By Eileen Buckley
Buffalo, NY – After years of sitting idle, the former Bethlehem Steel site in Lackawanna is expected to be torn down for future redevelopment along the lakefront.
Erie County Executive Joel Giambra and Lackawanna Mayor Norman Polanski will be holding a news conference Wednesday afternoon at the site. Giambra says he will be announcing a memo of understanding between the county, property owners and a re-development firm.
Giambra told WBFO News this is not a "pipe dream."
"This is for real. Actual work is taking place at the site as we speak," Giambra said. "There is already asbestos removal at the site. There are plans for beginning the demolition. The hope is that the coke oven and hunk of steel will be gone by the end of next year as part of the time line.
"I'm very excited about this and I hope the community will be too."
Giambra says once the former plant is torn down, the site will be redeveloped for "mix use." Three hundred acres will be established for recreation and park use along the edge of the waterfront. The rest of the site closer to Route 5 will be used for light commercial and manufacturing.
Giambra says he will also secure $10 million in county tobacco funds for infrastructure changes to build roadways, set up utilities and create recreational facilities.