Moving Ahead
Published: October 22, 2009
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Eighty-eight acres known as the Taylor Colliery Property along Main Street are starting to look dramatically different as work to reclaim the scarred land continues.
“The comments we’re getting from members of the community is surprise and happiness over the quality of the job and how much land is actually there,” said Daniel Zeleniak, borough manager. “People are truly amazed at the size of the property now that it has been graded.”
According to information provided by the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the $1,458,977 project is slated to be complete in June 2010. By the time work wraps up next year, DEP estimates that more than 700,000 cubic yards will be excavated and graded, allowing the area to developed.
“Our hopes are to have multi-use on the property that will include a downtown commercial district and housing — either single family or town home type dwellings,” he said.
Work on this phase of the project is under the direction of the state Bureau of Abandonded Mine Reclamation, and is being completed by Berner Construction.
The Abandoned Mine Reclamation Trust Fund is providing the capital for this phase of colliery redevelopment. According to DEP, the fund is subsidized by the coal industry via taxes paid on each ton of coal mined.
“The design and funding of this project is the result of DEP’s effort,” added Zeleniak. “There’s more work that will need to be done on the 88 acres. With the DEP project funding the redevelopment of the colliery property has been catapulted 10 years, placing the borough further ahead than we ever anticipated we’d be at this point.”
