Tonawanda, N.Y. (WBEN) - For decades, the Tonawanda Coke plant has emitted toxic and poisonous gas and chemicals, infiltrating the air of the Tonawandas and Grand Island. Today, the work being done to clean up the property following the plant's closure in 2018, is paving the way new development.
The first development that will ensue is a Community Victory Garden on one parcel of the former plan site, an aptly-named space for Citizen Science Community Resources Director Jackie James, who has been fighting the clean air fight against the coke plant since she was diagnosed fibromyalgia.
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James was proud to declare another clean air victory with the announcement of the Victory Garden coming in the Spring of 2024.
"We fought long and hard but we finally won. It took 16 long years to beat Tonawanda Coke, but we did it. Today, our work is not completely done. We have a vision to create something polar opposite to what Tonawanda Coke signified in our community. It's time for nature to take take back industry and greenery and gardens to replace polluted air, soil and water. This will be accomplished by planting one garden at a time starting with our Community Victory Garden."
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Simply put, it's starting to come full circle for the activists. "We went out there and we hunted for the smell, and found the benzene. That is what started everything. It's come full circle. We went from decrepit industrial air to to a new beginning, and that's why we're calling it "nature takes back industry," James added.
The former plant property is said to be divided into two parts, on the main side where the plant stood, you have 102 acres. Across the street, you have 21 acres, where some of the Victory Garden will occupy.
Before high tech industrial companies can start their new builds on the property, they are going to have to wait for the full remediation, according to John Black, a Riverview Innovation and Technology Campus consultant and president of Inventum Engineering.
"Right now, we've just submitted the remedial investigation that has all the data on the site. In one month, we submit what's called an alternatives analysis where we evaluate the alternative to how we can clean up the site. What we can do at the site that will go in next month, the DEC (New York State Department of Environmental Conservation) will review. It's a collaborative process, and they'll select a remedy. That will go out for public comment probably September, October."
We may not see new companies build on the land until 2025.
According to Black, there is interest in development from several companies for the side with 102 acres. As for the other side where the garden will be, "This will be a combination of commercial and waterfront uses."