The Northern Virginia Daily

Article date: May 16, 2005

Men honored for Avtex redevelopment effort

Daily Staff Report

Two Front Royal-Warren County men were honored Saturday for their efforts to ensure that the site of the former Avtex rayon plant was reclaimed and readied for redevelopment.

The site was an Environmental Protection Agency Superfund site for 17 years.

Councilman Fred Foster, a local businessman who was not on the Town Council when the project started, and William Barnett, a longtime member of the Front Royal-Warren County Economic Development Authority , were praised publicly during an open house at the site, now known as Royal Phoenix.

EDA Chairman John LeBarca said when the plant closed in 1988, Foster recognized the enormous economic impact the loss of the plant had on the community and its residents.

He devoted himself to keeping the region focused on what had to be done to recover from that loss.

Barnett, who was EDA chairman during the period, also realized the tremendous loss.  He lead the EDA as it took a major role in overcoming obstacles to the cleanup and redevelopment project, LeBarca said.

Saturday’s open house, which drew about 225 people, marks the start of a new future for the site, he said.  Plans for the 440-acre tract, which is being eyed with interest by numerous potential investors, include a business park, conservancy park and soccer complex.

At the open house, the Army Corps of engineers announced that the Avtex site’s boiler house will be imploded in September.  A precise date will be announced later.