The Bailey Broom Factory Redevelopment Project

RAW Factory Inc., with the support of the City of Kingston, wishes to redevelop the recently purchased 3,000 m2 former Bailey Broom Factory brownfield site in the North King’s Town neighbourhood. The property is split north-south with site remediation activities to be carried out concurrently on both parcels. Complete restoration of the vacant former factory, a designated heritage building located on the southern parcel, will be completed in order to establish a new multi-use commercial property designed to Passive House standards. Updated Phase II Environmental Site Assessments will be conducted on each parcel to further delineate the vertical and lateral extents of previously identified contaminants such as petroleum hydrocarbons and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons which were found in both the soil and groundwater. A Risk Assessment (RA) process will be administered to produce risk management measures that are expected to divert up to 10,000 m3 of impacted soil from landfill as well as reduce GHG emissions associated with soil transportation. A Designated Substance Survey will also be undertaken to identify any hazardous material in the existing factory building to ensure that a healthy indoor environment will be provided for future users of the site. Beyond the site remediation aspects, this initiative will also focus on the technical and financial feasibility of redeveloping the building to a high environmental standard. The factory restoration will target net-zero energy and implement Passive House design to reduce reliance on fossil fuels. To assess the feasibility, RAW Factory Inc. will conduct various consulting and design analyses including; sustainability analysis; energy analysis; Passive House analysis; heritage architectural analysis; geotechnical investigation; and civil, mechanical, electrical, structural, landscape, and architectural design. It is expected that any net energy expenditures will be addressed by a photo-voltaic solar array. Additional potential environmental benefits include; 40% reduction in potable water consumption through efficient fixtures, 100% reduction in outdoor irrigation water through drought resistant landscape design, and diversion of 75% of construction and demolition waste from landfill. The Agreement of Purchase, Sale and Redevelopment between RAW Factory Inc. and the City of Kingston lays out a fixed timeline and several requirements to develop the site designed to satisfy Kingston’s Community Improvement Plan and the Ontario Heritage Act. RAW Factory Inc. has also been awarded a Brownfield Initial Study Grant from the City of Kingston to assist in remediation costs. Through remediation, this project will allow the site to be properly rezoned in accordance with the Kingston Official Plan. RAW Factory Inc. have made linkages with various key stakeholders, various municipal departments and council, community organizations, potential tenants, Queens University, and professional consultants with expertise in planning, energy, sustainability, environmental engineering, building science and cultural/heritage conservation. The knowledge value of this initiative can be found in the lessons learned relating to the restoration of heritage buildings to high environmental standards throughout Canada. This innovative redevelopment aims to inspire and lead the much needed revitalization of the neighbourhood. (Project description from original funding application)