The City of Elkhart Redevelopment Department is pursuing federal funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to support cleanup of the Old Roundhouse Site in the Benham West Neighborhood. This effort builds on prior environmental assessments and ongoing community engagement to prepare the site for future reuse.

The City of Elkhart has submitted an EPA Brownfields Cleanup Grant application for the Old Roundhouse Site. An additional public meeting was held on January 7, 2026, to share updates, review the proposed cleanup approach, and receive community feedback. An award announcement is anticipated in early summer 2026.

While the grant application is under review, the City welcomes continued questions, comments, and ideas. Public input remains an important part of refining the cleanup strategy and long-term redevelopment vision for the site.

Ways to Stay Involved:

• Review project materials available on this page
• Submit questions or comments using the online form
• Share ideas to help inform future reuse and redevelopment

As part of the EPA Brownfields Cleanup Grant process, the City prepared a Cleanup Grant application and an Analysis of Brownfield Cleanup Alternatives (ABCA). These materials describe site conditions, evaluate cleanup options, and outline the proposed cleanup approach.

The draft materials were previously made available for public review and helped inform the final application submitted to EPA. Reference copies remain available on this page for transparency and public information.

Roundhouse Site History

The Old Roundhouse Site was originally developed to support railroad operations, hosting two roundhouses from roughly 1905 through the 1950s, along with repair shops, blacksmith facilities, oil houses, and a coaling station. Following the decline of railroad activity, the site transitioned to a mix of residential and commercial uses before being acquired by the City of Elkhart in 1983. A historic turntable remains visible on-site, reflecting the area’s industrial legacy.

Benham West Neighborhood

The Benham West Neighborhood—historically known as “the Village”—was a central hub of Elkhart’s Black community from the 1920s through the 1970s. The neighborhood included churches, schools, local businesses, and community institutions such as the Booker T. Washington Center (predecessor to the Tolson Center). Urban renewal efforts displaced residents and removed much of the neighborhood fabric, and planned redevelopment did not occur. Current planning and cleanup efforts aim to reconnect the neighborhood, restore a sense of community and place, and support long-term revitalization that reflects community priorities.

Environmental Assessment & Cleanup History
The Old Roundhouse Site has undergone multiple phases of environmental assessment and cleanup under the oversight of the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA):

• 1989–2008 (Early Investigations & Initial Remediation): Soil and groundwater sampling identified contaminants including lead, arsenic, PAHs, VOCs, and TPH. Initial cleanup included excavation and removal of approximately 1,240 tons of impacted soil.
• 2011 (IDEM No Further Action): IDEM issued a No Further Action determination for Lot 2 under a recreational closure and placed an Environmental Restrictive Covenant (ERC) on the property, limiting residential and agricultural use and prohibiting groundwater extraction.
• 2023 (EPA Phase II Environmental Site Assessment): Tetra Tech conducted a Phase II assessment under EPA oversight, confirming elevated lead and arsenic in soil and select contaminants in groundwater, supporting the need for additional cleanup actions.
• 2024 (EPA Removal Action): EPA conducted a Removal Site Evaluation and initiated cleanup activities, including the removal of approximately 9,500 tons of contaminated soil and asbestos-containing materials. Confirmation testing verified compliance with EPA industrial removal standards. Limited near-surface soil exceedances remain and are being monitored as part of ongoing site management.

These coordinated efforts have prepared the site for future redevelopment, ensured environmental safety, and continue to inform the City’s planning for the site’s reuse.

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 share information about the proposed cleanup, EPA grant process, and future reuse opportunities for the historic Roundhouse Site. The October 27 and 28, 2025 meetings focused on project background, including the site’s history, the City’s efforts to pursue an EPA Cleanup Grant, and the draft cleanup approach. Participants reviewed display materials highlighting the Benham Neighborhood Plan, the site’s historical timeline, and visuals of the site’s past, present, and potential future, and had the opportunity to ask questions and share feedback.

The January 7, 2026 meeting provided updates on the project, revisited the proposed cleanup approach, and addressed questions and input from the October meetings. This session also allowed additional discussion and clarification around the cleanup process, anticipated timelines, and next steps.

Community input from all three meetings continues to guide the final cleanup plan, support the City’s EPA grant application, and inform long-term planning and redevelopment efforts for the Roundhouse Site and surrounding neighborhood.

The City of Elkhart and its partners will:

• Await EPA’s Brownfields Cleanup Grant award announcement (anticipated early summer 2026)
• Continue refining the cleanup and redevelopment vision
• Maintain opportunities for public input and information sharing

Project updates and additional opportunities for engagement 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).