MAC'S/OLD BECKER'S DEMOLITION UNDERWAY

I wrote about this impending demolition and contaminated soil cleanup on July 30/11 here in the Advocate. It always seems a little weird to me the glacial speed involved when the authorities actually get around to cleaning up contaminated sites. Clearly the criteria is to maximize the convenience for the property/business owner. Last summer some of the contaminated soil at the old Steddick Hotel beside this property was removed.

As we speak a very large excavator is being unloaded on this site on Arthur St. in Elmira and I wouldn't be surprised if either buildings or earth actually get removed today. A steel fence went up last week to keep pedestrians at a safe distance. Elmira residents you don't need to feel shy about keeping an eye on this excavation after all we all share this planet. It would be nice to know if they remove everything or just skim the surface and rubber stamp the "cleanup".