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Politics & Government

Potential New Tenant, Contamination Cleanup at Waldbaum's Site

The space has been vacant since March.

Since closed in March, more than 40,000 square feet of anchor space in the Village of Farmingdale has sat empty.

That may change soon, according to David Gelfond, an agent at First Development Corporation handling the listing.

“There is going to be major redevelopment of that property which is going to be very positive for the community,” said Gelfond. “There are some major service type retailers that are looking to come here.”

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Gelfond could not give more detail about the companies interested.

“When you’re in negotiations with companies, you’re not allowed to disclose anything,” he said.

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Gelfond anticipates it will probably take 6-12 months for everything to be completed.

 “Over the next 12 months, I think the community will be very happy with the redevelopment.”

Meanwhile, signage was approved at the September village board meeting to post at the Waldbaum's site about a Department of Environmental Conservation cleanup at the property.

The DEC discovered a contamination plume of residue in the south end of the shopping plaza from chemicals used by Farmingdale Plaza Cleaners, a former tenant of the Waldbaum’s property. 

According to village trustee Ralph Ekstrand, the DEC is cleaning the toxic waste through soil and vapor remediation and trenches have been dug around the contaminated area. The DEC estimates this cleanup project will last one year.  

A DEC report indicates residents, and future tenants, should not be concerned about the contamination.

"No one is expected to drink contaminated groundwater because the surrounding area is served by public water," the DEC statement reads. "No one should be exposed to contaminants in indoor air because a soil vapor extraction system is currently planned to remove contaminated soil vapors before they reach site buildings and surrounding buildings.”

What business do you want to see as an anchor on Main Street? Or would you prefer housing or park space there? Are you concerned about the contamination under the site? Tell us in the comments.

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