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

The site has deep roots in Elkhart’s history. Once home to two railroad roundhouses and a bustling residential and commercial district, the land still holds the roundhouse turntable and remnants of its past. After decades of industrial use and eventual demolition in the 1950s, the City acquired the property in 1983. Today, contamination remains — but with continued environmental investment, this area has the potential to be transformed for future development that reflects the community’s vision.

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).

Previous Meetings:

• Elkhart Roundhouse Cleanup Plan Public Meeting - 10/27 from 5:30 - 7:00 PM & 10/28 from 12:00 - 1:30 PM @ the Tolson Center: 1320 Benham Ave, Elkhart, IN 46516

Meeting Recap:

MACOG and the City of Elkhart recently hosted two public meetings to discuss the cleanup and future reuse of the historic Roundhouse Site in the Benham West Neighborhood. Both meetings saw strong participation from residents, local stakeholders, and project partners who came together to learn about the site’s history, environmental cleanup process, and next steps toward revitalization.

Each meeting began with a presentation highlighting the project background, the City’s ongoing efforts to secure an EPA Cleanup Grant, and the proposed cleanup approach. The presentation concluded with an open Q&A session, giving attendees the chance to ask questions, share feedback, and learn more about the cleanup and redevelopment process.

Following the presentation, participants explored display materials showcasing the broader Benham Neighborhood Plan, a timeline of neighborhood and site efforts, and visuals illustrating the Roundhouse Site’s past, present, and potential future. Community input gathered during the meetings will help guide planning for the site’s future reuse.

Next Steps:
The City of Elkhart and its partners will:

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

If you were unable to attend, you can view the presentation and meeting materials under the Resources tab on this page. The Engage page will continue to be updated with future project milestones, opportunities to provide feedback, and ways to stay involved in the Roundhouse Site’s cleanup and redevelopment process.