A housing expansion project in downtown Poughkeepsie has been delayed after workers encountered an unusual and potentially hazardous substance rising from beneath the site.
Project Background
Construction is underway at 135 Main Street, where the Admiral Halsey apartments are adding 36 new units at the rear of the building along North Perry Street. The project, which aims to increase available housing in the area, has been making steady progress until a troubling discovery forced work to slow down.
Black Tar-Like Substance Appears
According to tenants living at the Admiral Halsey apartments, a black tar-like material began oozing up from the ground in late August. Witnesses described the thick substance as seeping through areas of excavation, raising concerns about safety and environmental impact.
Due to the uncertainty surrounding the material, construction crews halted work while the contractor arranged for an 18-wheel tanker truck to collect the substance. The material was pumped into the truck and hauled away for disposal.
Concerns About Contaminated Soil
One tenant at the building told Mid-Hudson News that the excavated soil on-site is currently covered with plastic sheeting, suggesting contamination concerns. The tenant also claimed that the land was previously occupied by a business several years ago that may have left pollutants behind.
Despite these accounts, Mid-Hudson News reported that no official state records could be found indicating that the site was previously contaminated.
Questions Remain Unanswered
Calls placed to the contractor overseeing the Admiral Halsey expansion project have not been returned, leaving many questions unanswered about the nature of the tar-like substance and whether it poses any long-term health or environmental risks.
As of now, it remains unclear whether the material is petroleum-based, industrial waste, or the result of older construction activity in the area. Until testing results or official statements are released, the source and safety of the substance are uncertain.
Community Concerns
The sudden appearance of the material has raised concerns among tenants and neighbors, many of whom fear that the contaminated soil could affect air quality or water supplies if not handled properly. While the immediate response involved containment and removal, the long-term plan for site safety has not been made public.
Local residents expressed frustration over the lack of communication, urging officials and contractors to provide transparency about what exactly is being removed and how it will affect the timeline of the project.
Next Steps
For now, construction at the Admiral Halsey expansion has slowed as crews await further guidance. Environmental safety protocols may require soil testing and additional cleanup before work can resume.
The incident underscores the challenges of building in areas with industrial histories, where remnants of past land use can resurface decades later, unexpectedly halting progress.
Until more information becomes available, tenants and neighbors remain watchful, hoping for both answers and assurances that the project can safely move forward.
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