County May Acquire Land of Former Carbon Black Plant

From the Corpus Christi Caller Times comes news that Aransas County may acquire the land on which Evonik Degussa’s Aransas Pass carbon black plant is situated. The plant closed at the end of 2008. The parcel would include roughly 250 acres bordering State Highway 35 in Aransas Pass, Texas.

County commissioners scheduled a special meeting for Monday afternoon to consider purchasing, leasing or donation of the property. They also are considering hiring commercial real estate agent Jim Paxton to assist in the transaction. Commissioners want to make sure the property bordering both sides of Business 35 between Aransas Pass and City by the Sea is devoted to clean uses. The plan, if the county acquires it, is to use the propertys prime waterfront location and deep water access to the Intracoastal to lure jobs to the tourism-reliant county.

The article notes that county officials are unsure if they will have to pay for the land, or if Degussa might donate the property to get tax breaks. The article also notes that the old plant may be cut up and used for scrap.