City presses Woda for update on McDowell Avenue cemetery site

STEUBENVILLE -- City officials say they need to know what Woda Cooper Companies is planning at the old Catholic cemetery site on Washington Street hill before cold weather arrives.

City Manager Mike Johnson said they requested a "status update" Sept. 8 from Woda's attorneys, Michael Shaheen and Diane Senakievich, particularly with regard to the storm sewer they'd asked for as well as sidewalks and curbs damaged during the site work.

"The letter noted the site is still exposed and that we have not seen any movement in some time," Johnson said. "We expressed our concerns regarding the storm sewer project as well as the condition of the sidewalk and curbing on McDowell. We received a response that they will get back to us in about a week."

Woda Cooper has planned to build a senior citizen housing complex on the property, but while moving dirt at the site, located behind The Laundromat off Washington Street (State Route 43), the contractor uncovered a handful of grave markers. The contractor halted the work and contacted city officials and the county coroner, in accordance with state law.

In a late July probate court filing, Woda Cooper Companies' archaeological consultant reported locating the remains of 12 distinct individuals in test excavations they'd done, but also noted that ground-penetrating radar (GPR) had identified a total of "97 grave-like anomalies and 14 anomalies identified from review of aerial imagery." That petition, which sought permission to disinter the "John Does" and reinter them in some other cemetery, was voluntarily withdrawn by Shaheen and Senakievich on Aug. 25. Neither the developer, Tom Simons, nor Shaheen responded to calls and emails requesting comment after the petition was withdrawn, but since then there's been no activity at the site.

Johnson said the sidewalk and curbing repairs must be done by Oct. 31, "(and) our concern with the storm sewer project is that, since it still is not completed, it could lead to settlement and contamination issues, especially as winter approaches."