a site of decades-old pollution in Trenton is finally getting cleaned up with the help of a two million dollar Federal Grant from the U.S Environmental Protection Agency the industrial site dates back to the 1800s it was once home to a Pottery Factory coal storage a gas station and most recently a dry cleaning business well the chemicals used in that work caused significant soil and groundwater pollution posing Health threats to neighbors now officials say they're finally achieving some environmental justice Ted Goldberg has the story the inside of this former dry cleaner in Trenton looks like something out of a horror movie it's been vacant for eight years but it could get cleaned up thanks to a Federal grant funded by the infrastructure law passed in 2021. we want to bring new homes here we want to bring new people to live in this community we want to be able to have the people that live here live in a safe environment this is a recorder people come into the capital city down this Corridor and we want them to be welcomed with the beauty that really resonates in this historic uh City the dry cleaner was the latest in a string of industrial businesses hosted here over the past 100 plus years after Trenton asked the EPA to look over the site they found large amounts of tetrachloroethylene in the soil a common compound used by dry cleaners the chemicals industry creates some wonderful product in it and it does seemingly magical things like cleaning our clothes but years later we come to find out that that magical thing is actually really really bad it can pollute our environment it can damage our health every community of people deserve to live to work to play to grow to have their children live in a safe Community this property right here has been an eyesore for many many years and the fact that we're starting to do redeveloping in this area now our concern was what was going to happen with this property because of all of the contamination we like to say this is environmental justice and action this is taking or turning blight into might and we're just really excited that we can be a part of it the contaminants here go 40 feet underground the hope is that once this area is remediated and redeveloped it'll be a big boost for the neighborhood this is the perfect storm and I'm really excited that this to Envision the possibilities of what will be here when this is cleaned up we look across the street we have our beautiful having this property go along with it and it's being renovated it's being knocked down the health issues concerned that is important to us we can't complete the whole Ambiance of the community if we don't get this done so this is imperative the city of Trenton can find a developer to move in after the soil is cleaned up and the buildings are knocked down Trenton is betting on finding new tenants for former industrial sites to give them and the city a brighter future in Trenton I'm Ted Goldberg NJ Spotlight news [Music]