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Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon has shared his views on a $3 million settlement with Azalia King, a 91-year-old widow, to vacate her home in Clay, New York. This decision is crucial for the advancement of Micron Technology's planned semiconductor plant at the White Pine Commerce Park.
The settlement, approved by the Onondaga County Industrial Development Agency (OCIDA), involves a $450,000 payment for King to leave her home by May 1 and $2.5 million for her 6-acre property across the street. This agreement ends a legal dispute over King's residence, which she and her late husband sold to the agency in 2005 with a life occupancy clause. The agency had issued an eviction notice in September, prompting King to file a lawsuit and leading to an eminent domain action by the agency.
According to syracuse.com, McMahon emphasized the importance of resolving the lawsuit to avoid jeopardizing the Micron project, which is expected to create up to 9,000 jobs and involve an investment of up to $100 billion. The county executive stated, "Extended litigation on this would have killed the project."
The funds for the settlement come from OCIDA's revenues, not the county's general fund. The agency plans to use the acquired land for supply chain companies linked to the Micron project. McMahon noted that while the payout was more than anticipated, it was essential for the project's success. The county expects Micron to begin site work by the end of the year, pending permit approvals.