Greater Brighton Area Could See Improvements

The Community Development Committee is looking to south west Zanesville in hopes of improving the area.

The Brighton and Springfield Township area feature industrial properties that are underused. These are considered ‘Browns field’ structures. The development committee hopes to apply for grants from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to aid in the revitalization of the area.

“You go down that area, you certainly see some abandon properties,” said Bennett. “The Munson school property, when I ride down in that area and I visit and look at community facilities, community rights of way or abandoned properties that one sticks out to me that there’s just nothing being done with it and to me that’s unacceptable so that’s certainly one we would want to look at.”

Community Development Director Jay Bennett said that it’s all about making the neighborhood a community that people can be safe and have access to resources.

“How do we make it sustainable,” said Bennett. “So we don’t just go in and do a band aid approach and then all the sudden we’re off doing something else. It’s beyond that. It’s talk about trying to create investment platforms for developers, investment platforms for individuals to buy a house and have resources to help stabilize that house and keep it affordable. ”

While conversations have already begun about the hopes for this long term project it is still in early stages. The committee is hosting a public meeting Tuesday August 11 at 6 p.m. The discussion will take place at Veteran’s Hall at the Muskingum County Fairgrounds.