Houff, Clifton Forge Working Land Deal

CLIFTON FORGE — Houff Corp. is working on a land deal with Clifton Forge that will enable the company to access a small parcel of railroad property.
A public hearing and first reading of an ordinance related to the proposal were held Tuesday evening.
Under the proposal, Houff Corp., which is based in Weyers Cave, would provide Clifton Forge with $40,000 to acquire 1.06 acres of land owned by CSX Corp. Houff would then lease the land from the town.
Houff Corp. plans to  use the property to augment a 46,200-square-foot storage facility it operates in the railyard. The facility stores road salt.
Currently, Houff is landlocked from accessing the adjacent 1.06 acres.
Houff Corp. leases property for the warehouse from the town. The lease would be modified to include the 1.06 acres, Town Manager Darlene Burcham said.
Houff Corp. has agreed to assume all costs associated with the land transaction.
“They are providing the $40,000 so the town has no expense,” Burcham said.
Second and final reading of the ordinance to purchase the property will be held at a May 28 council meeting.