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“We’re here this evening because the construction process is about to begin. There is a light at the end of this proverbial tunnel,” said Clough Harbor representative Frank LaVardera, to a full house at the March 17 Common Council meeting.
The DeLaval site, a 13.4 acre parcel along the City of Poughkeepsie’s southern waterfront, was nearly covered with buildings at one time. Now the desolate property is home to little more than contaminated soil – volatile organic compounds (VOC), semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOC) and metals, left over from the manufacturing that once took place there.
Clough Harbor will be working with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) during the remediation process, which will include site clearing, the installation of bulkheads along the shoreline, the excavation and off-site disposal of grossly contaminated soil, and the excavation and removal of an existing six-inch pipeline. The project is slated for completion this December, and according to Clough Harbor project manager Scott Smith, its impact on nearby residents is expected to be minimal.
“As with all construction, there’s going to be some noise,” said Smith. “It’s temporary.”
Other potential community concerns that Smith addressed include dust, traffic, dirt being tracked onto nearby roadways and unsightliness. In an effort to limit the project’s impact, work hours are limited from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday, and a number of additional measures have been taken. Contractors are required to sweep and clean roadways once daily, trucks will be washed on premises, traffic will be limited to Rinaldi Boulevard and dust suppression techniques will be used.
“We’re going to be bringing a lot of materials on and off of the site, and there’s no doubt about it, you’re going to eventually see a stray truck, but we’re going to limit it,” Smith said.
A safety fence has been constructed surrounding the property’s perimeter to control access to the site, and a site-specific health and safety plan is in place.
“This is an enormous undertaking in our city’s history, as we continue to enhance and beautify our waterfront, it will also augment our tax base and bring more jobs to the area,” said Mayor John Tkazyik, in a March 12 statement.
A $9 million contract has been awarded to Stamford Wrecking of Trumbull, Conn. for remediation of the site, which will ultimately result in office opportunities, restaurants, a marina and green space for visitors. Through the New York State Superfund, a fund established in the 1980s to assist municipalities with the cleanup of brownfields, the City of Poughkeepsie will be reimbursed 90 percent of all out-of-pocket expenses, by New York State.
The Common Council also tabled a resolution for the sale of two vacant Route 9 properties. The rocky lots are side by side, and taxes have not been collected on either property for more than 25 years. The city was offered $3,000 for both properties – slightly less than their assessed value.
The council approved unanimously a resolution for the sale of a third property, 106 North Clinton St. The property was assessed at $1,000, and will be sold for the full amount.
Minutes changes
As of March 13, minutes from City of Poughkeepsie Common Council meetings are available on the city’s official Web site.
“In keeping with my goal of moving the city forward and having an open and accessible government, City staff have been working on making Common Council meeting minutes available on our Web site,” said Tkazyik. “I am pleased to announce that as of today, they are easily accessible on the site.”
Tkazyik thanked City Chamberlain Chris Baiano, Development Specialist Al Gernhardt, Acting Development Director Linda MacIsaac and Acting City Administrator Ron Knapp, for their assistance with the project.
“This saves time and money for city residents and fosters open government,” Tkazyik said.
Meeting minutes can be found at www.cityofpoughkeepsie.com.
