Conference 7.286::digital

| About 6 months ago we heard that DEC was going to build a new IC fab plant
| in Hudson or Andover. (It was posted here, but I can't find it at the moment.)
| They were going to choose a site "this fall". Since then I haven't heard a
| thing about it. Has this plan been put on hold?

	We had a communications meeting here in HLO last Thursday. That
question was brought up. From what they said it seems as though everything is
going on schedule and they will build it here in Hudson. They are just out
getting the permits now. One snag in it all is Hudson's sewerage system can't
handle any more stuff, so DEC was going to throw in a sewerage treatment plant
as well. Once they have all of the promises, permits in hand, they will start
to build the thing.



Glen

    The date that the executive committee will review and authorize(or not) 
    the plan to build another semiconductor facility has been push back
    until late Q2.  So no official announcements will happen until then. 
    The original  plan was to open it summer of 1993.

| The original  plan was to open it summer of 1993.

	I just asked a friend of mine (who was at the meeting) to confirm this
info and he agreed that we heard the new date would be in 97.



Glen

    Hope this means the value of my realestate in Stow will climb as a
    result :-)
    
    Dave

	They're in an all day meeting today to discuss where they stand on all
this today! Maybe more on it tomorrow.


Glen

  A side note: I recently got a widely circulated list of DEC plants to be
closed and the Andover APO plant, which is part of SCO, is on the list.

Subject: Digital plans to replace plant in Hudson
Date: 2 Jan 92 14:52:38 GMT
	
     HUDSON, Mass. (UPI) -- Digital Equipment Corp. plans to replace its
aging semiconductor manufacturing plant in Hudson with a new $425
million facility by 1994 with no loss of jobs, The Boston Globe reported
Thursday.
	
     The new plant, expected to be completed in 1994, would make advanced
semiconductors for Digital's new generation of computers, the report
said.
	
     The old facility now performs the same function, but is unable to
make the more advanced semiconductors Digital will need for the advanced
computers, the report said.
	
     Digital anticipates there will be no loss of jobs nor any new hiring
involved in the changeover to the new plant, construction of which is
expected to begin June 1.
	
     The project, however, is expected to provide a boost to the
construction trades.
	
     Paul W. Blazar, executive assistant to the Hudson Board of Selectmen,
said plans by the Maynard-based firm to remain in Hudson rather than
taking their business elsewhere is gratifying.
	
     "We're particularly impressed they're not going overseas, not going
out of state, but making this investment right here in Massachusetts,
and particularly in Hudson," he said.
	
     Digital spokeswoman Ann Fullerton was reluctant to discuss the plans,
saying that it is "internal business information. We're exploring
building a new facility, but that program is still in progress."
	
     Plans filed with the state Executive Office of Environmental Affairs,
however, indicate Digital plans to build the plant just 65 feet from its
current facility at a 150-acre site Digital owns in Hudson. The old
plant will remain, but will not be used for manufacturing.
	
     Digital has eight manufacturing plants in Massachusetts, employing
about 26,600 people, including 1,600 in Hudson.
	
     The 34-year-old Digital recently announced its first annual loss in
the company's history and has been cutting costs, including large
layoffs.

.7> Paul W. Blazar, executive assistant to the Hudson Board of Selectmen,
.7> said plans by the Maynard-based firm to remain in Hudson rather than
.7> taking their business elsewhere is gratifying.

Time will tell just how "gratified" they are ....

Is the town going to need a new fire truck?  Perhaps some new plumbing?
Perhaps more police to handle the traffic?  Perhaps more taxes?

I'm reminded of the planned Boylston (training) facility that was
planned ... and the "needs" of the city ....

Bubba

    
    
    
    
    Why would the town need more taxes?  The plant will increase the town's
    tax base.
    
    What traffic problems?  Digital isn't hiring any new people. The only
    increase in traffic will be the construction workers, and frankly, 
    I think we should be willing to put up with a few trucks if it helps
    the local economy.
    
    With respect to water and sewer concerns ("plumbing"), you are correct,
    and if I were a Hudson resident, I would make sure DEC takes care of
    any adverse impact in these areas.  
    
    There may be all sorts of deals and tax breaks that we don't know
    about, but most towns I know have plants closing and would welcome
    one that's actually expanding.

    I don't have time to go to all the town meetings and hearings, but in
    general HLO is viewed as a good corporate citizen of this town (I live
    in Hudson, three blocks from here).  The original building of HLO
    increased the water supply for the town (four new wells on DEC land,
    and a big water main connecting the east and west ends of town - it ran
    right down the middle of my street, but once the street got put back
    together it was good for us because the water pressure improved).  I
    believe the local paper indicated that part of the deal for the new
    building was that DEC has to provide twice as much additional sewage
    capacity for the town as the building itself will need.  I believe that
    is pretty standard these days.  The town pols are probably very pleased
    since the developer who was going to build a new shopping mall at the
    west end of town backed out - not that anyone was real surprised in
    this economic climate, but that would have provided a lot of jobs.
    
