Morehead, KY – Frontier Housing has been awarded $1,999,990 million through the Environmental Protection Agency’s Brownfields Cleanup Grant program.
The grant will be used to remediate hazardous substance contamination at 20 West Fourth Street, in Maysville, known as the Hayswood Hospital property.
Frontier Housing worked with city, county and state officials, along with staff from Buffalo Trace Area Development District, to secure the funding. Frontier purchased the approximately 1.5-acre property in November 2022.
Frontier Housing is based in Morehead, and serves 16 counties including Mason.
“We are honored to be partnering with Mayor Cotterill, Judge McNeil, and the staffs of the city, county, Buffalo Trace Area Development District and the Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection to make this happen,” said Frontier Housing President & CEO Tom Manning-Beavin. “This is only possible because we are all working together. We look forward to making the Hayswood hospital building a proud community asset once again.”
City and county leaders echoed these sentiments.
“Today’s funding announcement marks an incredible milestone for the redevelopment of Maysville and Mason County’s historic Hayswood Hospital,” said Mason County Judge-Executive Owen McNeill. “I cannot overstate how appreciative we are of Tom Manning-Beavin, Stephanie Cooley and everyone at Frontier Housing. Their vision and ambition to make an impact in our community, combined with our local team’s efforts, are materializing into positive momentum for what many thought impossible.”
“From day one of acquiring Mason County in their operational footprint, Frontier has never wavered in their ambition to make an impact in our community and our Hayswood project certainly fits that bill. Additionally, Mayor Cotterill and I are proud of the work our local team put in on this in the combined efforts of the City of Maysville, Mason County and Buffalo Trace Area Development District. In addition to Frontier, City Manager Wallingford, Engineer David Hord and BTADD’s Kristie Dodge all pulled extra hours on this brownfield grant,” the Judge continued. “Today’s announcement highlights that vision and hard work make anything possible and again underscores the positive momentum we’re building in Maysville, Mason County and northeastern Kentucky.”
“For the past 40 years, previous City administrations and staff have diligently pursued solutions to rehabilitate the former Hayswood Hospital. Finally, the ‘stars have aligned,’” said Maysville Mayor Debra Cotterill. “Frontier Housing’s expansion into Mason County, along with increased brownfield remediation funding from the US Environmental Protection Agency will enable one of the last standing eyesores in Maysville to be revitalized. City officials, Buffalo Trace ADD staff, and Frontier Housing have been working closely for the past 18 months to bring this project to fruition. City Manager Matt Wallingford, the City Commissioners, and I are excited about what this endeavor brings to the citizens of Maysville. Once completed, this project will help fill a much-needed housing shortage in our community.”
Hayswood Hospital was built in the 1920s and renovated several times. After the opening of the Meadowview Regional Medical Center in 1983, the former Hayswood property went through three different owners, with little to zero improvements, causing the property to essentially become abandoned.
Plans have not been finalized for use of the facility, but Frontier Housing continues to have conversations with community members and leaders about the facility’s use.
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Frontier Housing is the leader for affordable housing solutions in Appalachian communities in the heart of the Ohio River Valley. Frontier improves the quality of life for individuals and families, helping them achieve long-term stability, financial independence, and generational wealth.
