A charter school could soon be coming to the site where crews currently are clearing contaminated soil.
Willie Cunningham remembers learning about the problems caused by the city of Jacksonville’s trash incinerators.
Ash from the incinerators was dumped not far from his home.
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“When they were digging it up, it didn’t look nice, but when they got through with it, it looked very nice,” Cunningham said.
His home is surrounded by yards that had to be excavated when the federal government learned the ash from the incinerator was loaded with lead.
In 1999, the government required the city to test the soil at nearby homes and clean up any pollution.
“Kids be going to school and playing around here they don’t need to be in nothing contaminated,” Cunningham said.
According to a rezoning application submitted to the city a developer wants to put a charter school on the Forest Street site.
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The application was filed by Vestcor Family Foundation.
John Rood, chairman of the Vestcor Companies, Inc., is also listed as board chairman for Jacksonville Classical Academy, according to the school’s website.
Cunningham said he’s not concerned about the possibility of a school on the previously contaminated site, but says plenty of parents will be worried.
The school’s website says the tuition-free public charter school is set to open in Fall 2020.
Project New Ground is clearing up pollution from when the city previously used trash incinerators. @ActionNewsJax @WOKVNews pic.twitter.com/b48zBziNkX
— Beth Rousseau (@BethANJax) April 26, 2019
A spokesperson with the city of Jacksonville said the site will be remediated as part of the school construction process so there will be no concerns about children’s health.
Action News Jax is waiting for a response from the Duval County Public School District about where Jacksonville Classical Academy is in its charter process.
Related: Soil in Durkeeville residents' yards being replaced as part of poisoned area cleanup | Cleanup at Durkeeville Superfund site expected complete by the end of the year | State to handle toxic cleanup at elementary school next to Superfund site | Jacksonville residents concerned about progress of soil clean-up
Cox Media Group
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