Collins seeks ‘swift action’ with Holley houses currently off market

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 April 2014 at 12:00 am

HOLLEY – Congressman Chris Collins is asking the federal Environmental Protection Agency to sell eight houses that have been off the tax rolls and vacant for about a decade.

The houses were feared to be contaminated by a chemical leak in January 2002 by the former Diaz Chemical, which has gone bankrupt.

The EPA acquired the sites. It’s testing has shown no harmful on-site contaminants remain at the eight properties, Collins noted in a letter on Tuesday to Gina McCarthy, EPA administrator.

Village officials want them back on the market. The houses are on Jackson, Geddes, Van Buren and North Main streets. The houses could boost the local tax rolls by $700,000 and eliminate vacant properties in the community, Collins said in the letter.

Collins’ staff toured the properties last week with village officials, who were told the sites would be put on the market more than 2 ½ years ago.

“With 2014 upon us, I would like to request the EPA take swift action in addressing the concerns of the Village of Holley and place the suitable properties up for sale,” Collins wrote to McCarthy. “This action is in the best interest of the Village of Holley, the EPA, and the taxpayers.”