Communities » Lackawanna LACKAWANNA
Building on Bethlehem site shut downBy Harold McNeil
NEWS STAFF REPORTER
Published:
February 23, 2011, 12:00 AM
Lackawanna Council President Charles Jaworski said a potentially hazardous situation on the old Bethlehem Steel site was averted last week after a building that was constructed without the proper permits was shut down and four 1,000-gallon propane tanks were drained.
The issue was raised during the City Council’s regular business meeting Tuesday, when former 1st Ward Councilwoman Andrea Haxton requested an update on the site during the public comment portion of the meeting.
“The director of code enforcement is taking care of it,” Jaworski said.
“It’s in the hands of the Law Department right now. The tanks have been drained, as far as my knowledge, and [the city Law Department] is going after the builder of the building,” he added.
Last week, Mayor Norman Polanski Jr. confirmed the building constructed over railroad tracks was discovered Wednesday by City Code Enforcement Officer Steven Bremer and immediately shut down.
In addition, four haphazardly installed propane tanks were discovered nearby.
“These tanks were put right next to each other. If one of the tanks went up, they all would have gone up,” Polanski said late last week. The mayor said a demolition order would be sought this week to raze the building. The tanks were drained by Noco, he added.
The former Bethlehem Steel site is owned by ArcelorMittal, which was leased to another company, according to city officials, though the city’s economic development director said officials were still attempting to pin down the name of the company that leased the property.
“Tonawanda Coke’s name is being thrown around out there,” Miranda said, after the meeting.
The coal and coke get brought into this building to be warmed up,” Miranda added"[/COLOR]“[[SIZE="6"]
Haxton on Tuesday questioned why city officials had not been aware of the building and the propane tanks earlier.
“You can’t see [the site] from the road,” Jaworski replied.
“I think you’re covering it up,” Haxton responded later.
Both Miranda and Jaworski bristled at Haxton’s suggestion.
“We secured the situation.
We notified the public, and we did what we were supposed to do,” Miranda said.
hmcneil@buffnews.com
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I just don't understand how the permits and whatever else you need for "propane", got by the Lackawanna radar. I heard either Polanski or Bremer say " WE " would have ALL been blown up and they would have felt the explosion in Pennsylvania!
What IS Going On and WHEN DID "THEY" NOTIFY the Public?!?!