Scotia McDonald’s site cleanup done on time, under budget

PHOTOGRAPHER: Bethany Bump

The environmental cleanup of a former McDonald’s site in Scotia is now complete, making the land ready to hand over to Mazzone Management Group for overflow parking and an eventual bakery.

The Schenectady County Metroplex Development Authority announced Tuesday the cleanup was finished on time and under budget, at a cost of $213,824. Metroplex bought the property in March from McDonald’s Corp. for $1 ,with an agreement to sell it to Mazzone for the cost of cleanup or $250,000, whichever was less.

Mazzone would then use the 1.1-acre plot at 25 Mohawk Ave. temporarily as an overflow parking lot for Glen Sanders Mansion events. Eventually, company President Angelo Mazzone plans to house a retail bakery operation at the site, along with other retail offerings in a strip mall-type arrangement.

About 1,100 tons of petroleum-impacted soil and three underground, 1,000-gallon storage tanks were removed from the site. Metroplex worked with C.T. Male Associates, of Latham, and several environmental contractors to clean the site.

“I congratulate our county economic development team for the successful cleanup of the former McDonald’s site in Scotia,” said Marty Finn, chairman of the Schenectady County Legislature’s Economic Development Committee. “This effort has now created a shovel-ready site that will be a catalyst for additional development along Mohawk Avenue that will benefit the village and all of Schenectady County.“

Metroplex has remediated other brownfield sites in Schenectady County, including the former Big N Plaza, the old American Locomotive Company site, several major lots in downtown Schenectady, the former Capitol Plaza in Rotterdam, a former gas station where new Schenectady County Community College housing is located, sites on Technology Drive and the former Marks property in Duanesburg.

Metroplex plans to complete the sale to Mazzone later this year.