The Erie County Redevelopment Authority (ECRDA), through its affiliate the Enterprise Development Center of Erie County (EDCEC), has entered into an agreement to purchase the former Erie Malleable Iron (EMI) property at 12th & Cherry Streets from Modern Industries.

EMI, long a cornerstone of Erie's industrial past, permanently closed its doors the summer of 2001. The Sweny family, owners of Modern Industries (located across from the EMI property), purchased the property in 1984 and utilized it for warehousing and light manufacturing through 2014.

The purchase by ECRDA is part of a $2M commitment by the City of Erie for blight acquisition and remediation made possible through the water authority transaction.

"We are thrilled and grateful to the ECRDA for their resolute efforts to address blight in the city. This is exactly the type of project we envisioned when we set these funds aside for their use," said Erie Mayor Joe Schember regarding the EMI property purchase.

"My team and I are happy to work with [the ECRDA] to get this site cleaned up," continued Schember. "…developers want sites that are shovel ready…[and] this has the potential to bring more people and family-sustaining jobs to Erie."

"The work by the Erie County Redevelopment Authority to tackle industrial blight is both critical and necessary to improve our community and prepare the land for development," added Erie County Executive Kathy Dahlkemper. "I'm very pleased to see the partnership with the City evolve into tangible projects that will make a real difference."

Acquiring and redeveloping real estate in Erie County is just one of many ways the ECRDA seeks to increase prosperity in the Erie region.

"In addition to representing some of the best of Erie's industrial past, the 12th Street corridor can further become a beacon of Erie's high-tech manufacturing future," commented Tina Mengine, ECRDA CEO. "Investment in the elimination of blight along the corridor as well as throughout the region is critical if we are truly to look forward, not backward. For nearly 20 years, the corner of 12th and Cherry Streets has been an example of one of our most significant areas of blight. We are committed to improving the landscape and creating jobs for our residents."

The closing is set for next month and demolition will begin shortly thereafter.