The wet weather could not dampen the spirits of those who attended the ceremony at the Dolgeville Stewart’s.
The occasion? The 100 percent completion of the brownfield site at 99 W. Main St., once known as the Citgo gas station.
“It was all about teamwork,” said Gary Dake, president of Stewart’s Shops.
Dake said the corporation had been looking at the site, located right next door, for quite sometime.
But until the land could be reclaimed, it was of no use to anyone, he said.
“Now that it is cleaned, it will benefit the state, county, village and Stewart’s,” Dake said.
Expanding the tiny corner store is part of the plan, Dake said. He added a new gas island will be constructed in the lot, and other improvements to the store will also be in the works. Crews are on-site working in preparation for the store’s expansion.
Stewart’s purchased the parcel of land, approximately .13 acres, from the village for $45,000. Up until that time, the lot had been off the tax rolls since 2003. Now Dake says, that little parcel will once again be on the village’s tax roll, and with the planned store expansion an increase in sales tax revenue for the county could be realized.
“This is what we call a win-win-win situation,” Judy Drabicki, Region 6 director for the state Department of Environmental Conservation, said. “This was a very successful project, indeed one of the most successful in the state.”
Drabicki said the DEC’s Environmental Restoration Program paid for 90 percent of the cleanup, while the village paid for 10 percent. However, Stewart’s has since paid that 10 percent share, so that left nothing for the taxpayers to pick up, Drabicki said.
With the 100 percent clean tag attached to the property, Drabicki said the land is ready for unrestricted use.
“The cooperation was incredible between all parties involved. Stewart’s has always been a good partner with the DEC, not only for their own properties, but for others as well,” Drabicki said.
Cooperation was so good, Drabicki said, two more projects involving vacant gas stations at 102 and 107 W. Main St. are in the works.
“The village is very pleased with yet another happy ending,” Mayor Bruce Lyon said. “This lot has been vacant for about 15 years and without the help we received, it still would be.”
That help included the Herkimer County Legislature, namely Raymond Smith, chairman, forgiving back taxes — $78,000 worth — in April to help cinch the deal with Stewart’s purchasing the parcel.
Lyon gave credit for the project’s completion to everyone, from the village attorney, Norman Mastromoro, to the village clerks for their efforts on the phones. He also gave credit to the DEC and Stewart’s.
“Working together gets things done,” Lyon said. “This is good for everybody.”