The new owners of the former Navistar property are hoping to bring the site “back to life”.
Rob Myers, Don Tetrault and Mike Vagi, the new owners of the 80 acre property on Richmond Street in Chatham, spoke with members of the media on Tuesday, May 18, 2021.
“We’ve successfully completed two years of negotiations with Navistar and we’ve already started preparing the site for redevelopment,” said Tetrault, in a media release.
“Our goal is to be ready to accept development by the fall of this year.”
Myers added: “This site meant good paying jobs and security for the community and it’s a dream of Don’s and mine to bring it back to life as a major part of Chatham’s economy.”
Tetrault said he expects the site to be in high demand by both commercial and industrial sectors.
“The site is fully serviced in terms of utilities and we’re on a major transportation route,” Tetrault said.
“We believe there will be a lot of interest.”
Myers said negotiations with Navistar were handled in a very professional manner.
“Although the site isn’t in their plans, the people at Navistar are very happy that the property will no longer sit idle and that it will be an asset to the community,” Myers said, in a press release.
Chatham-Kent Mayor Darrin Canniff said the purchase by Myers, Tetrault and Vagi is evidence that Chatham-Kent’s economy is on the right track.
“Both Rob, Don and Mike have had long and successful careers,” Mayor Canniff said, in a press release.
“They have investments across Canada and abroad. They could choose anywhere in the world to invest and the fact that they believe in Chatham-Kent is impressive. I can’t think of anyone else who is in a better position to make this project a success.”
Canniff originally confirmed the sale of the property in a video posted on social media on Tuesday, April 28, 2021.
The former plant closed in 2011 and the demolition of the facility began in 2013.
