Remediating the former Holmes Foundry brownfield site in Point Edward, Ontario

The Village of Point Edward, situated adjacent to the City of Sarnia along the shores of the St. Clair River, contains a 16-acre brownfield site that was once the Holmes Foundry and in later years an insulation manufacturing site. In the 1980s it became an engine block manufacturing facility, but now it has been vacant for more than 30 years with two large abandoned buildings remaining on the site. There are environmental concerns of asbestos-containing materials and lead-based paint. The property’s disuse has led to its association with crime, an increased risk to health and welfare, decreasing property values, and an overall contribution to decline and disinvestment with a negative spillover effect on neighbouring properties and the village.  The objective of this project is to transform the property to its highest potential, providing economic and social benefits to Point Edward while fostering sustainability and better environmental stewardship. This project will eliminate potential harmful effects of soil and water pollution and be beneficial for the surrounding land and community. High-density energy efficient housing is proposed to be built on this fully serviced land when environmental risks have been decreased, which will prevent urban sprawl from encroaching on nearby farmland and contribute to the revitalization of the village community. To finance this large undertaking, the village has established a partnership with the potential new owner as well as the current owner. Council will pay forward the remediation costs, making the land more economically viable.  This study will include a Phase Two Environmental Site Assessment (ESA). A Record of Site Condition (RSC) will be required due to the change of land use from industrial to mixed-use commercial/residential 
property. A geotechnical investigation will analyze the soil and groundwater conditions and provide recommendations to assist with future prospective designs. A hydrogeological study will conduct an estimate of potential dewatering during construction, identify potential short-term and long-term impacts of the proposed development on groundwater conditions in the area, and recommend mitigation measures. A risk assessment will also identify any potential on-site risks to human health and/or the environment.
Innovative aspect(s):
• The small municipality of Point Edward has taken on a project to remediate the largest brownfield in Lambton County
• The municipality will add all costs to the tax account of the current owner, who is in arrears; the next purchaser will incur the cost of the tax account with the acquisition of the land
Replicability: The innovative approach of engaging with the current and future landowners to initiate site redevelopment can be shared with other small municipalities to help them overcome financial barriers to this kind of 
redevelopment. (Project Description from original funding application)