Harbourside Commercial Park a hub of activity

By Julie Collins
Cape Breton Post
Wed., April 26, 2006

Sydney - Harbourside Commercial Park is in the process of developing a 50-acre light business park on the former Sydney Steel site in the heart of Sydney.

The area around the general office is already occupied by numerous businesses.

Alfie MacLeod, the community relations and leasing manager, said there isn't a week goes by that he doesn't receive calls from someone interested in property.

"We've had clients for over three years.

"As well, there are a lot of tire-kickers around. We'll have to wait and see what develops," he said.

"This is a premier site.

"We have a water supply with a 24 inch water main that comes on to the property. By summer we expect to see a road built from the SPAR Road through to Inglis Street."

The site has an extensive amount of land available that is serviced with power, piped water and sewer, rail access including a significant shunting yard linking it with the Cape Breton and Central Nova Scotia Railway in downtown Sydney.

It also has an abundant supply of both potable and process water.

The site is serviced by rail with space that is ideal for light industrial and commercial operations.

Zoom Developers India, the company that purchased the electric arc furnace and universal mill, has spent two years dismantling and readying it to be shipped offshore, possibly to a country in South America.

Sydney Environmental Resources Ltd. (SERL) manages the day-to day dismantling of the former Crown-owned steel plant.

The area around the old and new mill will be remediated once Zoom Developers removes the disassembled parts of the universal mill they purchased.

MacLeod is convinced that the park can help the industrial area turn the corner, lessen the outmigration of young people and move the community forward.

It's home to Wataire, Mill Creek Environmental, Provincial Energy Ventures, Myles MacLean automotive, ATSHIP Services, Seacor Environmental, Sydney Tar Ponds, Blue Wave Energy, Canadian Tire, DSC Consulting and Safety Check, which collectively employ about 130 people.

Renovations have started for its newest client, Offshore Technical Services.

"We have a variety of clients to date and we hope this trend continues. Eventually, we could end up as a mini-version of Burnside Industrial Park located in Dartmouth."

The park has a seven member management team under site manager Joel MacLean that looks after the day to day operation of the park and is involved with the remediation of the site.

Work is well underway to prepare the front end of the former steel plant for public use and commercial development.

"Our first project, the building of the SPAR Road, has seen major commercial developments ....," he said.

"We have slag that we sell for use in construction projects and roads which employs a few people. This is a premier site and it is going to develop into a first class business park."

MacLeod said the park, which is owned by the province, is an ideal site for entrepreneurs seriously looking at developing business plans.

"The potential for this park is unlimited," he said. "There is a lot of excellent infrastructure and a strong will to move forward. It is going to happen, it is just a matter of time."

jcollins@cbpost.com

HARBOURSIDE COMMERCIAL PARK Harbourside Commercial Park is a 50-acre light business park on the former Sydney Steel site in the heart of Sydney Home to 12 operations to date About 130 people employed in park Access to water, road and rail Abundant supply of potable and process water Extensive amount of serviced land available with power, piped water and sewer

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