cleanup · Erie County
Buffalo Forge Property
Buffalo
Former Broadway foundry, blacksmith, and machine-manufacturing complex remediated for The Forge redevelopment. Cleanup removed source areas and black foundry sand while retaining other contamination beneath covers and long-term land-use controls.
The documented story
What happened here?
Buffalo Forge's former plant occupied seven adjacent parcels totaling 12.48 acres around 490 Broadway. Manufacturing continued until the early 1990s and included blacksmithing, foundry work, and machine-shop operations; the buildings were demolished in 2006–2007.
Investigations found black foundry sand mixed with fill and contamination associated with historic manufacturing and underground storage systems. The Brownfield Cleanup Program tied remediation to redevelopment while preserving different cleanup standards for residential and commercial portions.
Chronology in context
Turning points in the public record
Late nineteenth century–early 1990s
Buffalo Forge operated a major manufacturing complex centered on foundry, blacksmith, and machine work.
2006–2007
Plant buildings were demolished and identified underground tanks were removed with limited contaminated soil.
2018
DEC selected a restricted-use remedy integrated with the proposed mixed-use redevelopment.
Redevelopment era
Excavation, imported clean material, buildings, pavement, soil covers, an environmental easement, and site management supported The Forge redevelopment.
Environmental record
Documented impacts
- DEC identified metals in soil and black foundry sand as principal concerns; groundwater exceedances were also evaluated.
- The remedy called for removal of about 23,184 cubic yards of contaminated soil and source structures, including encountered tanks and piping.
- Public water serves the area; the groundwater restriction concerns use of site groundwater and does not indicate contamination of the municipal supply.
Response
Cleanup and controls
- Source-area excavation and off-site disposal addressed grossly contaminated soil, black sand, and soil exceeding site-specific thresholds.
- Buildings, pavement, and soil cover isolate remaining contamination. An environmental easement restricts land and groundwater use.
- A Site Management Plan governs inspections, future excavation, cover maintenance, and periodic certification.
Then and now
The site today
The property has been redeveloped for housing and associated uses under a restricted-use remedy. Redevelopment is compatible with the controls; it does not mean every historic industrial residue was removed.