EPA to Remove Hazardous Substances from Warehouse in Cleveland’s Broadway-Slavic Village Neighborhood
Agency to hold public meeting October 6 to answer questions about the cleanup
CHICAGO (September 29, 2026) – Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) began removing hazardous substances from a warehouse at 3101 E. 55th St. in Cleveland, Ohio. The cleanup, which includes disposing of abandoned drums and containers, is expected to be completed by early 2027.
EPA will conduct monitoring during the cleanup to ensure activities do not affect air quality in the neighborhood. Residents may notice increased vehicle activity in the area and workers wearing protective gear required to handle hazardous substances. EPA is coordinating with the city, Ohio EPA and the Ohio Department of Health.
EPA will hold a public meeting to discuss the cleanup and answer questions from community members:
When:
Tuesday, October 6
6 – 7 p.m.
Where:
Elizabeth Baptist Church — Gymnasium
6114 Francis Ave.
Cleveland, Ohio
Background:
The 3.29-acre site contains a four-story warehouse originally built as a commercial bakery and warehouse in the mid-1920s. After 1960, the building was mainly used for storage under various owners. The current owner, Bessemer 55 LLC, purchased the site in 2019.
Ohio EPA and the City of Cleveland inspected the site in September 2025, responding to complaints from residents. After discovering numerous abandoned containers with hazardous-substance labels in the building, Ohio EPA referred the site to EPA.
EPA collected samples from containers, surfaces, and debris inside the building which confirmed flammable, toxic, and corrosive wastes, as well as friable asbestos and polychlorinated biphenyls. EPA also documented evidence of spills, trespassing, and vandalism.
For more information about the response, visit EPA’s Bessemer 55 LLC removal website.
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