Ohio foundry undergoes demolition

Columbus Castings, a steel foundry in Columbus, Ohio, is being demolished, a report by WOSU says. The complex was purchased by Reich Bros. Inc., a White Plains, New York-based company that buys and sells industrial properties, in bankruptcy court in 2016.

The 112-year-old complex was used to turn molten metal into undercarriages for railway cars. The previous owner stopped operations and laid off 800 people in 2016. Despite the foundry employing several people in the area, residents are relieved to see the building go.

Local Kyle Kaiser called the building an “eyesore,” saying in the report that the foundation is caving in on the bottom. Jeffrey Cooper, another local resident, says the foundry emitted an odor and created air pollution.

Reich Bros. say in the report they plan to clean up and develop the site for industrial or retail use once the foundry is demolished. The campus includes 44-acres under a roof and several more acres of areas grounds. No timeline has been set for redevelopment after the building is demolished.