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Council declares 24 Willow Street blighted, moves forward on environmental review and access agreement for 20–22 Main Street
Summary
The Amsterdam Common Council declared 24 Willow Street a slum/blighted area and classified cleanup as a Type I action under SEQRA; the council also authorized an access agreement to allow environmental inspections at 20–22 Main Street while a buyer completes planning and zoning due diligence.
The Amsterdam Common Council voted to declare 24 Willow Street blighted and to classify cleanup of the former industrial mill site as a Type I action under the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA), triggering a coordinated environmental review. The resolution also recognizes the council’s role in directing municipal resources and overseeing remediation contracts.
An agency official told the council the measure "gives a full assess environmental assessment, by making us the seed or lead agency," explaining the resolution formalizes the city as lead agency for the SEQRA process and allows a full environmental assessment form to be completed. Council members discussed coordinating the SEQRA review with other necessary steps, including possible applications for grant funding.
Separately, the council authorized an access agreement with 20–22 Main Street Propco LLC to permit asbestos inspections and other environmental work while the prospective buyer completes planning and zoning review. Staff described a timeline in which the buyer may execute the agreement within six months and take an additional six months to complete due diligence; the staff report cites an access-agreement expiration date of December 8.
The resolutions passed as part of the meeting’s consent agenda. Council members recorded 'Aye' votes during roll call, advancing the SEQRA designation and the access agreement to implement preliminary assessment and remediation work.
The city will proceed with the environmental assessment form and next steps for cleanup; the council’s action allows contractors and regulators to access the site for inspections while permitting and due-diligence processes continue.
