Suozzi Announces Demolition of Long Beach Incinerator
-- Facility Closed in 1997, but Remained Eyesore in North Park Neighborhood; Demo Makes Room for Economic Development
Long Beach, NY- Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi today announced the final stage of the dismantling of the Long Beach Incinerator, the oldest incinerator on Long Island, which for decades has been a blight on the seaside city’s landscape.
The incinerator, which had a long succession of owners since its construction in 1952, was shut down in 1997 by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation because of operational problems, including air pollution. During its peak years, in the late 1980’s and early 90’s, the incinerator burned 200 tons of garbage daily.
“The Long Beach incinerator spewed pollution into the air for decades,” Suozzi said. “And even though it’s been closed for 10 years, it has remained an eyesore, dormant and decaying. But today, not only are we are demolishing its smoke stack – the last stage in its dismantling – we are making way for new development that will spur Long Beach’s economy. This is a huge step in the revitalization process of this great city.”
Along with the City of Long Beach, Nassau County contributed $515,000 in economic development funds – $440,000 in Community Development Block Grant funds, plus $75,000 for engineering – to the City of Long Beach to assist with the demolition. Additionally, the County contributed $635,000 in Environmental Bond funding.
Over the past five years, Nassau County has helped the City of Long Beach with more than $4.7 million in CDBG funds, which have been used for major infrastructure improvements including replacing portions of the boardwalk, installing handicap ramps and beach comfort stations, refurbishing streetscapes, developing water and skate parks and helping fund a community center.
“After a long period of Community activism, the City of Long Beach closed the incinerator,” said Long Beach City Council President Leonard G. Remo. “We have been able to safely dismantle and remove the incinerator to open up new land for utilization in the City of Long Beach.”
Earlier this year, the Long Beach City Council selected the Bayfront Development Group as the preferred developers of the incinerator site. Bayfront Developerment, a partnership of Lancer Insurance and Cameron Engineering, has proposed a mixed use project that will include a marina, housing, commercial structures, a restaurant and more.
