Motorsports complex planned for Lorain's former landfill

LORAIN – A motorsports complex is slated for Lorain's east side. Kris McCrone of McCrone Motorsports met with City Council in executive session to present plans to rehabilitate the former Cromwell Park landfill. If all goes well, the 204-acre site will transform from a former dump into a public motorsport complex, including a half-mile road course for race carts, a 9/10ths of a mile competition track and a 3/8th mile dirt oval, McCrone said. A letter of intent is expected to come before City Council on Dec. 20. Mayor Jack Bradley said the deal has been in the works for a long time, but without U.S. Steel releasing an $850,000 mortgage the city has on the property, it wouldn't happen. Lorain took out the loan in 2004, purchasing the property from U.S. Steel. Bradley, McCrone and others traveled to Pittsburgh to get the company to release the mortgage. "It protects the city of Lorain, and it protects US Steel and they can move forward with their project," he said. "It's a big win for the city of Lorain." McCrone said they'd originally looked at a property in Elyria, but were approached by Brad Mullins with the Lorain Port Authority at the 11th hour to see the Cromwell site. Attorney Ryan Gembala with OMDP Law said the group is moving with deliberate speed. "This is a piece of land that doesn't has a heck of a lot of utility given its condition and Kris and his team saw an opportunity to take something that really couldn't be used and make something positive out of it," Gembala said. "We're going to get the public involved in terms of their opportunity to use this facility, we're hoping to host some professional races as well and really build out from there." Mike Bossetti, engineer and president of Sortis Design LLC, said the group will need to get final plan approval from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, but plans to construct the site without disturbing any of the landfill cells. If all goes well, the complex could open in August or September. Councilwoman Beth Henley, D-1st Ward, was excited to see investment planned in the vacant site. "If all these parts fall into place I see it as a win-win," she said. " It'll be a huge catalyst for the Colorado corridor and Sheffield Village included … I am extremely pleased – this is a huge win." Contact Carissa Woytach at (440) 329-7245 or cwoytach@chroniclet.com.