MARYSVILLE, CA (MPG) - At the Jan. 20 meeting, the Marysville City Council announced that the city is applying for an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Brownfields Cleanup Grant of almost $4 million to fund removal and disposal of hazardous debris and contaminated materials at the former Hotel Marysville site. 

Located at 420 5th St., Hotel Marysville was first developed in 1926 but has been vacant for decades. The staff report states that in June 2024, “a major fire caused widespread structural failure and dispersed hazardous debris throughout the site. The unstable structure was subsequently demolished, but contaminated material remains.”

The city secured ownership of the property in November 2024 to implement “temporary stabilization,” per the report, but “permanent cleanup is urgently needed to eliminate environmental hazards, prevent contaminant migration and ready the site for safe reuse.”

The 0.44-acre site currently poses a significant environmental hazard in a highly visible and frequently traveled area of downtown. The city cannot fund the necessary cleanup, so this federal assistance grant is critical in their efforts to remediate the site for future revitalization. 

The report states, “The project will catalyze broader revitalization across the downtown core. The outcomes —healthier living conditions, new jobs and housing, climate resilient design and enhanced public spaces — are directly tied to the City’s reuse strategy and will meaningfully advance Marysville’s land-use, economic development, and climate-adaptation goals.”

The city has already received interest from developers to work on the site after cleanup is complete. 

This meeting met Brownfields Grant requirements for community notification and public participation, in addition to a Town Hall meeting held on Jan. 8. Public Works Director Jeramy Chapdelaine said the public still have a chance to review the application on the city’s website (https://www.marysville.ca.us/) or in person at City Hall. Comments can be submitted by email to [email protected] or [email protected].

The next meeting of the Marysville City Council is scheduled for Feb. 3.