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The City of Rochester has initiated the next phase of remediation at the former Vacuum Oil site, a 13.5-acre brownfield located along Flint Street and South Plymouth Avenue. The cleanup effort, expected to take 18 to 24 months, represents a critical step toward transforming the contaminated industrial site into productive riverfront development and public space.
The environmental consulting and remediation firm Roux Associates Inc., headquartered in the Long Island village of Islandia with an office in Pittsford, New York, will oversee the cleanup efforts. The project is funded in part by the New York State Brownfield Cleanup Program (BCP).
Mayor Malik Evans emphasized the project's importance in a statement: "This project represents another important step toward healing our riverfront and transforming a once-contaminated site into an asset for the people of Rochester. By cleaning up the land and restoring it for future use, we're protecting public health, honoring our environmental responsibility and reconnecting our neighborhoods to the Genesee River."
The remediation work will include:
Roux Associates brings substantial expertise in complex remediation projects. The firm has successfully completed remediation efforts at several major industrial sites, including:
According to company vice president Ian Reed, "Roux's goal is to provide the highest quality environmental services, which includes protecting the health and safety of our employees, on-site partners and the surrounding community."
Once remediation is complete, the City of Rochester intends to create a new riverfront park and make enhancements to the Genesee Riverway Trail. Additionally, the city is preparing the site with shovel-ready commercial and/or residential development sites to attract new investment and economic development.
This approach reflects a broader strategy to reconnect Rochester neighborhoods to the Genesee River while creating new economic opportunities. The waterfront location presents significant potential for mixed-use development, public recreation, and community gathering spaces once the contamination is addressed.
The Vacuum Oil remediation project creates immediate construction and environmental services opportunities for contractors and firms specializing in:
The 18 to 24-month timeline will provide sustained work during the remediation phase. Following successful cleanup certification, the site preparation for future development will generate additional construction opportunities in site infrastructure, utilities, and eventual building construction.
The project benefits from New York's robust Brownfield Cleanup Program, which provides liability protection, regulatory oversight, and environmental certification upon completion. This framework significantly reduces risk for future developers and helps accelerate the path from contaminated site to productive use.
The BCP certification also opens the door to potential future tax incentives and development financing that can help attract private investment once the site is ready for development.
Historic industrial sites like the Vacuum Oil location represent environmental justice issues for nearby communities. By addressing contamination, the remediation project directly protects the health of Rochester residents and establishes the foundation for healthier, more vibrant neighborhoods along the Genesee River.
The commitment to public health protection and environmental responsibility reflects Rochester's broader sustainability goals and positions the city as a leader in brownfield redevelopment.
Following the completion of the current remediation phase, the city will pursue additional funding to begin the West River Wall Segment II project. Construction progress will be tracked by environmental monitoring reports and regulatory certifications through the New York State Brownfield Cleanup Program. Once remediation is certified complete, site development plans and potential requests for proposals (RFPs) for riverfront development will likely be announced.
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