Old Mohawk Carpet Mill Buildings to be Demolished

Amsterdam, NY, October 19, 2005--Demolition companies are lining up for a chance to be involved in the cleanup of a former carpet mill site. And on Tuesday they got their first look. The Mohawk Carpet Mills site has seen controversy after several cleanup efforts by the city had stalled. The Mohasco buildings sit on a 20-acre plot of land. But after the company ended its operations in Amsterdam and moved to the Carolinas in the 1970s, the city eventually foreclosed on it. Now years later, Amsterdam is finally beginning the bidding process on the cleanup. Companies interested in the job took a tour to see just what would be involved, including the demolition of several large warehouse-like buildings, along with special considerations to protect the Chuctanunda Creek which runs right through the site. According to the acting city engineer, the process was kick-started by a $2 million state grant which will help pay for the cleanup of some potentially hazardous materials. Acting City Engineer Ray Halgas said, "I think the biggest thing is the asbestos removal from when these buildings were built in the late 1800s and early 1900s, and they have all been identified in the bid packet as to what materials you'd have to move from the site." For many, this tour to begin bids couldn't come soon enough. City leaders hope that once most of the mess is taken care of by the company with the winning bid, the property can be marketed to attract other businesses to the site. Alderwoman Marie Gavry said, "This has been an eyesore for a long time, probably at least 10 years. And it needs to be cleaned up so that we can propose some new building and rehab for the city." If the permit process goes as planned, officials said the demolition and cleanup should be complete in 2006, but they said it could take longer.