Many Saint Paul residents have a passing familiarity with Crosby Park, a beautiful green space overlooking the Mississippi River.  Few, however, have investigated the area quite so intimately as Bob Hosch, of Harris Companies.  Hosch grew up in Saint Paul’s West Seventh neighborhood where he spent much of his childhood exploring the nearby woods and caves, and swimming in the river each summer. In the mid-1990s he returned to the area, bringing his company headquarters.  Harris Contracting was one of six expansion-minded employers who built in the Crosby Lake Business center after the Port had cleaned up the former petroleum tank farm.

“Some of the petroleum contamination from the former owner had seeped down to the bedrock,” Hosch said. “The Port authorized us to take bids to remove the contaminated soil and to bring in fill for up to 12 feet of cover soil. The Port then reimbursed us.”

Harris employs nearly 120 people and pays about $135,000 annually in property taxes. All together the six businesses in Crosby Lake employ 435 people and pay $660,708 in property taxes annually.