Joe Saylor, CEO, community development corporation, Mark Gordon, Butler County Chief of Economic Development and Planning, and Jake Bamberger of CERTA Management, LLC of Cincinnati, along with a contingent of Butler County representatives take a look at the old Bantam Jeep factory on Nov. 20, 2020. Instead of being demolished as planned, a structural study will be conducted on the building to determine whether it is sound enough to avoid the wrecking ball for history's sake.
While demolition is underway on almost all of the buildings on the 29 acres that formerly housed Armco and AK Steel's stainless processing works, officials have pumped the brakes on tearing down a historic building that represents Butler's claim to fame.
Mark Gordon, the county's chief of economic development and planning and a former Armco corporate official, has been overseeing the sale of the property on Bantam Avenue along with Joe Saeler, director of the County Development Corporation.
When it was owned by Armco, and later, AK Steel, the property was known as Plant 2 and contained the Butler Works' stainless processing facility.
Plant 2 was closed in 2004 by AK Steel, which had purchased Armco in 1999.
Armco bought the property many years ago from the Bantam Car Company, which created the Jeep for use in World War II.
Some Jeeps were manufactured in the Bantam building on the property, which was slated for the wrecking ball this week.
But Gordon said the property's new owners, Capital Environmental Risk Transfer Alliance (CERTA), made the decision to hold up on the demolition of the Bantam building and have a structural engineer evaluate it over the next few weeks.
“There was a recognition of historical significance, so they want to make sure (demolition) is the only real option,” Gordon said.
A portion of this story is shared with you as a digital media exclusive. To read the full story and support our local, independent newsroom, please subscribe at butlereagle.com.
CERTA Management LLC of Cincinnati, has acquired the former AK Steel stainless processing plant and the Bantam Jeep Factory from Cleveland Cliffs. A contingency of Butler County representatives toured the facility with the new owner’s, brothers Jake and Kris Bamberger, Friday morning November 20, 2020. Harold Aughton/Butler Eagle
Kris Bamberger(center), co-owner and partner of CERTA -- the company that purchased the old Butler AK Steel Facility for redevelopment -- talks with Butler County chief of economic development Mark Gordon (right), Community Development Corporation of Butler County executive director Joe Saeler and CDC staff member Tiffany Horstman at the former AK Steel and Bantam Jeep property Tuesday. Seb Foltz/Butler Eagle 11/01/21
Demolition work at the former Bantam Jeep and AK Steel property Tuesday Butler. Seb Foltz/Butler Eagle 11/30/21
Demolition work continues Tuesday at the former Bantam Jeep and AK Steel property in Butler.PHOTOGRAPHY By Seb Foltz/Butler Eagle
The former Bantam Jeep production building may not be demolished, officials said Tuesday.
Former AK Steel and Bantam Jeep facility in Butler. The property sold and is currently being cleared for redevelopment.Seb Foltz/Butler Eagle
Butler County chief of economic development Mark Gordon(right) talks to Jake Bamberger the co-owner of Capital Environmental Risk Transfer Alliance (CERTA) at the site of the old AK Steel and Bantam Jeep faciliyt in Butler Monday. Bamberger’s company purchased purchased the property and is currently preparing it for redevelopment. Seb Foltz/Butler Eagle 11/01/21
A scrap pile sits in the interior of the former AK Steel facility in Butler. The property sold and is currently being cleared for redevelopment. Seb Foltz/Butler Eagle 11/01/21
Interior of the former AK Steel property near one of the furnaces. The property sold and is currently being cleared for redevelopment. Seb Foltz/Butler Eagle 11/01/21
