The City of Elkhart Redevelopment Department is applying for federal funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to clean up the Old Roundhouse Site in the Benham West Neighborhood — and community input will help guide this important effort.

The draft EPA Brownfields Cleanup Grant application and the draft Analysis of Brownfield Cleanup Alternatives (ABCA) are now available for public review and comment. Community members are encouraged to review the materials, attend the upcoming public meeting, and share feedback on the proposed cleanup and future reuse of the site.

Ways to Participate:

• Review the draft Cleanup Grant application and ABCA
• Attend the public meeting
• Submit comments online or in writing

As part of the EPA Brownfields Cleanup Grant process, the City of Elkhart has prepared a draft Cleanup Grant application and a draft Analysis of Brownfield Cleanup Alternatives (ABCA). These documents describe site conditions, evaluate cleanup options, and outline the proposed approach for addressing contamination at the Old Roundhouse Site.

The draft EPA Cleanup Grant application and Analysis of Brownfield Cleanup Alternatives (ABCA) are available for public review in person at the City of Elkhart Redevelopment Department (201 S. Second St.) or online via the buttons below on this project page.

Community members are encouraged to share comments on the draft Cleanup Grant application and ABCA either during the public meeting or in writing.

• Online: Submit comments using the Questions & Comments form on this page
• Email: adam.fann@coei.org
• Deadline: Written comments will be accepted through 4:30 PM on January 14, 2026

All feedback received will help inform the final grant application and cleanup approach.

Roundhouse Site History

• Originally hosted two railroad roundhouses (1905–1950s) supporting passenger and freight locomotives.
• Site included repair shops, blacksmith facilities, oil houses, and a coaling station.
• Later used for residential and commercial purposes before City of Elkhart acquisition in 1983.
• The historic turntable remains visible, preserving a link to the neighborhood’s industrial past.

Benham West Neighborhood

• Known as “the Village,” Benham West was a thriving center of Elkhart’s Black community from the 1920s–1970s.
• Home to churches, schools, local businesses, and the Booker T. Washington Center (predecessor to the Tolson Center).
• Urban Renewal displaced residents and demolished much of the neighborhood; promised redevelopment never occurred, leaving the area fragmented.
• Current efforts aim to reconnect these areas and restore a sense of community and place.

Elkhart Roundhouse Cleanup Plan Public Meetings

• October 27, 2025 | 5:30 – 7:00 PM
• October 28, 2025 | 12:00 – 1:30 PM
• January 7, 2026 | 12:00 – 1:30 PM
  Location: Tolson Center, 1320 Benham Ave, Elkhart, IN 46516

Meeting Recap

MACOG and the City of Elkhart hosted three public meetings to discuss the proposed cleanup and future reuse of the historic Roundhouse Site. Together, these meetings saw strong participation from residents, neighborhood stakeholders, and project partners, reflecting continued community interest in the site and its long-term potential.

The October meetings introduced the project background, including the history of the Roundhouse Site, the City’s efforts to pursue an EPA Cleanup Grant, and the proposed cleanup strategy. Participants had the opportunity to ask questions, share concerns, and review display materials highlighting the Benham Neighborhood Plan, the site’s historical timeline, and visuals showing the site’s past, present, and potential future.

The January 7, 2026 meeting built on those earlier discussions by providing updates on the project, revisiting the proposed cleanup approach, and responding to questions and feedback received during the October meetings. The meeting also included additional time for open discussion and clarification around the cleanup process, anticipated timelines, and next steps.

Community input gathered across all three meetings will help inform the final cleanup plan and support the City’s EPA grant application, while also guiding future planning and redevelopment efforts for the Roundhouse Site and surrounding neighborhood.

The City of Elkhart and its partners will:

• Finalize and submit the EPA Brownfields Cleanup Grant application
• Continue community engagement and visioning activities to guide the site’s cleanup and reuse

Project updates, materials, and additional opportunities for input will continue to be posted on this page.

MACOG encourages the public and other local stakeholders to provide input into the process, from identifying sites, to cleanup options, and the final end for priority brownfields enrolled in the grant.

Inclusive Participation: Please contact MACOG if you face challenges participating online. Printed surveys can be mailed by request. If English is not your first language, ask someone to contact the MACOG office to request an interpreter or translated materials. (Si el inglés no es su primera lengua, pida a alguien que contacte a la oficina de MACOG para más información o solicitar un intérprete que le pueda asistir durante la reunión).