After years of work, the former Erie Malleable Iron site at 12th and Cherry in Erie looks decidedly different.
A cement pad now covers the remnants of the dilapidated factory, a site that will soon welcome new businesses.
Meanwhile, work continues on the remaining part of the former plant.
Roof repairs will be done in the next month or two, making the interior airtight and dry, so renovation can begin.
About 20 months from now, a former eyesore will be a mixed-use building with office space, a brewery and other facilities, maintaining a part of Erie's history while writing a new chapter. 
"The removal of the industrial blight became so apparent once we got on the site and realized how bad it was that that became the primary goal," said Erie County Redevelopment Authority CEO Tina Mengine. "This is a win-win across the board. We've cleaned this up. It's no longer hazardous for our citizens. It looks better. I think that's good psychologically. It's good for our community, and then we're also going to put it into productive use."
So far, demolition and remediation have cost about $4 million, but the entire project will cost millions more, turning the existing building into useable space.