The city has been awarded a $23,500 grant by MassDevelopment to help with the cleanup of the former Universal Steel and Trading Co. site. The city has been partnering with the US Environmental Protection Agency, the state Department of Environmental Protection, and MassDevelopment to identify and remove pollutants from the former industrial site at 297-305 Bridge St. The approximately 1.2-acre parcel was historically used to recycle and reclaim metal, dismantle and process transformers, and store automotive batteries. The cleanup is a first step toward the city’s goal of returning the long-idle property to productive use. The new grant will pay for engineering work related to the future demolition of the building remaining on the site. The city is applying for a second MassDevelopment grant to remove hazardous materials from the building and to demolish the structure. The EPA has committed, in collaboration with the Department of Environmental Protection, to clean up the contaminated soils following that demolition. Salem, meanwhile, has moved to take ownership of the property for non-payment of taxes and is expecting a judgment imminently from state Land Court, according to Lynn Duncan, the city’s director of planning and community development. Once the cleanup is completed, the city plans to use the site for temporary parking during construction of the MBTA garage, and then solicit proposals to redevelop the property.