Former West Fork Incinerator

In-Process Project – This project is in process, and information may change. This page will be updated as it progresses.

Building History:

The site was originally developed as residential from the late 1890s until the early 1950s. In the early 1950s the site was redeveloped by the City of Cincinnati for waste management purposes, and the incinerator refuse bin and placed onto hoppers that fed the waste into one of four furnaces. Heavier ash and other solid waste would fall through the bottom of the furnaces through a hopper and onto an ash conveyer system. Lighter ash and exhaust smoke flowed through the top of the furnaces and into a series of expansion chambers leading to the incinerator exhaust stacks. The building has remained shuttered since incinerations operations stopped in the early 1970s. The site has been predominantly vacant since the 1970s; however, the city has used portions of the site for storage.

Funding (to date):

· US EPA

· City of Cincinnati

· Ohio Department of Development

Development Status:

Through collaborative efforts, the Hamilton County Land Reutilization Corporation (HCLRC), a managed entity of The Port, was able to acquire the former Incinerator site from the City of Cincinnati, unlocking funding sources to complete the cleanup efforts.

Prior to acquisition, The Port completed an Ohio EPA Voluntary Action Program (VAP) compliant Phase I Property Assessment (PA) and ASTM 1527-21 compliant Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA). The Phase I PA/ESA was performed by Terracon Consultants, Inc. in January 2025.

Abatement work will begin in the Summer of 2025 to remove asbestos-containing materials (ACM) as well as ash and refractory brick. Demolition will begin following the safe removal of hazardous materials.

Project Partners:

Ohio Department of Development

City of Cincinnati

US EPA

Ohio EPA