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ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Demolition work began at the former Vacuum Oil refinery site in Rochester. The city aims to revitalize the contaminated land previously operated by Exxon Mobil’s predecessor.
News10NBC’s Declan Stablow reported from the site. According to city officials, crews will start demolishing the building as soon as Monday. The demolition is expected to take three to four weeks, while the entire project will last one and a half to two years.
Next spring, crews will replace the contaminated soil at the site. The city said the soil will be disposed of off-site, but the location remains unspecified. The Department of Environmental Conservation stated that the removal process is done in stages and more information will be provided as it progresses.
Mayor Malik Evans said residents have awaited this project for decades, but payment disputes caused delays. “It’s just been a long process. There’s money, this costs money to be able to get done. And the question was, who should pay for it, and we believed all along that the folks that polluted it, even though it was 95 years ago where it stopped being a refinery, we felt as though it was only right for that neighborhood, look what we’ve been left with for 95 years. That ends today,” Evans said.
The city warned that traffic will increase along Flint Street and South Plymouth Avenue when work begins. Part of the Genesee River Trail may also temporarily close. The city plans to provide weekly updates on these impacts.
The revitalization project aims to enhance the Genesee River Trail and offer flood protection and erosion control.