Brockport property revitalization talks continue

Brockport property revitalization talks continue

Steps to revitalize the former Kleen Brite Laboratory property, including remediation, redevelopment and restoration, were discussed at the January 16 Village of Brockport board meeting. "The final outcome would result in having a viable, tax producing property," Trustee Hanny Heyen said during an update.

Heyen and Trustee Carrie Maziarz are part of the village's remediation committee and have been looking at what to do with the property located at 200 State Street and the Kleen Brite property located on Fair Street.

In September 2006, village officials hosted an informational meeting with state representatives following an informal tour of the properties. "We talked about emergency measures, ownership and contamination concerns," Heyen said. Monroe County has been paying taxes on 200 State Street. "We talked about concerns that are driving developers away from these properties."

Heyen said that the main concern was the safety of the greater Brockport area residents especially in light of the fire that occurred at the Kleen Brite property on September 9.

On October 18, Maziarz and Heyen attended a Niagara Brownfield Coalition Municipal Stakeholder Workshop in Niagara Falls and met with representatives of the Brownfield Opportunity Area (BOA) program. BOA provides municipalities assistance of up to 90 percent of eligible costs for revitalization plans and strategies for communities affected by brownfield sites. "The 200 State Street site, which is 95 percent remediated, is not eligible for brownfield assistance, but the 100 Fair Street site is," Heyen said.

In December Mayor Mort Wexler, Heyen and Maziarz hosted another meeting on the properties. "We learned that Monroe County real estate personnel is urging GE/Black & Decker to do the sub-slab/air quality tests at 200 State Street and that the redevelopment of these two properties is a priority for the county," Heyen said. "Right now, the $1.8 million in back taxes is development-prohibitive for anyone looking to purchase the property. Interest has been expressed in the properties but lingering environmental issues and back taxes are insurmountable."

As of December 28, county officials told village officials they were willing to help the village complete the BOA application for the Kleen Brite site and that they are working to get testing completed at 200 State Street. "Monroe County is very interested in seeing the State Street property made environmentally sound, restored and leased or sold," Heyen said. "Environmental projects such as this are complex and demand the coordination of many different entities that work together toward the common goal of making the properties safe, viable and productive."

Wexler said the village still has a long way to go to complete the project. "The initiative that has been taken and the steps that are underway haven't been easy ones but they are moving us in the right direction," he said.