State, County and Local Leaders Report Progress at Spaulding Fibre Site

October 22, 2009

About a year ago, Erie County Executive Chris Collins, State Assemblyman Robin Schimminger and Tonawanda Mayor Ronald Pilozzi announced an additional phase of demolition at the former Spaulding Fibre site in the City of Tonawanda.  That phase of the remediation is now complete on time and on budget.  Abandoned buildings that stood on the property a year ago are now gone.  The demolition marks a major step in getting the site ready for re-use.  For five years, the Erie County Department of Environment and Planning has coordinated the project, led by Kenneth Swanekamp.

Erie County and the City of Tonawanda are working with the ECIDA to put out bids for the final phase of demolition, which involves removing foundations and environmental remediation.  The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is working to clean up hazardous materials in the designated Superfund areas of the property.  National Grid contributed $300,000 to the project.  In all, the effort represents $15 million of public and private funding.

“Over the past few years, the Spaulding Fibre site has been transformed from an abandoned industrial eyesore to a near-shovel-ready development site,” said State Assemblyman Robin Schimminger.  “This feat could not have been accomplished without the intergovernmental cooperation of all of the parties represented here today.  I am personally very proud of the State’s role in this project.  New York State has committed almost $14 million to cover demolition and all of the environmental work.   With above-ground demolition complete, underground demolition in progress and remediation efforts scheduled to be finalized within the year, we will be ready to start  redevelopment efforts and be poised to bring this once productive site back to life.”

Erie County Executive Chris Collins said, “I’d like to thank Mayor Pilozzi and Assemblyman Schimminger for working so hard with the County to make this property remediation a reality.  We’ll be creating a large, shovel-ready site in Erie County that will be primed for creating economic opportunities and future development.  We’re hopeful this site will be ready for re-use sooner than expected, bringing new business and jobs to the region.”

Restoring the site is vital to the economic health of the City of Tonawanda.  The property sits within a New York State Empire Zone, which will help attract new business once the demolition and environmental cleanup is completed.

 “We’re very grateful to have so much support from leaders at the County and State level on this important project,” said City of Tonawanda Mayor Ronald Pilozzi.  “This valuable property has sat unused for too long.  Investing in remediation of this site means investing in the future of our City.”

Empire State Development (ESD) supplied over $3 million in Restore New York funds to help with the remediation, demolition and debris removal for this project.  ESD Western New York Regional Director Christina Orsi said, “ESD’s Restore New York’s Communities Initiative is an important and unique source of state funding as it directly links community development with economic development.  It is important for ESD to contribute public funds that will stimulate the greatest amount of private investment and, as a result, produce the greatest economic impact on local economies.  This project is aimed to do just that, which is why ESD is very pleased it could help play a role.”

The 47 acre industrial property has been vacant since 1992.  Spaulding Fibre went through bankruptcy in 2005 and formally abandoned the site, leaving it to the public to clean up.  Scrap steel at the site was recycled, asbestos, wood and roofing materials went to landfills and clean concrete was crushed and is being used a recycled material for backfill on the site.  All remaining contaminated or hazardous materials will be removed and placed in appropriate landfills.

The property will be used to host a major earthquake response drill with the National Guard early next month, with remaining piles of debris serving as simulated earthquake rubble piles.