Plans for Armstrong Site to be Revealed Today

Lancaster County, PA, October 28, 2005--The mystery of what will become of Armstrong World Industries' Liberty Street flooring plant may be resolved today, according to the Lancaster New Era. The newspaper reported that Franklin & Marshall College and Lancaster Economic Development Co. have scheduled a meeting at 3 p.m. to disclose plans that address how a 45-acre parcel will be divided and developed. Armstrong in December said it would donate a portion of its 65-acre Liberty Street flooring-plant property to EDC and F&M when it ceases production at the plant. Production is expected to cease in May. Armstrong will maintain about 20 acres of the site, where it will build a modern flooring plant. Neither F&M nor EDC officials would comment on what will be discussed at today's meeting. However, F&M spokeswoman Marcy Dubroff said a "significant economic development" involving Armstrong, F&M and EDC will be announced. Sources say F&M and EDC have agreed the college would assume control of about 25 acres of the former plant site, while EDC would use the remaining 20 acres. EDC plans to use the property for mixed industrial/commercial projects and work to build up the Clipper Magazine Stadium entertainment district, sources say. The property is just north of and across the railroad tracks from the college's Alumni Sports & Fitness Center. F&M president John Fry had suggested the college might relocate some of its administrative offices to the tract to free up space for classrooms in the historic section of campus. But government and private sector sources say Fry might use the land to revisit a plan to establish a high-tech business incubator. F&M had planned to participate in a 2003 project at the vacant Lancaster Press building at Prince and Lemon streets utilizing Gov. Ed Rendell's Keystone Innovation Zone program. Though it never materialized, F&M had agreed to partner with Lancaster General Hospital to offer tax cuts and other incentives to graduates and entrepreneurs willing to start new high-tech businesses in the zone. Whatever is planned, several million dollars will be needed to make it happen. A report released in November 2004 suggested the costs of demolition and environmental cleanup at the Liberty Street site would be more than $50 million. However, F&M and Armstrong expressed doubt about the projected cleanup cost, which would ultimately be Armstrong's responsibility. Today's meeting likely will address a study funded by a $175,000 grant from Commonwealth Financing Authority. The study was commissioned to analyze the environmental status of the flooring-plant property, possible reuses and other issues. Fry said in December the project would require "substantial additional public funding and support" for demolition, correction of existing site conditions, land planning and adding utilities, streets and infrastructure. The news comes a week after F&M broke ground on the largest construction project in the school's 218-year history. Work has begun on the $45 million Ann & Richard Barshinger Life Sciences & Philosophy Building. The 102,000-square-foot structure on the north end of campus will house the biology, psychology and philosophy departments.