Medina approves environmental audit of old dry cleaning site

Photo by Tom Rivers – The former Starlite Dry Cleaners has been vacant on Main Street in Medina since a fire damaged the building a decade ago.

MEDINA – The village is spending $3,500 to determine the environmental cleanup needed for two vacant side-by-side sites on Main Street.

The former Starlite Dry Cleaners at 331 North Main St. has been empty since a fire in the building a decade ago. Its neighbor at 333 North Main also is vacant.

The Village Board would like to see the sites be redeveloped. But first the extent of the environmental contamination needs to be determined. The village also is trying to line up funding to help with the cleanup. The state Department of Environmental Conservation pledged $50,000 to $60,000 to the cleanup in 2008, Mayor Andrew Meier said.

He believes the DEC will still honor that commitment if local dollars are committed to help with the project.

Starlite is currently in limbo. A previous owner stopped paying taxes on the site. Normally the property would then be owned by Orleans County, but the county hasn’t accepted the property due to the potential environmental liabilities.

Meier and the Village Board on Monday voted to pay $3,500 to Great Lakes Environmental. The firm will look at alternatives for the two sites, including the costs of environmental remediation, building repairs and demolition.

A previous study showed some dry-cleaning solvents were in the soil at Starlite.

Meier said he doesn’t want the two buildings to sit idle much longer. The study from the environmental consultant should help determine the future for the two buildings.

“It’s an important project in the community,” Meier said.