Escambia studies Midtown Commerce Center plans at former Superfund site

Escambia County is exploring redevelopment of more than 100 acres around the former Escambia Wood Treating Co. Superfund site into a Midtown Commerce Center and will order additional soil and groundwater testing before proceeding.

Escambia County is advancing long-standing plans to redevelop more than 100 acres around the former Escambia Wood Treating Company Superfund site into the Midtown Commerce Center while seeking more soil and groundwater testing before any construction. County staff and economic development leaders with FloridaWest presented tentative uses and parcel plans at the Jan. 8 Committee of the Whole meeting. The EPA deeded the primary property to Escambia County in 2018 with covenants limiting use to commercial, industrial or manufacturing purposes. County leaders are also discussing purchasing adjacent privately owned parcels and adjusting rights-of-way to improve marketability. Key details: - The redevelopment plan covers three parcel groups: southern, western and northern parcels totaling more than 100 acres, with proposed uses including a fire training facility, stormwater ponds, transit facility, smaller marketable lots and an animal shelter. - Specific parcel figures discussed include about 7.7 acres for a fire training facility, 8.7 acres for an Escambia County Area Transit facility, and roughly 73.2 acres identified as marketable in the northern parcels. - Most contamination was concentrated at the former plant site off Lansdowne Avenue; creosote and other chemicals led to a large relocation in 1992 when the EPA appropriated about 70 acres and moved more than 400 households. - The EPA deed included strict land-use covenants; building on capped areas is permitted but requires special engineering because pilings may not penetrate more than six feet. - County staff noted some adjacent acquired parcels were not initially contaminated and said additional soil testing could potentially lift restrictive covenants in outlying areas. - Commissioners asked staff for a cost estimate for soil and groundwater testing for outlying parcels (especially those next to New Hope Church) by the Jan. 22 board meeting, and asked FloridaWest to produce a "light" master plan and investigate appraisals, Brownfield grants and tax incentives. Summary: The county is balancing redevelopment goals with environmental and legal limits tied to the Superfund cleanup, and officials plan targeted testing to clarify which parcels can support broader uses. Next steps include a cost estimate for additional testing due by the Jan. 22 board meeting and further planning work by FloridaWest on a master plan, appraisals and potential grant or tax-incentive options.