Attorneys representing Tonawanda Coke appeared in bankruptcy court Monday seeking approval to sell the property to Riverview Innovation and Technology Campus.
It comes after the court canceled a public auction because there were no competing bids submitted prior to last Friday's deadline.
"This allows the debtor to take the next steps in its Chapter 11 bankruptcy case. The debtor will no longer be in control of the site," said James Thoman, HodgsonRuss attorney.
The judge approved control to Riverview owner Jon Williams, who has also purchased other environmentally challenged sites.
"It's a development process. So this is the first step. This gets the property on to a path that will result in a remediation," said Williams.
He says possible uses include a data processing facility.
"It's got access to power, it's got access to water. It’s a large continuous parcel. And we're looking forward to putting together a process to get this site back in use," said Williams.
Part of that process includes an extensive cleanup.
Environmental leaders say they want Tonawanda Coke and former owner Honeywell to pay for it all, and are against Riverview looking to the state's brownfield program for help.
"So this is tax credits — money that won't be going to our schools. This is money that won't be going to our roads. This is money that won't be going for infrastructure," said Rebecca Newberry, Clean Air Coalition of WNY executive director.
Williams says while the former companies are obligated to pay for the cleanup, he has applied to the brownfield program.
He says that, plus working with the Department of Environmental Conservation and the Environmental Protection Agency, will result in a better cleanup.
"So it's not a lesser product. It’s not something that has any shortcuts to it. It does it in a manner that allows the property to be used in the end," said Williams.
As for an actual purchase price, Williams says that won't be made public yet, until all the costs associated with the offer have been calculated.