Miracle On Morrell St.

02/01/2004

Homedale has something to smile about these days. The former Harding Carpets factory is being transformed into nearly a brand new building. In just two months, owner King and Benton Development Corp. has worked miracles with cleanup and repairs, making the building safe, addressing environmental concerns and getting things ready to return to business as a warehouse.
City officials were amazed by the progress they saw during a tour Friday led by company president Steve Charest. The blocklong facility on Morrell Street is undergoing a $3.25 million renaissance.
So far, crews have removed 4,500 scrap tires 4,100 tones of rubble, more than 5,000 pallets, and 1,000 drums of chemicals and 6,000 feet of asbestos. Doors and windows have been repaired and made secure. Lighting has been restored. Its a far cry from October when former mayor Chris Friel was surprised and appalled by what he saw on a tour of the building. The property had become a dumping ground for tires, barrels of chemicals and mattresses. Vandals had been busy during the three years in which the property had been abandoned.

City councillors were severely criticized for selling the Brownfield property "as is" to King and Benton for $100,000 without knowing what the city was selling and without consulting the neighborhood. The city waived $3.8 million in unpaid taxes.

The city lacked information about the property and, it appeared, preferred to unload it to a private developer rather than inquire too closely about chemicals and other safety concerns.
City council learned some hard lessons: not to back away from Brownfield’s, to do its homework and to involve neighborhood residents whose safety and security is at stake.

Now Charest's company is showing that business can play an important role in returning a building to productive use. King and Benton is fulfilling its pledges to conduct environmental testing, monitor the site and to establish a community advisory committee.

This company's good neighbor policy is easing residents' concerns. Regular tours open doors to information and discussion.

The progress on display at Harding Carpets should not tempt city councillors to think the quick sale to King and Benton was a good way to handle things. It was not.

Things are working out well because King and Benton did its homework, had a good idea what it was buying and has gone the extra mile to involve neighbors in renovation plans.
Brownfield’s are everyone's business. The lessons of Harding Carpets must be applied as the city moves forward with Greenwich Mohawk and other Brownfield