Dayton, Ohio – In a significant step toward neighborhood revitalization and environmental safety, the City of Dayton has completed the cleanup of two long-abandoned gas station sites. The projects, both spanning several years, were backed by the Ohio Department of Development through the Abandoned Gas Station Cleanup Grant program and aim to transform once-contaminated areas into public greenspaces or future neighborhood gateway sites.
City Leaders Emphasize Community and Environmental Benefits
“The City of Dayton is proud to be working effectively to leverage grant funding, clean up these problematic sites, and protect our neighborhoods,” said City Manager Shelley Dickstein. The cleanups involved extensive environmental remediation efforts to ensure both locations meet commercial safety standards and are free of lingering contaminants that once posed threats to local communities.
Brinkman’s Transmission Site Cleaned and Cleared
Located at 3503 Riverside Drive, the first site housed a gas station in the 1950s before it closed in the mid-1970s. The Brinkman family then used the property as an auto repair shop from 1984 until roughly 2008. The location, situated across from the Stillwater River, presented a significant concern due to the risk of petroleum contaminants seeping into the nearby waterway.
The City of Dayton acquired the property through its former Lot Links program. Using grant funding, the Department of Planning, Neighborhoods & Development demolished the building, removed contaminated soils, conducted necessary environmental monitoring, and finalized required reports. Weston Solutions, a contracted environmental consulting firm, led the remediation work.
The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a “No Further Action” letter earlier this year, signaling that the site has met state commercial property standards. The total cleanup and monitoring efforts at the site cost $285,000.
Omega Oil Site Restored through Partnership Effort
The second site, located at 2036 N. Gettysburg Avenue, followed a similar remediation path but involved a broader collaboration. The project was spearheaded by the City of Dayton in partnership with Greater Dayton Premier Management (GDPM) and the Montgomery County Land Bank. The vacant property, situated near a GDPM apartment complex, had long posed health concerns to nearby residents due to its abandoned condition and remaining infrastructure.
Originally developed as a residential property around the early 1900s, the site transitioned into a gas station in 1972 under the Omega Oil Company before closing its doors in 1988. Although the structure had been torn down to its foundation around 1990, a detailed environmental investigation uncovered four underground storage tanks, complete with piping and concrete foundations, that were never removed.
As with the first project, the City used its grant funding to remove these remaining hazards, including contaminated soils. The site was then monitored and documented according to state environmental standards. Terracon Consultants, Inc. was the contractor overseeing this cleanup.
The Ohio Bureau of Underground Storage Tank Regulations (BUSTR) has since issued its own “No Further Action” letter, confirming that the tanks and other contaminants were safely and thoroughly removed. The total cost for this cleanup project came to $176,000.
Toward a Cleaner and More Vibrant Dayton
Both sites—each about half an acre in size—are now cleared for safe public use and will either be converted into green public space or developed into welcoming neighborhood gateways. With these transformations, Dayton officials highlight not only environmental responsibility but also a strategic approach to neighborhood improvement.
These projects reflect the City’s ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship, strategic redevelopment, and leveraging state support to benefit residents across Dayton.
