Waterfront land deal on hold in Kingston

By Paul Kirby, Freeman staff Daily Freeman February 6, 2006

KINGSTON - Two properties purchased by a Brooklyn developer are polluted with a variety of metals and chemicals that pose health risks, according to reports commissioned by the developer.
The reports, compiled by Fuss & O'Neill of New York, says that properties purchased by Robert Iannucci at 1-7 Abruyn St., just below the Children's Home of Kingston, and at Kingston Landing off North Street, are polluted with heavy metals, petroleum compounds, and polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs, among other things.
The reports indicate that the consultants suspect ongoing activity at B. Millens & Sons Scrapyard on the East Stand was having "an impact on the environmental quality" at both of the sites which are near the East Strand operation.
In the case of the Abruyn Street property, the Fuss & O'Neill report outlines the effects of the contamination.
"You (Iannucci) have to be concerned that if the property was used for residential re-use or, frankly, any other use that potentially exposes children to these contaminants, that there could be serious health risks," the report says. "Children exposed to levels of heavy metals observed on this parcel can suffer neurological disorders, learning disabilities, developmental disorders, skin problems, and other health effects."
The report adds that "exposure to the petroleum compounds can impact the heart, blood and lung systems and exacerbate asthma problems."
"Needless to say, this property could never be used as a day care facility under its current condition," the report says.
The report suggests that contaminants on the Abruyn Street property, which is a lot at the corner of Abruyn Street and East Stand, have come from the Millens operation.
"You should also note that remediating this property might be fruitless since the apparent source of the problem is likely to be the adjacent Millens operation," according to the report.
Sam Millens, a representative of the scrapyard, could not be reached Tuesday.
Mayor James Sottile said this week he has forwarded the findings to the state Department of Environmental Conservation and that he wants the agency to conduct its own investigation and "to deal with it appropriately."
Sottile, who has pushed to get the waterfront scrapyards cleared, said the Abruyn Street property was of particular concern to him because it is so close to the Children's Home of Kingston. A basketball court used by the boys living there is nearby.
"The fact of the matter is I have a concern when I have a report that says this can hurt humans," Sottile said.
Bill Leverenz, assistant executive director of the Children's Home, said that he only learned of the contamination at the Abruyn Street site this week. Like Sottile, Leverenz said he was concerned about the matter and that he looked forward to reviewing reports that may be compiled by the Department of Environmental Conservation.
"We will keep our eyes open and certainly will pay close attention to anything that is forthcoming," Leverenz said.
One city lawmaker, Alderman Robert Senor, R-Ward 8, who has complained about the Millens operation in the past, said the "state has been put on notice" and should quickly start an investigation.
Additionally, Senor also suggested the city look at the possibility of using imminent domain laws to acquire the Millens property so that waterfront revitalization can occur there. Iannucci has attempted to purchase the Millens property in the past but negotiations have broken down.
Iannucci has purchased a significant amount of waterfront property since last April, including another East Strand scrapyard that has been cleared of debris.

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