    /Charlotte

| .7> Paul W. Blazar, executive assistant to the Hudson Board of Selectmen,
| .7> said plans by the Maynard-based firm to remain in Hudson rather than
| .7> taking their business elsewhere is gratifying.

| Time will tell just how "gratified" they are ....

| Is the town going to need a new fire truck?  Perhaps some new plumbing?
| Perhaps more police to handle the traffic?  Perhaps more taxes?

| I'm reminded of the planned Boylston (training) facility that was
| planned ... and the "needs" of the city ....

	I'm sure that DEC will be asked to do something for the town. When they
built a shopping mall just down the street from the Hudson plant last year,
they did so with the understanding that they had to redesign the entire
intersection near the stores. It needed it badly as it was poorly designed in
the first place. I guess you can't do somethin' for nothin' anymore. Talk
around here is that they will be putting it in.



Glen

RE: .9



| With respect to water and sewer concerns ("plumbing"), you are correct,
| and if I were a Hudson resident, I would make sure DEC takes care of
| any adverse impact in these areas.

	I used to live in Hudson. Our water pressure was pretty sad. When I
called the Public Works office they said our area needed a water tower as all
the new homes they threw in along with the DEC facility, it was pretty low.




Glen

    
    	i'd welcome them with open arms to my town. We need serious help
    with the tax base - our current demographics won't support the basic
    services, like schools, police, fire.  A big tax payer, plus potential
    employer more than makes up for the impact on environment/community -
    especially when the community can't afford it's own existance.
    
    	bob

    	Perhaps the water concerns should be regarding _return_, not
    supply. I expect a semiconductor plant to have more than your usual grey
    water as waste water.
    
    	Does Ma. DEQE get involved?
    
    	I like to think of DEC as environmentally aware, and the
    development of non CFC PCB cleaning methods in manufacturing plants
    seems to be a great stride. Ensuring that a new facility provides 
    tax revenue, employment, improved public utilities etc. is great.
    Proper waste handling methods, and publicizing same could go a long
    way in promoting the "Do the right thing" value that some of us
    and our potential new neighbors truly embrace. 
    
    Phil

    There is a difference between asking for good corporate citizenship and
    blackmail. The way I heard it Boylston made reasonable requests which
    were readily agreed to by DEC. When the town saw that we weren't going
    to fight about, they increased their demands to somewhat unreasonable
    levels. Apparently the town thought of us as a deep pocket that would
    agree to anything to get into the town.
    
    johN

Letter to the editor in today's Boston Globe:

Be loyal to Digital

The Globe article on Digital equipment's [sic] building a new plant in
Hudson seems to be Digital's follow-up to its announcement of a new
computer chip designed in Digital's existing Hudson plant, which was
recently reported by the Globe.

I hope that Massachusetts businesses and consumers protect themselves
by buying from Digital and show their support when Digital buys from
them.  Every company that keeps our customers in jobs should have our
fist [sic] loyalty.  The same could be said for all New England companies.

				Geoffrey Wyler
				Boston

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SDSVAX::SWEENEY                                      21 lines   3-JUN-1992 09:56
         -< Digital Equipment - Facility -2-: To Make Semiconductors >-
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Copyright � Dow Jones & Co. 1992
Source: DJ International Economic News Wire
Headline: Digital Equipment - Facility -2-: To Make Semiconductors
Time: Jun 03 1992 0954


Story: 
  MAYNARD, Mass. -(AP-DJ)-- Digital Equipment Corp. said it plans to build a 
425 million dlrs semiconductor research and manufacturing facility in Hudson, 
Mass., to produce future versions of Digital's ALPHA family of semiconductors. 
  The 526,000-square-foot semiconductor wafer fabrication operation is 
scheduled for completion in 1994 and manufacturing of advanced sub-half micron 
generations will begin in 1996. 
  Current personnel will staff the new facility and no new hiring is 
anticipated, Digital Equipment said. 
 
-0- 1353GMT
categoryIndustry I/CPR I/SEM
categorySubject N/EWR N/INV N/WER
categoryMarketSector M/TEC
categoryGeographic R/MA
categoryCompany DEC

    Also posted in LiveWire.

    
    I've been through there lately. What a mess!

         If no new personnel are going to be hired,what happens to the
    existing plant? Convert it for office space?
    
                         Rich