WILSON, Pa. — A project to transform the former Dixie Cup factory into an apartment complex now has a goal to open as soon as 2027, the developer told Wilson Borough Council on Monday.
Skyline Investment Group Managing Partner Brian Bartee offered an update on the proposed 405-unit complex.
Bartee said that as of a week and a half ago, all remediation is complete — including removal of polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs, and toxic chemicals such as lead-based paint and asbestos once common in industrial and consumer products.
“This is way farther than it's ever been. You know, I'm not trying to jinx us, but it's just amazing the progress of that building."Wilson Borough Council President John J. Burke IV
Bartee said final reports to the state Department of Environmental Protection and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency had been submitted.
From the outside, Bartee said, people may not be able to appreciate the amount of work that's been accomplished.
“So all three of the courtyards are now open," he said. "It's a lot. So it's beautiful. Three of the four levels are completely asbestos free.
"So we're going to see over the next four to five weeks where all the windows are going to come out of the building, the cup is going to come down in a safe place, and we're pretty much teed up ready to go.
“So by us doing this, all the hard demos, probably saved us ... three and a half, four months on construction time when we actually start building the apartments.”
Bartee again said the famous Dixie Cup that once topped the building would be displayed in one of the property’s renovated green spaces.
TIF talk
Council President John J. Burke IV and Councilman Jeffrey Bracken both said they were able to take a look into the facility.
“You don't see the back of the property, but those areas are wide open back there," Bracken said. "You can tell that work's being done.
"So definitely, it looks like it's starting to move in the right direction."
“What I see in the market, the timing, is that the amount of time that they've taken is very bad," Bartee said. "But what I see in the market overall, the time that it's taken, it's good for the project."Skyline Investment Group principal Brian Bartee
Borough solicitor Stanley Margle III said one reason the building sat for so long was the substantial remediation work that had to be done.
That included removal of underground tanks, which Skyline orchestrated before finally purchasing the property.
Margle said the endeavor required millions of dollars of work.
“Nobody, nobody had the guts to do this except this gentleman in front of us,” he said.
Bartee said his company still is working on the Tax Increment Financing process, and has been in communication with Northampton County Industrial Development Authority.
The IDA, while associated with the county, functions as an independent agency, Bartee stated.
Updated TIF information soon will be sent to the borough and Wilson Area School District, Bartee said, and while he said he needs the TIF to bring the project to completion, there could be another method to get it.
Bartee said the IDA — which has only met once in the past year according to council members — had pushed back a decision on the matter, which stalls the project a bit.
“What I see in the market, the timing, is that the amount of time that they've taken is very bad," Bartee said. "But what I see in the market overall, the time that it's taken, it's good for the project.
“Rates are going to come down here shortly, because our interests are aligned with the country's debt rate. Their debts mature, so they have to have the rates come down so they can refinance.
"So we're literally in a perfect position with the Dixie and whatever else we do, because there's going to be some huge rate cuts soon.”
Looking forward
Council members also requested more regular updates on the Dixie project.
Burke suggested he could convey that information to council without requiring Bartee to be in attendance.
Also, a tour of the facility for council may happen in August.
"I'm not going to fail.”Skyline Investment Group principal Brian Bartee
“This is way farther than it's ever been," Burke said. "You know, I'm not trying to jinx us, but it's just amazing the progress of that building.
"Like I said, it closed in June in 1983; I was born June 29, 1983, so I've never seen that other than an abandoned building,” Burke said.
“That's long story short. So it's just one of those things where I'm excited for it, I'm excited for the group. I'm excited, you know, I love that.”
Bartee concluded by telling council he felt comfortable with the progress thus far, despite IDA setbacks, and he looked forward to advancing the project.
“It's really widened my vision on what I want to do in Wilson, because I'm competitive too, right?" Bartee said. "So now I want Wilson to be the best, because you're great people.
“It's a great place with a ton of potential. So I'm going to do everything I have to do, because, my word, when I say something, I'm also representing the people here too, right?
"So I'm not going to fail.”
