Charest opens doors to community room

09/26/2005

EXPOSITOR STAFF / BRANTFORD

Developer Steve Charest felt that Doors Open Brant was a perfect way to present a gift to the community and announce the end of his largest brownfield restoration project yet.

He cut the ribbon – actually a strip of symbolic red tape – on the new Holmedale Heritage Community Room in King and Benton’s finished Holmedale Business Centre on Morrell Street and invited the community to use it – free of charge.

The new 1,200-square-foot community room, which houses artefacts that have been donated or were found in the cleanup of the site, is his gift to the community. Non-profit groups and local clubs can book the room between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m.

“We have 24-hour security here so there’s no problem with letting people in or locking up after them,” said Charest. Recalling the crowded mess the site once was, MP Lloyd St. Amand commended Charest for his vision in “bringing the building alive.”

Mayor Ron Eddy said the photos and artefacts brought back memories of the past especially for anyone who, like him, had even fallen asleep on a Harding carpet.

‘MIRACLE’

And Coun. Larry Kings – who original toured the site with Charest in the fall 2003 and found stacks of tires, barrels of chemicals and towering rolls of carpet underpadding – gave a heartfelt congratulations to King and Benton.

“You had to have seen this place to know just what a miracle they’ve done here,” Kings said. “There are not many people with the drive to be able to do this.”

To book the new Holmedale Heritage Community Room, call 752-2714.