Ever since Quaker Oats’ decision in 2024 to close their Danville facility, the city was hoping Quaker would keep their commitment to donate that property to the city. It was announced during Tuesday evening’s (Sept 8) City Council Public Works Committee meeting that now that the building is demolished, and the land is fully graded and seeded; that action is now officially forwarded to the full council.
Now, the real work begins; and as Community Development Administrator Logan Cronk pointed out, there’s plenty to be concerned with. First and foremost, the city will now own both the old Quaker property and the old Heatcraft property to the west of it; and will aim to bring in new major industry to the site. The first step there will be to remediate the flood plain the combined property is in, and Cronk says a full plan will be put forth soon.
Cronk says there’s also the matter of the eight acre solar field just north of their facility that Quaker Oats built six years ago to provide their own power.
AUDIO: It was a direct feed to (the) plant. And there is a substation and a switch gear, that any excess power can be sent back to the grid.
With the city now taking over this power source, the immediate plan is to sell it to the grid, for an estimated annual income of $94,000. But the city does not plan to hold on to it forever. They could sell it to another entity; and then there is the obvious factor that this solar field could help attract new industry to the combined site. Cronk says the city will certainly be getting advice from a consultant.
Danville Community Development Administrator Logan Cronk says remediation of Quaker – Heatcraft area floodplain is top priority.
AUDIO: There’s definitely a uniqueness to having the solar panel on the site, with the infrastructure available to flip it on to a building. I’m not sure if that’s technically advantageous or not. But it’s definitely different.
Another thing the city will be getting that incoming industry may indeed be interested in is railroad access; which Quaker was definitely taking advantage of.
AUDIO: I believe Norfolk Southern and CSX both pass this site, and Norfolk Southern has a railroad arm that extends into this property right now.
Cronk reemphasized that two initial steps are going to be remediating the flood plain, along with some “national marketing with railroad partners.”
