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Brownfields To Be Redeveloped

Jamestown officials have long known redeveloping brownfields along the Chadakoin River is important for Jamestown’s future. City residents should be encouraged, then, to see the central and eastern corridors of the Chadakoin River in Jamestown listed as one of 12 Brownfield Opportunity areas in the state.

Prior to this designation, Jamestown officials last year received $200,000 from the state in a planning grant to complete a nomination that set forth revitalization strategies and promoted sound redevelopment and enhanced environmental quality within the affected areas. That grant resulted in mapping the Jamestown Brownfield area, which includes 643 acres characterized by 53 identified Brownfields along the industrial heritage corridor and east end industrial corridor. Now, city officials have received $370,800 through the Brownfield Opportunity Area program to encourage redevelopment, cleanup and reinvestment in the area, enhance the city’s connection to the Chadakoin River and to generate jobs and tax revenues.

”We’re done looking at the sites, and now we will market them to find developers,” said Vince DeJoy, city development director. ”We need to find developers who can reimagine and use these important parcels along the Chadakoin corridor.”

One such developer may be ready to clean up and redevelop a site at 251-289 Harrison St. Rich Dixon of the county IDA recently told The Post-Journal of a Brownfield Cleanup Program application from Triple R LLC. The site is currently vacant land with green areas, trees, a parking area and several building slabs on the northeast portion of the site. Numerous industrial buildings underwent phased demolition between 1988 and 1999 at the site. The current zoning for the property is manufacturing. The parcel was initially developed as a textile mill between 1867 and 1881. There have been a variety of operations in connection with the site including a metal plating company, a chemical company, a dry cleaner, metal machining facilities and an office furniture manufacturer known as the Watson Manufacturing Company.

That’s not what Triple R sees, however. They see a possible medical clinic in the property’s future that fits in with other recent development in that area.

Our area could certainly use the help, which is why this is one example of increased state spending we support. The legacy of polluted properties from Jamestown’s heyday as a manufacturing capital has been a perpetual problem for redevelopment in southern Chautauqua County.

Separate from the sites receiving Brownfield Opportunity Area designation, the 2015-16 state budget extended the Brownfields Cleanup Program for 10 years. This extension includes reforms to protect taxpayers and promote Brownfield redevelopment, particularly Upstate. It’s the type of state investment that can pay quick dividends – unlike the much more ballyhooed Startup NY – and a good use of taxpayer dollars.

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