SHARON Redevelopment of land to begin after years of sitting idle

The development agency already has a buyer lined up for a 6-acre parcel.
By HAROLD GWIN
VINDICATOR SHARON BUREAU
SHARON, Pa. -- Two dozen acres of industrial land along South Dock Street that sat idle for nearly two decades could be back on the development market by September.
Shenango Valley Industrial Development Corp. bought the site of the former National Castings Division of Midland-Ross Corp. plant that closed in the mid-1980s. It was bought in 1998 through SVIDC's Sharon Abandoned Land Acquisition and Development Corp.
All of the old National Castings buildings have been razed and the site cleaned.
The SVIDC expects a positive final Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection review of that work within 60 days, said David M. Grande, executive director of the SVIDC, a nonprofit development organization.
The state requires that redevelopment of old industrial land include an environmental examination to determine if there is any contamination that could cause health problems to workers.
Once the state reviews those findings and gives its clearance for development, full-scale marketing of the property can begin, Grande said, speculating that should happen in September.
An environmental examination of the site found little contamination from past industrial use. The only remaining problem is some sanitary-sewer repair work, he said.
A lot of cleanup work was done when SVIDC had the buildings razed two years ago, and between 60 percent and 70 percent of the site is sitting on concrete slabs, which prevented any contamination of the ground beneath them, he added.
Selling the land for industrial use may not be too difficult.
Grande said the SVIDC already has a firm commitment from one industrial manufacturer who wants about 6 acres on the site. He declined to identify the company.
There are several other good prospects who have asked the SVIDC to contact them when the site is ready, Grande said, adding that the development group will link forces with Penn-Northwest Development Corp., the county's designated lead economic development agency, to market the site.
The state can help, he said, noting that Pennsylvania has low-interest loans to help companies moving into brownfield sites.
Rebuilding the land
The National Castings land, referred to as the Broadway North portion of the SVIDC's Legacy Commons project, is the final phase of the authority's effort launched six years ago to redevelop 83 acres of brownfields along the Broadway Avenue industrial corridor from Wheatland through Farrell and into Sharon.
The 21-acre southern portion, known as the Henry G. Evans Industrial Park, straddles the Wheatland-Farrell border and is fully occupied by Sharon Tube Co. and AIM NationaLease.
The central portion, referred to as Broadway South, is in Farrell and covers 37 acres of former Sharon Steel Corp. land. That land has been sold as well, Grande said.
Sharon Custom Metal Forming of Hermitage is building a new plant on that site and could open it next month, he said.
Sharon Tube bought 17 acres of Broadway South for development just north of its plant in the Evans Industrial Park, and Precision Steel Services, Kalco Metals and Legacy Products are all operating in Broadway South.
All 83 acres will be renamed the Henry Evans Legacy Industrial Park, after the former Sharon Steel executive, once Broadway North is complete, Grande said.
The effort has created between 75 and 100 jobs so far, he said, noting the goal is to eventually create more than 300 jobs and retain 135.
He estimated the SVIDC has spent between $4 million and $5 million to buy, clear and prepare the 83 acres for new development.
The state has contributed a large portion of that expense, providing the SVIDC with $2,750,000 in grants.