The Municipality of Clarington has notified that parts of the vacant Goodyear plant are to be demolished.
The not-in-use plant sits along and above the Bowmanville Valley. No time scale has been revealed for the demolition.
Clarington Council is allowing the demolition of some buildings at the former Goodyear plant, and asked staff to work with the property owner and Clarington Heritage Committee to get Heritage Act designation for the parts of the site with cultural heritage value, said a municipal statement.
The former Goodyear site, 45 Raynes Avenue, is private property and has been vacant since the plant stopped operating in 2016. In 2018, council added the entire property to the Municipal Heritage Register for its cultural heritage value and interest, and its contributions to the history and development of Bowmanville.
Increased vandalism
Recently, there has been an increase in unauthorized entry, vandalism and fires set in the vacant plant. This spring, Clarington Emergency and Fire Service issued an order to the owner to have the building permanently secured and to have 24/7 security in place to reduce unauthorized entry, the statement said.
It said on May 19, the owner submitted a Notice of Intent to Demolish certain buildings on the property, as required for properties listed on the Municipal Heritage Register.
The Clarington Heritage Committee was consulted and recommended a hybrid approach – pursuing heritage designation of the Cement House, Powerhouse and Chimney Stack, and allowing the demolition of other buildings as proposed.
Clarington Council supported the recommendation and voted that:
- The non-designated property and structures at 45 Raynes Avenue, Bowmanville, be removed from the Municipal Heritage Register.
- That the proposed demolition of the non-heritage structures is permitted to proceed after the following:
- The property owner provides information demonstrating that the necessary approvals from the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change and the Ministry of Labour for the proposed demolition have been obtained.
- The owner provides a Salvage and Documentation Plan and Commemoration Plan, as per the Heritage Impact Assessment.
- That staff works with the property owner and the Clarington Heritage Committee toward the designation under the Heritage Act for the Cement House, Powerhouse, and Chimney Stack.