Former Quality Chef site hazards draw comparison to Sinclair plant

A recent break-in and environmental report showing extensive contamination has put the spotlight on the flood-damaged former Quality Chef site.

Some worry that the site, encompassing a full block in the New Bohemia district of southeast Cedar Rapids, will encounter the same fate as another city-owned property: the former Sinclair meatpacking plant.

“We have all along been concerned that the same type of activity as Sinclair will be going on there,” said Greg Eyerly, the city's flood-recovery director.

Eyerly said buildings are locked and a fence surrounds the site.

Police patrol the area as they do other parts of the city, he said, but the site isn't guarded around-the-clock.

Fire Department spokesman Greg Buelow said no official cause was determined for fires at Sinclair in July and December.

Both were considered suspicious because no utilities were connected and the likelihood of spontaneous combustion was minimal, he noted.

December's fire, in particular, raised concerns about hazardous materials putting the public's health at risk. The city erroneously reported in the fire's early days that the plant contained no asbestos, a cancer-causing material.

The full environmental report of the Quality Chef site, released by the city this week, cites a possible asbestos spill, massive amounts of mold and hazardous wastes in the buildings, purchased by the city in 2005.

Burglars stripped $3,000 worth of copper wire from the warehouse portion of the site at 1100 Third St. SE, between Feb. 19 and Feb. 25.

The Public Works Department uses the warehouse - the only one of the site's four buildings considered safe to enter - for storage.

A year-round farmers market has been proposed for the site, but supporters are on hold until more is known about possible ground contamination. Soil tests were not part of the evaluation, conducted by Family Environmental of Cedar Rapids.

The report noted:

-- 327 11th Ave. SE (the metal warehouse) had minimal amounts of asbestos and mold.

-- 309 11th Ave. SE had enough damage to declare an asbestos spill within the entire interior; neon lights and other hazardous wastes; severe mold contamination in numerous areas that create an environment “unsafe for unprotected and unqualified individuals.”

-- 1114 Third St. SE had numerous areas of suspected asbestos; mold growth in numerous areas; fluorescent lights, 55 gallon drums and other hazardous wastes.

-- 1120 Third St. SE had numerous areas of known and suspected asbestos in floor and ceiling tiles and elsewhere; mold growth in numerous areas; televisions, 5 gallons of an unknown liquid and other hazardous wastes.

Cost to remediate the asbestos, mold and other hazards was estimated at $218,000, which does not include demolition.