The City of Loveland will move forward with plans to tear down two buildings downtown this summer. The effort will include removing contaminants from the soil under the buildings, with the goal of preparing the area for redevelopment.

The structures at 301 and 319 N. Lincoln are both city-owned. The building at 301 N. Lincoln is commonly known as the "Leslie the Cleaner" building, and is the source of the contaminants in the soil beneath both buildings.

Perchloroethlyene, or PCE, is a dry-cleaning solvent that was commonly used at Leslie the Cleaner, a long-standing dry-cleaning business in downtown Loveland.

When PCE hits the air, it turns into a gas that can contaminate indoor air, according to Loveland City Planner Mike Scholl.

To address the problem, the city must hire an environmental contaminant removal company to treat the soil and remove traces of the chemicals. Asbestos abatement and lead paint removal will also be needed to ensure the safety of the site for future use.

A company has not yet been selected by the city, Scholl said, but the process from start to finish should take about eight weeks.

A $313,000 Environmental Protection Agency grant will help pay for the