SOUTH BEND — The South Bend community will recieve an update on ongoing work at the former Drewrys Brewery site — which has sat vacant, crumbling and deemed an “eyesore” for years — during two community engagement sessions Tuesday, June 23, and Wednesday, June 24.
The sessions are at the Near Northwest Neighborhood Community Center, 1007 Portage Ave., from 6 to 8 p.m.
Officials with the city will present “the cleanup work completed to date, outline next steps in site preparation and will present preliminary plans for future development,” a press release said. Presentations will begin at 6 p.m.
The asbestos-riddled Drewrys Brewry site, 1408 Elwood Ave., had been mostly unused for decades after much of the site closed in 1972 due to large brewers coming onto the market. The site was redeveloped for use but ultimately was left to deteriorate in front of the community’s eyes.
In 2022, after the Phoenix-based owner Steve Durkee failed to pay back taxes, the city received the property.
The site underwent significant demolition by the previous owner, which according to previous Tribune reporting, wasn’t done properly and caused the remaining debris to have to be removed as if it were all contaminated with asbestos. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency removed over 13,000 pounds of debris.
Most recently, demolition concluded at the Elwood Shopping Center and Portage Sunoco Garage, where alongside the Drewrys site, the city plans to put single family housing, apartments and commercial spaces, according to previous Tribune reporting.
Email Tribune staff writer Juliane Balog at jbalog@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: City to provide updates to community on Drewrys Brewery site
Reporting by Juliane Balog , South Bend Tribune / South Bend Tribune
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By Juliane Balog , South Bend Tribune | USA TODAY Network
