WESTFIELD - As part of the redevelopment of the former E.H. Hall Inc./Westan Tannery property, the Tioga County Development Corp. has completed several land transactions involving a portion of the properties, Little League fields and two water supply parcels.
"Ever since we gained control of the tannery properties, it has been the goal of TCDC to put back into private and public ownership portions of the lands," said Robert J. Blair, TCDC president and CEO.
"As a result of a foreclosure effort in July 2012, three parcels are being returned to private ownership, thus bringing the properties back on the tax roles. Three other parcels have been deeded to the borough."
Since the closing of the tannery in 2005, Westfield Borough has been active in securing public ownership of the parcels to allow their intended use to continue and not fall to the mercy of private developers.
"Today we celebrate the secure future of the Little League complex in Westfield. It was through the generosity and community mindedness of the E.H. Hall Co. that created this facility back in the 1980s," T. James Davis, Westfield Borough Council president, said.
"We applaud the Tioga County Development Corp. for their contribution to the Borough of Westfield and our youth. The borough appreciates our relationship with TCDC and actively supports their efforts for the creation of the Westfield Business Park," Davis added.
According to Blair, the second phase of the planned transaction will be to deed some of the land to Westfield Township and the Westfield Cemetery Association.
"The primary objective is to develop the Westfield Business Park along Church Street into a brownfield redevelopment project. We have completed a master plan which calls for a 17.6-acre business complex on seven parcels of land on the site of the former Plant 1. All four taxing bodies have agreed to apply for a Keystone Opportunity Zone for the site," he said.
