Demolishing rendering plant hampered by access points
Everybody wants to see the old Darling rendering plant torn down, according to municipal officials.
The only problem is accessing the property.
In last week’s edition, The Chatham Voice detailed concerns by business owners and police of the goings on by squatters and thieves at the property. Squatters took up residence on the property while thieves have used it as a place to sort out their stolen loot, and to burn insulation off stolen copper wire prior to attempted sale to local scrapyards.
Paul Lacina, director of Building Development Services for the municipality, said his department has received complaints about the property and reached out to the property owner, O&G Investments.
“We’ve spoken to the property owner about getting the remainder of the building knocked down,” he said. “The issue is access to the property. My understanding is that the previous access the owner had has been removed by the owners of the railway.”
The property is bordered by McGregor Creek from the northwest to southeast, and by rail lines on the west and south. CN/VIA has the rail line running east-west across the south face of the property, But the confusion lies with the north-south line, which borders the best access point to the property on the west side.
The rendering plant is located closest to the western edge of the property.
Lacina said there is an access point where a pickup or other light vehicle could cross the railroad tracks, but heavy equipment, such as a dump truck or excavator, couldn’t.
According to CSX Rail spokesperson Katie Chimelewski, CSX owns the north-south property, but has leased it to CN and sold them the tracks. She said CN maintains the tracks.
Lacina said the property owner has been quite co-operative.
“We’ve been working with the owner for many years cleaning up other areas along there. This recent one is creating a bit of an access issue,” he said. “The owner’s been open to the conversation about doing something about that property in terms of getting it torn down.”
Brent Gibbons, who works in property maintenance with O&G, said people simply should not be on the property.
“Industrial property is not a playground. I have all respect for homeless people, but they shouldn’t be there,” he said. “There are “No Trespassing” signs. Nobody should be on the property burning anything. They should be charged with trespassing.”
