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Residents In Caly Concerned Over Chip Plant Residents Concerned Over Chip Plant in Clay

By Thomas Cook

PAUL AND ROBIN RICHER: It’s been our life, its been our childhood, its been our children lives, its everything to us.

THOMAS COOK: PAUL AND ROBIN RICHER HAVE BOTH LIVED ON BURNETT ROAD THEIR ENTIRE LIFE. PAULS FATHER BUILT THE HOUSE THEY LIVE IN NOW. ROBIN GREW UP JUST THREE HOUSES DOWN. THEY FIRST RECEIVED AN OFFER FROM A REAL ESTATE AGENCY ON THEIR HOUSE ABOUT A YEAR AGO.

THIS IS THE HOUSE BEING BUILT BACK IN 1954

RICHERS: AND OUR HEARTS PRETTY MUCH SUNK. BECAUSE WE THOUGHT AN END WAS COMING TO BEING ABLE TO LIVE HERE THE WAY WE WANTED TO AND RETIRE.

COOK: THE RICHERS DO NOT WANT TO SELL THEIR HOME. THEY ARE WORRIED THE COUNTY COULD FORCE THEM TO SELL AFTER PASSING A VOTE TO ALLOW THEM TO RELOCATE PEOPLE IF THEY HAVE TO.

RICHERS: WELL IT KEEPS YOU ON EDGE. YOU WAKE UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT THINKING ABOUT IT. YOU LOSE A LITTLE BIT OF SLEEP. YOU ARE IN LIMBO. WE ARE IN LIMBO.

COOK: FOR THE CHIP MANUFACTURING PLANT TO HAPPEN THESE HOMES WOULD HAVE TO BE DESTROYED. COUNTY LEGISLATORS ARE TRYING TO WEIGH THE OPTIONS BETWEEN THESE PEOPLES LIVELIHOOD AND BRINGING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO THE COUNTY.

LINDA ERVIN: THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TEAM HAS BEEN WORKING WITH THEM TO GET THEM RELOCATED IN A FAVORABLE KIND OF INSTANCE BUT MANY OF THEM ARE COMPLAINING THAT IS NOT THE CASE.

COOK: LINDA ERVIN IS ONE OF THE ONONDAGA COUNTY LEGISLATORS. SHE SAYS SHE IS TRYING TO WEIGH BOTH OPTIONS FOR THE PROJECT.

ERVIN: IF IN THE LONG RUN, IT APPEARS THAT THIS PROJECT WOULD BE MUCH MORE BENEFICIAL TO THIS COUNTY THAN WE EVER THOUGHT OF THEN I MIGHT SAY I’VE GOT TO GO THAT, BUT I HAVENT MADE THAT DECISION YET, IT’S STILL EARLY.

(CLAY, N.Y.) NCC News — The White Pines Commerce Park could bring thousands of jobs to the Central New York area. However for the chip manufacturing plant to be constructed as currently outlined the county would have to displace people currently living on Burnet Road in Clay.

All the residents on Burnet road have been sent letters asking to purchase their homes. Paul and Robin Richer have lived on Burnet road their entire life. They do not want to sell their home.

Save Burnet Road Signs
Residents on Brunet Road have lawn signs in their front lawn.
© 2021 Thomas Cook
White Pines Commerce Park
A chip plant would be built in Clay, N.Y.
© 2021 Thomas Cook

“It’s been our life, it’s been our childhood, it’s been our children’s lives, it’s everything to us,” Robin Richer said.

“Well, it keeps you on edge. You wake up in the middle of the night thinking about it. You lose a little bit of sleep,” Paul Richer said.

County legislators said the project could bring thousands to Central New York and increase tax revenue.

17th District Representative Linda Ervin said she is trying to weigh both sides of the project.

“If in the long run, it appears this project would be much more beneficial to this county than we ever thought of then I might say I’ve got to go that, but I haven’t made that decision yet, it’s still early,” Ervin said.

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