OCALA, Fla. (July 26, 2018) – Demolition of the former Royal Oak Charcoal manufacturing plant will begin Wednesday, Aug. 8 at 8:30 a.m. The plant, located at 1921 NW 17th Place, was purchased by the City of Ocala in early 2018.
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection performed Phase I and II Environmental Assessments funded by the United States Environmental Protection Agency under its Site-Specific Activities/Targeted Brownfields Assessment Program. The demolition of the structures is being paid for from the City’s allocation of Community Development Block Grant funds granted by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development.
According to staff, this collaborative effort supports the West Ocala Vision and Community Plan and will make this site suitable for redevelopment, which may include mixed-uses, additional housing choices and possibly a community center. Demolition is expected to be completed by early November.
This event is free and open to the public. Members of the media are encouraged to attend.
For more information, please contact Lisa Walsh, Manager, Economic Development, City of Ocala Revitalization Strategies Department, at lwalsh@ocalafl.org or 352-629-8381.
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Media contact: Katie Young Hunnicutt, Marketing and Communication Manager
Phone: 352-401-3978, Email: khunnicutt@ocalafl.org