General Urban Kitchener Updates and Rumours

[panamaniac]

If the City takes ownership of the Electrohome building, it will be on the hook for big clean-up costs. But hopefully it has greater wherewithal than a private company would to access funding from other levels of government for the clean-up (I am assuming there are funding programs for this).

Get ready for big arguments about what "should" be done with this if it's suddenly a City property. A lot of neighbours will argue that it should be a park or even a community since we're "under-served" (we're probably not). Of course there will be those talking about the heritage aspect, and how deep they feel the City's pockets are. I think it will be a long process.

I think you'll find the City leery to take ownership, there are some not insignificant liabilities for the off-site impacts, once you own the source...

Although, seemingly, none for those who have owned the place for decades past.  Seriously, istm that the City will need to acquire the site and take on the clean-up costs, either directly or via subsidies to any private sector purchaser.