Wednesday, 25 June 2014

Woodstock's Sierra construction buys closed London factory

McCormick's made candy, biscuits and other products
No official news on how building will be transformed

By Mark Schadenberg
Sierra Construction is well known in Woodstock, and maybe now they will gradually become one of the big building contracting names in London.
As reported by the London Free Press, Sierra has purchased the old McCormick bakery and candy factory on the east end of Dundas Street in the Forest City.
Sierra (www.sierraconstruction.ca) is a company which is a partial owner of Oxford Gardens retirement home, so they were responsible for the terrific addition on that building and its previous renovation. Sierra was one of the developers for the geared-to-adults Sally Creek neighbourhood as well. Sierra, therefore, is an all-encompassing developer – roads and sidewalks, houses, multi-residential, recreational and industrial.
The long list of Sierra accomplishments includes: New outdoor pool building in Paris, Sally Creek recreational complex renovation in Woodstock, both the Woodstock Chrysler and Woodstock Toyota dealerships, Trans Drive offices in Woodstock, a brand new community centre (Stage theatre included) in Mississauga, Good Life Fitness complex in Kitchener, a library in Scotland, a fire hall in Norwich, and for students in London a Catholic elementary school.
McCormicks is a gigantic 4-storey structure, which has been closed for about 6 years. Parts of the factory are more than 100 years old, but apparently structurally sound. The company dates back to the 1850's when a Thomas McCormick, who had immigrated from Northern Ireland, opened up his first candy / biscuit / confectionery business.
The reported purchase price is interesting – $1. The site, which once had as many as 1,300 employees apparently, is about 100 acres. Previous owners, according to info online, were Weston foods and Beta Brands.
Buildings which require any type of retro-fit to the 2014 building code and accessibility requirements are considered a shell structure as restoration is almost a complete interior re-build. Also, there was a fire at the site in 2012, which obviously was never fully remediated.
Everyone in Woodstock and London will be anticipating a later announcement about Sierra's plans. Good news in the construction sector also for Middlesex and Oxford counties.

FREE PRESS Links:
http://www.lfpress.com/2014/06/24/former-mccormicks-site-sold

OTHER Links:
http://neighbourgoodguide.ca/little-gem/mccormick-manufacturing-co-history

Reporting on good news for employment 
in the area's construction sector and beyond !
Mark Schadenberg, Sales Representative
Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES designation)
Royal LePage Triland Realty
757 Dundas St, Woodstock
www.wesellwoodstock.com
(519) 537-1553, cell or text
Email: mschadenberg@rogers.com
Twitter: markroyallepage
Facebook: Mark Schadenberg, Royal LePage Triland

Discussion . . . Direction . . . Determination . . . Destination

No comments:

Post a Comment