ITHACA — Ben Weitsman of Ithaca will soon have a new location, having announced plans to build a new, “multi-million”-dollar scrap recycling and retail steel-service near Ithaca.

Weitsman already operates a steel facility at 132 Cherry St. in Ithaca, and the upcoming project would replace the existing location and a recycling operation across the street from it.

Ben Weitsman of Ithaca is part of Owego–based Upstate Shredding-Weitsman Recycling.

The company decided to pursue the project after discussions with a development group that had approached the company with interest in the Cherry Street location.

“We own the property at 132 Cherry Street, where our new steel facility is located and lease the property across the road for our recycling operation. We have been a longtime resident of Ithaca and with all the great development going on here in the city, we decided to entertain offers from a development group that identified the location of the new steel facility as desirable due to its proximity to the water,” Adam Weitsman, CEO of Upstate Shredding – Weitsman Recycling, said in a statement. “We will be building a brand new, state-of-the-art retail scrap yard and retail steel shop as one facility outside of the city limits. This will alleviate truck traffic inside of the city and allow continued development on the water and throughout the community.”

The location of the new Ben Weitsman of Ithaca operation has not yet been released, but officials have confirmed that it is outside the city of Ithaca. The project will have new buildings, pavement, fencing, landscaping, and equipment.

The project will also include stormwater-runoff systems, a retention pond, and other environmental-quality safeguards, the company said. The change of property ownership will occur once the new facility is built and “move-in ready.” 

The site outside of Ithaca will limit traffic inside the city and be “more convenient” for Weitsman trucks and customers visiting the scrap or new steel facility.

Upstate Shredding – Weitsman Recycling describes itself as the East Coast’s largest privately held scrap-metal processor, operating 15 locations throughout New York and Pennsylvania. One of those sites is Ben Weitsman of Syracuse, located at 333 Bridge St. in Solvay.