Enviroscience's Use of Former City Building Named Best Public/Private Partnership

A private and public repurposing agreement in the city of Stow was lauded for its efficiency at the Team NEO Economic Development Plus Awards dinner in Cleveland Thursday. 

The city, EnviroScience Inc. and the Great Akron Chamber was named the best public/private partnership in Northeast Ohio in 2012. 

In an effort to save money and make better use of space, the parks and recreation department moved into City Hall in October and shortly after that, EnviroScience moved into the vacant space.

Mayor Sara Drew previously said she expects that a private company in the former public building will draw in tens of thousands of dollars in property taxes. 

The move was also necessary because the parks department has been downsized during the last three years and the mayor said it didn't make sense to have a smaller staff alone in such a large building.

"This relocation makes sense, in that the public will be served in a facility that is centrally located with ease of access," Parks and Rec Director Linda Nahrstedt previously said.

"The agreement with EnviroScience to re-purpose the parks and recreation complex was, (to use an overused but appropriate cliché) a “win-win” business transaction for both EnviroScience and the xity of Stow," a press release from the city stated. "The new location allows EnviroScience to consolidate their operations from two separate facilities into one complex as well as provides additional space for staff expansion, all in a very attractive park setting. The company currently has 52 full-time employees and plans to add 16 full-time and 16 part-time employees within three years."

“The city has greatly benefited from the project by retaining a valuable income-generating Stow company, eliminating maintenance costs associated with the parks and recreation complex, and converting a formerly nontaxable property into a taxable property," Drew said.