THE WARREN SENTINEL

Article Date: March 13, 2003

Avtex demolition continues despite funding concerns

Administration building business rentals should be ready this spring

By:  Roger Bianchini

Shenandoah District Supervisor Ben Weddle and Economic Development Authority Executive Director Stephen Heavener found a rare point of agreement at the March 4 Warren County Board of Supervisors meeting.  The agreement is that the tight national economy and changing federal priorities have become troublesome thorns in the side of Avtex redevelopment.

After Heavener pointed out that none of the additional $10 million needed to complete abatement and demolition work at the site had been included in the newly passed federal fiscal year 2003 budget, Weddle spoke up.

“This lack of funds you addressed is an ongoing concern,” he observed.  “ I think this puts us in a pretty precarious position.”

“We share your concerns,” Heavener replied.  “But I don’t think you can use a traditional model in looking at Avtex.”

“The problem with Avtex,” the EDA director pointed out of the 467-acre rayon and synthetic materials plant that became a federal Superfund site in 1989, “is that if we didn’t undertake redevelopment it would sit there with a chain-link fence around it forever.  Yes, we may end up spending additional money there but if we don’t, no one else will.  The private sector is not ready to step in with investment money yet.”

In March of 2000 the EDA entered into a complex arrangement with trustee Anthony Murray, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the lone, surviving former plant owner, FMC, Inc. concerning the economic redevelopment of a 160 -acre portion of the site.  The EDA plans to develop the land into a business and light industrial park.

Heavener has explained that according to the contract the EDA must settle the debt to complete local acquisition of the developable land by March of 2008 or FMC may purchase the 160 acres for 1,000.

However, Heavener points out that the cost to “retire the mortgage” on the property is to be established by “the fair market value” at the time of the payoff.  That gives the EDA leeway in determining the optimum time to complete the purchase of the land. 

Polymer Bldg. Demolition

Demolition work being done by the Army Corps of Engineers is continuing in Sections One and Two of the site.  The final phase of that work could begin in May with the demolition of the huge, green Polymer Building.  That demolition, which should be completed by the June 30 end of the 2002 fiscal year, will exhaust the remaining available demolition funds.