City of Utica and EPA demolishing former Charlestown Mall & deposing of hazardous materials By Ray Durso
Mayor Robert Palmieri, in coordination with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), announced that EPA has begun to demolish buildings at the former Charlestown Mall site located in the city of Utica and town of Frankfort. As part of this work, EPA will also decontaminate recyclable building materials and dispose of asbestos and asbestos-containing debris. The demolition work, which was originally scheduled to begin last fall, was postponed until 2022 and began on June 1. A Community Air Monitoring Plan has been put in place. EPA will monitor the air and evaluate and properly dispose of hazardous materials found at the site during the demolition process.
In August of 2020, a major fire occurred at the site in which the Utica Fire Department, and several surrounding departments and emergency service agencies, extinguished over a two- day period. Immediately after the fire, the city, in partnership with its local, state and federal representatives, advocated for assistance given the damage and level of deterioration of the building.
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) played an important role as it formally requested that EPA assess the site in September of 2020. More information about EPA’s demolition work and the history of the Charlestown Mall site can be found at the following link. EPA On-Scene Coordinator Terry Kish stated, “EPA is taking this action to ensure that we address any potential risk to people or the environment from the asbestos at the site. We recognize that this in an important step for these communities as they work towards getting the site on track for productive reuse.”
Photo from Mayor Palmieri
Mayor Palmieri stated, “This is a great example of how everyone working together can yield positive results for those we serve. When the Charlestown fire occurred in August of 2020, all local, state and federal representatives advocated for assistance from New York State and the federal government. The NYSDEC supported our efforts, and, as a community, we are grateful to the EPA as this demolition will promote public safety and enhance the quality of life for our residents.” Mayor Palmieri continued, “I also want to thank Utica Fire Department personnel, and all the surrounding agencies and first responders who helped extinguish the fire. Fortunately, no one was seriously injured and property damage was contained as a result of the professionalism of everyone involved.”
Frankfort Town Supervisor Glenn D. Asnoe stated, “I echo Mayor Palmieri’s sediments thanking the EPA for the demolition of the Charlestown complex. This site has been a safety concern for many years, which was highlighted by the August 2020 fire. To finally see the site being remediated is a welcome relief.
Special thanks to The Genesis Group for this article. The Genesis Group is a civic organization that unites Business and Community Leaders working to advance regional Economic, Social and Cultural interests, and to foster unity and cooperation in the Mohawk Valley region of Upstate New York.
