A former industrial property in Sebring that's turned into a eyesore could soon be cleaned up and developed.

Oliver China helped put Sebring on the map back in 1899. A while later they became Royal China.
They made plates and dinnerware until a fire closed the factory in 1969. The rest of the building burned down in 2010.

Since that time the property has laid vacant because the soil is contaminated with large amounts of lead.
Now the land bank is applying for a $1.8 million dollar brownfield grant.

"It's more than 20 acres of land in the heart of Sebring. It is ripe for redevelopment but it won't happen with all of the liability of the contaminated soil there. More than 24,000 cubic feet of soil needs to be removed and replaced to make this a functional site," said Debora Flora of the Mahoning Co. Land Bank.

Businessman, Michael Conny, who owns MAC Trailer in Alliance, now owns the land.

Sebring Mayor, James Harp says Conny plans to develop it post clean-up.

"I believe he will do what he says he is going to do bring something to Sebring in reference to jobs down the road but I haven't heard any definite commitment," said Harp.

The mayor says Conny has removed surface trash and put up greenery around the property.
I tried contacting Conny for comment but those calls were not returned.

If the grant is awarded it could 15 months to have all of the contaminated soil removed from the site just to have it ready for any development.