On the market

The 1.63 acre property in the middle of the village has sat vacant since fire destroyed the meat processing plant in 2009.

Owner seeking bids for Midtown Meats property in Wellington

It was a cool Saturday afternoon three years ago last month, that fire destroyed Midtown Meats in Wellington, throwing 145 workers out of a job. The fire levelled most of the plant, save for a small freezer unit and a detached office building. Owner Dale Willard said after the fire that he was keeping his options open about the future of the property. But as the months and then years went by, it became clear the meat plant was never going to be rebuilt in Wellington.

This week it became official. Commercial real estate brokers CBRE have listed the property for sale. The asking price: one dollar. Broker Wally Pollock explained that he is anticipating a number of bids to emerge for the property.

“We are going to pick a day, likely at the end of May, to receive bids. We will look at the offers and present them to the Willards to determine if they are of the nature that we would want to run with one of them.”

Pollock says his marketing is targeting a variety of investors and developers. He expects a high and varied degree of interest.

“Dale Willard tells us there has been a lot of interest expressed directly to him over the past few years,” said Pollock. “We are trying to present this opportunity to these people now—let them know it’s on the market. Is there an interest? Here is your opportunity.”

Pollock expects to attract interest from investors in the wine business who may look at this property as a way to participate in the burgeoning wine sector in Prince Edward County. However he expects most bids will look at the property as a residential or commercial project.

“Right from day one I thought a seniors development might work well there,” said Pollock. “The current plan wants to see some retail in there but there is nothing wrong with a seniors’ residential development with some retail on the ground floor.”

Mayor Peter Mertens welcomed news the property was being offered for sale but said the municipality was not likely to be a bidder.

“I believe this is a positive development,” said Mertens. “We have speculated for some time the meat plant wasn’t going to be rebuilt—and we have been anxious to see something happen with that property and not have it be an eyesore for the village of Wellington.”

Mertens is also hopeful that additional parking may be created to serve the village’s commercial core.

“What ultimately happens to the property will depend on the bidders that emerge,” said Mertens. “But a seniors’ residential or a commercial venture that creates parking for downtown are all possibilities.”

Pollock says all bids will be reviewed but doubts the property will see a new industrial use. Mertens also downplayed that possibility.

“Certainly as part of our secondary plan we don’t envision industrial development downtown,” said Mertens. “We would not be receptive to another industrial use on that site—we want it to remain a key commercial or residential addition to the community.”

Dale Willard told the Times the property is clean and there are no environmental issues. He explained that while the property may be severed and sold in pieces, he was convinced that, through this tendering process, he might attract an investor willing to develop the entire property.

According to Pollack, Quinte Conservation notes that at least part of the property resides within the 100-year floodplain and they may need a study completed to examine appropriate setbacks from Lane Creek, which passes diagonally through the property. But rather than a disandvantage, Pollack sees the creek as a strong attribute to the property—particularly for someone considering residential development.

“The only thing that is going to happen in there is a “want it, make it happen” attitude by both the municipality and the buyer,” said Pollack. “Forget the old zoning—the intent is to attract and draw people to the downtown core. Any developer will have to look at the land, come up with a use, value the opportunity and take away the costs. That will help determine what they can and will pay for the land.”

Willard has also listed 4.75 acres at the end of Maple Lane in Wellington in a separate transaction. The asking price is $575,000. The property is bounded by Millennium Trail and Lane Creek.