The former Vacuum Oil building at 5 Flint St. will be torn down as the City of Rochester and state Department of Environmental Conservation continue efforts to remediate the brownfield site.
Heavy equipment moves in for four-week demolition
The graffiti-marred building will be torn down using heavy construction equipment with dust control measures, then the concrete will be crushed. The last high-visibility structure at the site of the former oil refinery on the Genesee River will be demolished ahead of bigger plans for the site.
“This project represents another important step toward healing our riverfront and transforming a once-contaminated site into an asset for the people of Rochester,” said Mayor Malik Evans in a statement. “By cleaning up the land and restoring it for future use, we’re protecting public health, honoring our environmental responsibility, and reconnecting our neighborhoods to the Genesee River.”
Cleanup part of New York’s Brownfield Program
The project is part of the New York State Brownfield Cleanup Program, and work will be led by Roux, an environmental consulting and remediation firm.
Demolition and concrete crushing are expected to take about four to six weeks to complete. The demolition debris will be held on site for possible re-use as approved fill or sub-base for road construction.
Trail closures expected during remediation
As a result of the remediation project, parts of the Genesee River Trail between Violetta Street and South Plymouth Avenue will experience temporary closures. There will be weekly updates on the trail access and alternate routes on cityofrochester.gov/streetbeat.
— Steve Howe reports on weather, climate and the Great Lakes for the Democrat and Chronicle. An RIT graduate, he has covered myriad topics over the years, including public safety, local government, national politics and economic development in New York and Utah.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Rochester to demolish Vacuum Oil building as site revamp continues
Reporting by Steve Howe, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
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