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NORTHERN VIRGINIA DAILY Article date: November 03, 2001 EDA finds shortfall in abatement funds By Ben Orcutt While the redevelopment of the Avtex Superfund site is on the right track, elements of the project need fine tuning. That was the upshot of a Friday work session held by the Front Royal-Warren County Economic Development Authority to discuss the project’s master action plan. "It’s on track and when we’re done, you’re going to be left with a clean, developable site," said. E. Douglas Bement, site manager of the project for FMC Corp., the responsible partner for the remediation. The primary questions to be resolved involve abatement and demolition of industrial structures, development of a state-of-the-art soccer complex, and ownership of a planned 241-acre conservancy park. "The biggest issue with the removal of the remaining buildings is that we clearly don’t have enough funds," said EDA Executive Director Stephen A. Heavener. Heavener said there appears to be about an $8 million shortfall in the funds necessary to complete all of the abatement work on the project that had been planned. Heavener told EDA board members and others attending the work session that "all future work has to be funded by the (U.S. Army) Corps (of Engineers) putting it in their budget." There was some discussion by board members that if funding was not available, consideration would be given to preserving some of the remaining buildings with any eye toward possible renovation. Heavener said he will oppose any such recommendation. "I am adamantly against any renovation of the remaining buildings," he said. Heavener said he has been told by the Corps of Engineers that it has the necessary funding to complete abatement and demolition of all existing structures except for the power plant. However, Heavener said he also has been told that the Corps of Engineers is solidly behind the project and will do all it can to procure the additional funding. The town and county have each agreed to fund 10 percent of the estimated $3 million soccer complex, but other sources of funding have not been determined . There have been delays associated with this portion of the redevelopment phase, which have frustrated local officials. "We have no control over the funding and the timing," Heavener said. County Administrator Douglas P. Stanley said that once completed, the county would take ownership of the complex and provide maintenance. "We thought we’d be on these fields this fall," he said. However, he like Heavener, believes that the United States Soccer Foundation is committed to the project. "I think this is a priority for the United States Soccer Foundation and they will make it happen," Stanley said. EDA Director Patricia S. Wines said the soccer complex is important to the community. "If these guys (the soccer foundation) don’t come through, we’re going to have to make it happen," she said. While there are not apparent obstacles to developing the conservancy park, ultimate ownership and maintenance of the property is still up in the air. County Attorney Douglas W. Napier told those gathered that one possibility could be the formation of a park authority. That, as well as other options, will be discussed at a future EDA work session. Avtex Redevelopment Master Plan Superfund Environmental Remediation
Administration Building Rehabilitation
Industrial Structures Abatement and Demolition
Business Park
Skyline Soccerplex
Conservancy Park
Shenandoah Center for Heritage and the Environment at Front Royal
Rivermont Acres (West Bank Acres)
Local Connector Transportation Improvements
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