Developer must clean up asbestos at Harding Carpet site

11/10/2003

BY LISA GRACE MARR
THE HAMILTON SPECTATOR


Brantford - The old Harding carpet site in downtown Brantford has been purchased by a Toronto developer in a controversial deal with the City of Brantford.

The Brantford Expositor reported the company bought the property for $100,000 from the city, which waived $3.8 million in outstanding taxes.

The company had documents saying the contamination on the four-hectare site was largely benign, new to city staff.

Still King and Benton will be required to clean up old buildings containing asbestos on the site.
It takes ownership on Nov. 14.

Controversy had dogged the Harding Carpet plant for years. The company employed hundreds at one time but encountered financial trouble. In 1998, it was offered $400,000 in government grants to stay afloat but went bankrupt in 2000.

Yesterday, King and Benton announced it was establishing a community advisory group to get feedback from residents about the site.

"We want them to hear about what we're doing. We haven't had a chance to do that yet," said Kevin Lennon, company spokesman.

Lennon said the company plans to build a warehouse business at the site on Morrell Street in the south end of Brantford, near its old industrial center.

"We are distributing a questionnaire in the neighbourhood to ask residents if theyare interested in participating on this committee. We will be reviewing expressions of interest and announcing the members of the Community Advisory Comittee later in November."

Lennon said King and Benton has already redeveloped brownfield sites in Brantford, including the Mohawk Business Centre, the Colburn West Industrial Centre and the Elgin Business Centre.