SCHENECTADY State to pay for Duane Ave. cleanup Removal of contaminants will allow business to expand; meeting is Feb. 24 BY KATHLEEN MOORE Gazette Reporter Reach Gazette reporter Kathleen Moore at 395-3120 or moore@dailygazette.com.
The state DEC has determined that the a group of industrial-manufacturing businesses on Duane Avenue is surrounded by land contaminated decades ago. A former dry cleaner has been named the culprit, and the state Superfund will pay the $1.7 million cost to clean the land, according to the Department of Environmental Conservation. The agency began testing soil and groundwater at the site in late 2007 and announced this month that contaminants must be removed. The timing is critical because at least one of the manufacturing businesses at the site wants to expand, and the ideal expansion location is directly above the contamination, which has spread throughout the entire site. But the cleanup won’t interfere with SEPSA North American’s expansion, Metroplex Development Authority Chairman Ray Gillen said. In fact, DEC’s decision probably made the expansion possible, he added. “It would be difficult to get them to expand there [without a cleanup],” Gillen said. SEPSA, which designs and manufactures the train car inverter used to convert third rail power into electricity, now employs more than 50 people and plans to hire more. Also at the 445 Duane Ave. site are SuperPower, LogicalNet and CardioMag. “It’s really an important business corridor,” Gillen said. “It’s become a tech hub there, and manufacturing. And they’re expanding. That’s the real Empire Zone, Duane Avenue. It’s a real success story.” DEC officials said ground contamination began at 445 Duane Ave. when Kenwood Cleaners operated there, possibly as early as 1950. Dry cleaning solvent was likely poured directly into the ground, officials said. They found tetrachloroethene (PCE), a common dry cleaning solvent, in the soil and groundwater. The chemical even affected the air inside the businesses. It spread under the existing buildings and, as a vapor, entered through the foundation slabs, officials said. DEC plans to build a vapor extraction system to collect and treat contaminated soil and water, with the treated groundwater being piped to the city’s sewer system. If that does not stop the chemical from travelling off-site after one year, DEC also plans to build a barrier to quarantine it. Once the property is cleaned, it can never be used as a residence, DEC officials said. Industrial and commercial uses would be allowed. Before work begins, DEC will.....................http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....amp;EntityId=Ar00802
Cardio-Mag? Great example. The City dumped a million taxpayer dollars into this for "jobs". Metrograft built them a free parking lot. Last count under 15 and dropping. Have they made a sale yet? Look for more of these schemes when Obama's millions hits town. Usual silence from Metrograft cheer leaders on this flop.
Duane Ave is a disgrace. There was a plan by Gary McCarthy some years back to level it and make the area a business park. Others did not want private sector jobs and an increase in property taxes. Neighborhood activists all protested and the eyesores stayed. Most are now for sale or abandoned. It's so bad that the holy sisters had to leave for Rochester.
Hey, if Metroplex is getting into cleaning up chemicals from out of business dry cleaners at places that haven't been in business, I can think of a place for them to go and clean up...
This another typical waste of taxpayer money. Like Big Hose, like Van Dyke, like the Gillette House, like Robinson's Square aka {Gillen's Gulch}. Your Metrograft Authority at "work". Another parking lot from Death Ray.
Is Cardio Mag still open? Has it made a sale yet? How many employees Ray? 5, 10 but not the "hundreds' you promised? This is what should happen on Duane Ave-bulldoze it. Remove all eyesores. Then you will have shovel ready locations that do not require a huge additional clean up expenditures.
Surprised Stratton can find his way to City Hall. Remember he is from Bethesda, MD, via Clifton Park.
Look...the bottom line here is that they are trying to make sh*t shine. The powers that be have welcomed all welfare recipients and drug dealers to Schenectady. Clearly not people that can contribute to society in a way that would encourage andproduce good behavior. They have made it clear that good behavior is not required and bad behavior is rewarded. (just look at the X-police chief)
If ya don't wanna work, no problem, they will send you a monthly check. Ya don't wanna work and don't have food, no problem, they will give you food stamps. If ya don't wanna work and have no place to live, no problem, they will give ya section 8 housing, the Bethesda house, City Mission and the 'Y'. Ya don't wanna work and don't have medical coverage, no problem, they will give you medicaid for free! THANK YOU TAX PAYERS!
So where is the incentives to 'do better'. To help a person gain self respect and self worth?
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
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Cardio-Mag? Great example. The City dumped a million taxpayer dollars into this for "jobs". Metrograft built them a free parking lot. Last count under 15 and dropping. Have they made a sale yet? Look for more of these schemes when Obama's millions hits town. Usual silence from Metrograft cheer leaders on this flop.
