All Nivison-Weiskopf buildings demolished

All of the buildings at Reading's Nivison-Weiskopf site at Third and Voorhees streets (BIRD'S EYE) have been demolished, and concrete is in the process of being removed.

The City is awaiting data on the crushed concrete to make sure it is free of 'chemicals of concern'.

Recently, crews have also:

* Removed three underground storage tanks that were used to store heating oil
* Begun to remove subsurface utilities
* Begun to add backfill material

Demolition of the 155,000-square-feet of buildings and groundwater and soil remediation at the 11.7-acre site is expected to cost more than $3.5 million.

A site assessment revealed that one-third of the buildings were structurally unsafe and that there was a significant amount of petroleum in the groundwater near the rail loading dock and in the area around the rail corridor.

Petroleum contaminant and PC had also been detected in the soil.

The land will likely be used for a much-needed expansion of the 59-acre Reading Life Sciences Complex, a research and technology park housing 1,000 jobs and comprised of the Genome Research Institute of the University of Cincinnati, Girindus America, and Patheon Pharmaceuticals.

The former director of UC's Genome Research Institute estimates that the Nivison-Weiskopf site could support 100,000 square feet of new lab and office space at a cost of about $50 million, with about 400 jobs created and $15 million-$20 million in increased payroll.

Nivison-Weiskopf manufactured glass bottles in the facility between the early 1900s and the 1990s.

The property has been vacant since it was purchased by the city in 2006.

Previous reading on BC:
Reading denied EPA grant for Nivison, still seeking funds (4/25/08)
Reading to accept bids for Nivison-Weiskpof demolition (11/7/07)
Reading: Demolition of the Nivison-Weiskopf factory (3/20/07)