Cleaning up and preparing the former Crystal Springs Print Works Factory site for future development is expected to take three to four years, according to city officials.
The City of Chickamauga recently accepted a $1.45 million federal grant to begin environmental cleanup efforts at the roughly 130-acre property. City leaders are also hoping to secure an additional $4 million in federal funding by June to continue removing contamination from the century-old factory site.
The textile mill closed in 2012, and while much of the facility was demolished in the years that followed, redevelopment efforts largely stalled around the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Over the past three years, the city has worked with engineers to study the property and identify contamination concerns. Officials are partnering with Terracon, an engineering and consulting firm that specializes in cleaning former industrial and mill sites.
City leaders say long-term plans for the property could include restaurants, businesses, and green space once cleanup efforts are completed.
As the city continues applying for grant funding and begins seeking private investors, officials also plan to host town hall meetings this summer to gather public input on the future of the site.