By Heather Bell
RADFORD – Radford City Council voted Monday to contract with Haley and Aldrich, an environmental and geotechnical engineering consultant firm, to complete an updated environmental report on the former Radford Foundry site.
In late October 2022, the city negotiated a six-month option to purchase the 80-plus acre property owned by Virginia Castings pending an updated environmental study on the site. That study is being funded by two Virginia Department of Environmental Quality grants totaling $100,000.
“When we ventured down this road, we knew we had to do a couple of things if we were gonna consider being able to buy this property,” said Radford Mayor David Horton at council’s Monday, Feb. 27 meeting. “We had to update the environmental report and make sure there was not a huge liability we would be taking on and putting in our taxpayers’ way, and also see if the Department of Environmental Quality would be a partner with us on this, and they have stepped up big time.”
“The grants are an important indication of their dedication to getting this site cleaned up and useful,” Horton continued.
City leaders have said the potential redevelopment of the former foundry site could have important commercial and quality-of-life impacts on Radford. When they reached the agreement in October, Radford Economic Development Director Kim Repass said the property could be a “game changer” for the city.
“We are taking the necessary steps to clean up and redevelop the former foundry site which will bring economic development, job creation, and investment to our community,” said Repass at the time. “The ability to acquire new industry and commercial businesses on this property will be a game changer for the City of Radford.”
Horton said Monday the possibilities are exciting.
“This is really exciting,” he said. “This is a huge part of the future for the City of Radford. The business and commercial activity that could take place with these 80 acres is tremendous and, if nothing else, cleaning up this site is important.”
The option includes the larger, eastern portion of the former foundry site, not the western portion that includes the empty Grede building and a parking area.
The foundry has been a part of Radford’s industrial base since 1880 as the Radford Iron and Coal Company. According to the city, it employed approximately 1,500 people at its peak in the late 1970’s. The foundry produced ductile iron products, from water/sewer pipes to auto parts, until it closed permanently in 2013. The site has been vacant for the past decade.
Radford City Manager David Ridpath said the updated environmental study will be completed by the first week in April. The city has until April 26 to act on the option to purchase the property.
