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Committee hears update on Masonic building redevelopment after contamination findings
Summary
Committee members discussed developer interest in the Masonic building, reported preliminary environmental testing that found chlorinated solvents and a pool on the site, and said a $7,300 grant will fund further testing in coordination with DEC and EPA; the board will revisit the item after a public hearing.
Unidentified Speaker 1 told the committee that a purchase-and-sale agreement is in place for the Masonic building and that one developer has expressed interest in redeveloping the site. Staff said they are conducting additional environmental testing after discovering chlorinated solvents and a pool behind the property.
Unidentified Speaker 1 said the group received a grant of $7,300 to support the investigation and that staff will work with the New York Department of Environmental Conservation and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on remediation planning. The speaker said the item will return to the board following a public hearing and further testing.
The discussion also touched on records and materials stored behind the building: a recently paid storage container holds columns, basement items and documents that the committee may want to catalog or reuse in the building if redevelopment proceeds. Unidentified Speaker 1 said the project will require additional decisions by the committee after the environmental and regulatory steps are complete.
Next steps recorded in the meeting: staff will continue testing with the grant funds, coordinate with DEC and EPA as appropriate, and bring findings and any required purchase-sale or redevelopment agreements back to the committee after a public hearing.
