Steel site gets a new owner
The former Bethlehem Steel plant in Lackawanna is being purchased for conversion into a business park reports the Buffalo News:
The company has not yet drafted any specific site plans but expects a "multiphase effort" that would involve reusing existing structures while demolishing others to make way for new development, according to a news release about the deal. Initial work is expected to start next year. "We are very excited to have made a significant investment in our own backyard," David Franjoine, Great Lakes Industrial Development's CEO, said in the news release. "We believe this site has great potential to create new jobs and be a live, contributing piece of the local economy."
There's no word yet on the fate of "Norm's windmills," which also sit on the former Bethlehem site.
Water deal to be investigated
The village of Owego will use an environmental review process to help it decide whether or not to sell its wastewater to Inflection Energy, for use in the firm's drilling operations. The matter was tabled up at a previous meeting and is controversial, reports the Press & Sun-Bulletin:
Kevin Millar, a village resident and board member for New York Residents Against Drilling, said it's only right to make the contract public. "I think the details of the whole deal are in the details, and if we can't see the contract, we can't make a meaningful evaluation of whether it's good or bad for the village," Millar said. Supporters of the offer, including Arrington, point to the revenue it could bring in. The deal has the potential to double the village's annual revenue, which sits at about $3 million. "This should be a no-brainer," said Martin Murphy, chairman of the Owego Gas Coalition.
Mall deal on hold
Syracuse's mayor is squaring off with developer Robert Congel over his long-stalled expansion at the carousel Center mall reports the Post-Standard. Mayor Stephanie Miner has to decide whether or not to allow the project to keep its tax exemption, and wants more details about the developers intention before making that call.
You better watch out...
And now, in honor of Santa's impending visit, we present you today’s news - in naughty-or-nice form.
Naughty
- Nice to drink, but naughtiness could ensue: A winemaker in Ithaca has finally realized his dream of showcasing ports in the Finger Lakes (Democrat and Chronicle).
- New York is set to lose at least two congressional seats when the Census reapportionment process begins today (Post-Standard). Maybe that’s actually nice, given how some members of congress behave?
- Gifts donated to a youth center were stolen over the weekend in Buffalo (Buffalo News).
- The Press & Sun-Bulletin is already offering tips for disposing of your Christmas tree. Come on guys, it's only the first day of winter!
Nice
- The GM plant in Tonawanda is bringing back 37 laid off workers, to help build engines that are being shipped to China (Buffalo News).
- The World Junior Hockey Championships is coming to Buffalo this weekend, with an estimated economic impact of $20 million (Buffalo News).
- The Buffalo News has a profile of a needy family that's down on its luck this Christmas.
- Naughty, but nice to know: if you're over-served in Binghamton on New Year’s you can catch a cab home for free (Press & Sun-Bulletin).
- Children from the New York State Theatre Institute dressed as characters from "A Christmas Carol" to lobby the incoming Cuomo administration to restore its state funding (Times Union).
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