PELHAM, NY (May 25, 2025) — The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC), in collaboration with the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH), has proposed an expedited cleanup of contamination at the Pelham House site, located at 217 Fifth Avenue, Pelham, Westchester County. The Interim Remedial Measure (IRM) is set to begin in June 2025 and will last approximately four months, with Pelham Green LLC overseeing the activities under NYSDEC supervision.
The 1.21-acre site, identified as tax lot 163.36-2-19.1 and formerly a firehouse, is part of New York’s Brownfield Cleanup Program (BCP), which encourages voluntary cleanup of contaminated properties for reuse. The site, developed since 1918, is in a residential and commercial area. Redevelopment plans include a five-story, 51,930-square-foot building with 127 residential units, including six affordable units, 5,000 square feet of neighborhood retail, 219 parking spaces (60 for municipal use), and amenities like a fitness room, business room, community lounge, courtyard, and terrace.
The IRM work plan includes excavating and disposing of contaminated soil across a tenth of an acre to depths of about 20 feet below grade surface, collecting post-excavation soil samples to assess the cleanup’s effectiveness, importing clean backfill material meeting Soil Cleanup Objectives, and implementing a Health and Safety Plan and Community Air Monitoring Plan during ground intrusive activities. The primary contaminants in the soil are the volatile organic compound acetone, several semi-volatile organic compounds, and nickel, with additional semi-volatile compounds, metals, and PFAS found in groundwater.
NYSDEC is accepting public comments on the proposed plan from May 16, 2025, through June 15, 2025. Comments can be submitted to NYSDEC Project Manager Alexander Malamet at 21 South Putt Corners Road, New Paltz, NY 12561, or via email at alexander.malamet@dec.ny.gov. For health-related questions, contact Christopher Budd at NYSDOH, Empire State Plaza, Corning Tower, Room 1787, Albany, NY 11237, or at (518) 402-1769. Project documents are available online via the DECinfo Locator at https://extapps.dec.ny.gov/data/DecDocs/C360233/ or at the Town of Pelham Public Library, 530 Colonial Ave, Pelham, NY 10803.
After the cleanup, a Construction Completion Report will document the activities performed. NYSDEC will keep the public informed throughout the process. For more information on the BCP, visit https://dec.ny.gov/environmental-protection/site-cleanup/brownfield-and-state-superfund-programs/brownfield.
This article was drafted with the aid of Grok, an AI tool by xAI, under the direction and editing of Robert Cox to ensure accuracy and adherence to journalistic standards.