A long-neglected vacant Upper East Side lot that neighbors unsuccessfully fought to transform from an eyesore into a community garden is so toxic it needs remediation removing 20 feet of soil, according to a public notice from the New York State Depa
I don’t understand what the problem is. The Brownfield Cleanup Program is a well established program that promotes private enterprises to behave responsibly by cleaning up environmental messes. Yes it is tax payer money, but this time you are actually getting something for your money. As for building without remediation being legal, I don’t see how it would be feasible. They need to move soil out of there to put in the new foundation. Once built, how much tax money will the building generate over its lifetime? Far more than if it stays an empty polluted lot.