon Lake. A park with green space, offices, retail, and possibly residential areas is appealing to many in the city.
“This is a pivotal moment for the future of the city, and we are delighted to have this opportunity to craft a new vision for the power plant site and our community," said Avon Lake Mayor Greg Zilka in a statement. "We aim to revitalize the lakefront, connect the city to Lake Erie, and create the largest open space and public lakefront project that our region has seen in decades while serving as a catalyst for economic growth.”
Project planners say they will be driven by five themes in their redevelopment strategy:
- Reposition the lakefront
- Remediate the power plant
- Revitalize the power plant site
- Restore the open space
- Renovate the historic Turbine Hall
"With the decommissioning of the coal-fired power plant on site, there is an opportunity for Avon Lake to reinvent itself for the 21st Century. The size of this site offers a significant redevelopment opportunity to further bolster the economic and social heart of the city and its surrounding communities," added Gensler Principal and Board Director Andre Brumfield. "Most critically, the vision for the site will connect the City of Avon Lake back to the shorelines of Lake Erie. The primary driver of this effort is to create a new public realm along the lakefront that will serve as a catalyst for new development and create a regional destination for Greater Cleveland and a new identity for Avon Lake.”
You can watch Tuesday's public meeting below:
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