A New Vision for Harding

Developer unveils details of a $3.2-million plan to create modern warehouse complex
11/26/2003

An artist's depiction of King and Benton Redevelopment Corp's $3.2-million plan to revitalize the derelict Harding Carpets complex on Morrell Street.

BY MICHAEL-ALLLAN MARION
EXPOSITOR STAFF / BRANTFORD


City councillors and brownfield cleanup advocates generally like an industrial developer's $3.2-million plan to transform the Harding Carpets site into a state-of-the-art ware-house operation within 18 months.



Two months of political wrangling over the controversial sale of the 10-acre site for $100,000 to King and Benton Redevelopment Corp. came to an end Tuesday as the company unveiled its plan during a tour of the site.

"Ambitious" and "let's hope they can do it" were among the comments floating through the air as - company president Steve Charest led about 60 people — including mayor-elect Mike Hancock, councillors, the brownfields community advisory committee and a newly formed Holmedale community advisory committee — on a tour of the sprawling complex.

From the outside, Harding looks like a giant block-long rectangular building. But as the entourage snaked its way through room after room, Charest and Bryon Wiebe, of the firm Wiebe Engineering Group Inc., showed how they were really looking at a typical brownfield site with an original decaying building and a labyrinth of additions tacked on over the years.

TO INCLUDE HARDING MUSEUM

Such sites, Charest and Wiebe explained, are costly to demolish or remodel because their phased construction hands redevelopers special problems, such as trying to separate walls and ceilings.
As they looked around the debris-strewn rooms, spectators heard how King and Benton plan to demolish more than a quarter of the complex and refashion the rest into a series of warehouse compartments an attractive front entrance and courtyard.
The major features of the plan include:
Demolition of a section in the center facing Morrell Street.

Creation of a new entrance leading to a court-yard where transports can easily get off the street and manoeuvre toward the bay doors of units.

Renovation of one area for new office space and the construction of a guard house at the front.

Renovation of another area into a museum displaying recently discovered archives of old Harding documents and artifacts, as a tribute to the defunct company and its employees who worked there for 40 years.

To do all this, the $3.2-million budget includes:

The $100,000 purchase price and a $163,000 lien discovered at the last moment before the sale's dosing.

$150,000 for pre-cleanup and disposal of hazardous and non-hazardous materials piled and strewn throughout the complex.

$500,000 in demolition costs.

$550,000 in below- and above-ground environmental remediation.

$400,000 for site preparation, paving and landscaping.
$275,000 for reinstallation of new electrical wiring and mechanical fixtures taken out by a receiver who sold the assets of Harding to the bare walls.

$150,000 to maintain security for 18 months until the work is done.

COUNCILLORS IMPRESSED



Charest said the design is meant to create a warehousing operation with low impact on the neighbourhood, by trying to get transports off the street as quickly as possible.
"What we want to do is create a nice clean, crisp, user-friendly building," he said.
The work will be monitored at every step by the newly formed Holmedale community advisory committee made up of Charest, Ward 1 Coun. Larry Kings, seven residents and Coun. Marguerite Ceschiu-Smith, who will have observer status as chairwoman of the brownfields committee.

"I see (Charest) has a plan in place and it's ambitious," said Ceschiu-Smith who originally fought, not against the project itself, but council's quick handling of it with not enough information and no public consultation.

"I had earlier concerns about the process, but it's a done deal now and things are looking better then they were. We will work with the company. I’m hopeful the project will be of benefit to the community.”

Incoming councillor "Mike Quattrociocchi, who campaigned against the deal for the same reasons, said he was satisfied the company is taking the proper steps to involve the community.

"At the end of the day, the people living here will have to live with what the company does," he said. "In everything Mr. Charest is saying, he seems to be on the right track. I wish him well with the path he's chosen."

Coun. John Sless, who supported the deal all along, said he was impressed with the plan. "It's time to get beyond the talking and get to the doing of it."