UTICA — The Charlestown Mall site — the sprawling Turner Street complex that once housed a gun-making factory, a computer plant and most notably an outlet mall in the late 1970s and early 1980s — is officially coming down.

Falling into disrepair after years of vacancy — and a major fire which destroyed much of the site in August 2020 — crews on Tuesday began efforts to demolish the longtime eyesore.

“This is a great example of how everyone working together can yield positive results for those we serve,” said Utica Mayor Robert Palmieri.

“When the Charlestown fire occurred in August of 2020, all local, state and federal representatives advocated for assistance from New York State and the federal government. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation supported our efforts, and, as a community, we are grateful to the EPA as this demolition will promote public safety and enhance the quality of life for our residents,” Palmieri said.

“I echo Mayor Palmieri’s sentiments, thanking the EPA for the demolition of the Charlestown complex,” said Frankfort Town Supervisor Glenn D. Asnoe. “This site has
been a safety concern for many years, which was highlighted by the August 2020 fire.
to finally see the site being
remediated is a welcome relief.”

In Sept 2020, The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) requested the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) asses the site due to asbestos presumed to be in the remnants left by the fire. The EPA is now actively working to safely demolish the buildings, while monitoring the air and properly disposing of any asbestos and hazardous materials, according to an announcement by officials.

“EPA is taking this action to ensure that we address any potential risk to people or the environment from the asbestos at the site,” said EPA On-Scene Coordinator Terry Kish. “We recognize that this in an important step for these communities as they work towards getting the site on track for productive reuse.”

The site is located in both the city of Utica and the town of Frankfort, however, the land is still under ownership of an LLC. There are currently no known plans for redevelopment.

Demolition is expected to be completed within the next
several months.