Council approves urban renewal acquisition of 1904 Erie St.; public raises brownfield and valuation concerns

At a public hearing on a proposed urban renewal acquisition, the Utica Common Council voted to authorize the purchase of property at 1904 Erie Street for $400,000.

Francis Brown, a public speaker at the hearing, urged the council to consider environmental contamination risks at the site, calling the parcel a brownfield with potential contaminants that could affect groundwater and the nearby Mohawk River and Utica Marsh. Brown asked why the purchaser was an LLC established in Florida and said the city should pursue state brownfield grants and affordable-housing options rather than approve commercial redevelopment.

Brown also questioned the $400,000 sale price when he said the city’s full market value was $675,000 and at one point the property had been valued higher. He recommended the city identify state remediation funds and training grants to clean the site for residential reuse if appropriate.

Council members moved and seconded the ordinance to authorize the urban renewal action; the motion passed. City staff did not provide additional detail in the public hearing about environmental assessments or next steps for remediation during the hearing; Brown urged the city to pursue available state funding and to ensure cleanup before any redevelopment.

Ending: The ordinance moved forward; council and staff will have to address the environmental questions and any remediation or grant applications in subsequent processes.