GLIN==> Historic vote at today's Duluth Seaway Port Authority Board meeting; Purchase agreement approved with U. S. Steel - RE: former Duluth Works site in Morgan Park neighborhood

RELEASE & SITE MAP attached

 

January 27, 2010


For Immediate Release             

 

For more information, contact:                                      

Adolph Ojard, Port Authority Executive Director, 218.727.8525

             

Erin DiPietro, Senior Public Affairs Representative United States Steel
Corporation, 412.433.6845

 

Historic brownfield redevelopment project on the horizon

 

Duluth, Minn. USA - The Duluth Seaway Port Authority Board of
Commissioners voted today to approve a purchase agreement with United
States Steel Corporation to acquire a portion of the company's former
Duluth Works site in the city's Morgan Park neighborhood.

This 123-acre parcel is part of one of the largest listed Superfund
sites in Minnesota. The redevelopment of this first section will serve
as a catalyst to the delisting, redevelopment and revitalization of the
rest of the property. 

State, city and Morgan Park community leaders are excited about the
prospects for redevelopment as the 550-acre industrial property has sat
dormant since the steel mill closed in the 1970s.  In the interim,
United States Steel has been working with the MPCA to decommission and
remediate the site. Prior to closing on this acquisition, a soil
investigation must be completed to determine if any additional
remediation needs to be undertaken to delist the property from Superfund
site status. 

With the support of Morgan Park community leaders, the Port Authority
has worked with United States Steel for nearly three years to acquire
the first 123 acres of what could become a historic brownfield
redevelopment project for this region.  

 "The Port Authority made the decision to acquire this property to
satisfy the need for larger-scale industrial development sites within
the port district," noted Adolph Ojard, executive director. "We've
simply run out of space in the Duluth area. There is no suitable land in
parcels larger than 10 acres, particularly in such close proximity to
the harbor."  

"United States Steel Corporation is eager to work with the Duluth Seaway
Port Authority to transform this brownfield site into a development
project that could have a significant, positive, long-term impact on the
local economy," said USS Real Estate President George A. Manos.  

The Port Authority has fielded several inquiries in recent years from
large-scale manufacturing and distribution companies that would be prime
candidates for 50-acre or larger parcels. Acquiring United States
Steel's former Duluth Works site will go a long way toward satisfying
pent-up demand. "While it is our intention to redevelop this site into
parcels suitable for large-scale development, the investigation and
potential remediation of this property will not happen overnight." added
Ojard. "We hope to have buildable sites available by 2012."   

 

 

##

 

 

Adele Yorde

Public Relations Manager

Duluth Seaway Port Authority

1200 Port Terminal Drive

Duluth, MN  55802-2609 U.S.A.

218-727-8525

218-390-6973 (cell)

 

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