Environmental tests could decide whether North River passes
Deadline for city to exercise purchase option is Dec. 31
Link (GFWBW)
"Commercial real-estate broker David Nugent said some of his clients requested information about different pieces of the proposed development, including offices or other planned features.
Developer interest, however, remains on hold while Fort Wayne officials negotiate purchasing the 29-acre site with its owner, OmniSource Corp., and environmental testing continues.
Nugent, a partner at BND Commercial Real Estate Solutions in Fort Wayne, said if the testing doesn’t find anything, that would spur developer interest and clear the way for banks to give construction loans."
[...]
"At one time, OmniSource maintained a scrap-metal processing facility on the site, and underground storage tanks contained hazardous chemicals. The tanks leaked, and soil and groundwater contamination were reported, which led the Indiana Department of Environmental Management to order corrective action.
The tanks were removed, and OmniSource monitored benzene levels in the groundwater and petroleum hydrocarbon gasoline concentrations in the soil. On Feb. 3, 2005, IDEM told OmniSource that testing confirmed the levels of benzene and petroleum hydrocarbon gasoline had decreased enough that no further action was necessary.
After initially thinking a decision to buy the property would not come down to the wire, Urbahns said an extension of the city’s purchase option may be needed. It was expected to be on the table at an upcoming meeting city officials want to have with OmniSource.
Mayor-elect Tom Henry has recommended the option be extended into next year, when his administration will take office. Henry said Dec. 10 he had not been fully briefed on the situation, but he likes the North River development opportunity."
[...]
"City planners think the site north of downtown could be another catalyst project similar to Harrison Square. The North River Now group earlier this year worked with architect Gianni Longo to come up with a conceptual plan for the property.
The plan is anchored by a regional attraction on the north side. The attraction could be a water park, though it wasn’t specified in the plan, and would be surrounded by retail space and townhouses.
South of the regional attraction would be mixed-use development, including retail stores with apartments above them. At the southern end of the development, near the St. Marys river, is a five- to six-story apartment building, open space and a river landing to take advantage of the views of the river and city skyline.
If developers could not find a regional attraction for the site, that portion also could become retail space."
2 comments:
The issue is not the fuel tanks that where removed. Cleaning those are fairly easy when compared to other hazzards.
Keep in mind Omni accepted old transformers, requlators and other electrical equipment loaded with PCP oil. The oil was often dumped onto the ground when the outside cases of the above mentioned units where torn apart. Inside the units where massive amounts of high grade copper wire.
Various other oil products got into their yard from equipment they purchased as scrap and cut it up to sell it off.
Also because of water run off during heavy storms requires that adjacent properties be checked to make sure run off water did not carry the various chemicals. If such did and is now part of the soil on those properties the owner of the Omni property will be held to clean it up.
I believe the electrical equiptment Omnisource accepted contained PCB oil. I don't think Omnisource was accepting or selling PCP.
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