Report shows hazards at Quality Chef site

An environmental assessment shows mold, asbestos and other pollutants inside the city-owned former Quality Chef buildings in southeast Cedar Rapids.

“It's a hodgepodge of everything nasty,” said Matthew Widner, the city's code enforcement manager.

The report, completed last week by Family Environmental of Cedar Rapids, isn't surprising, considering the floodwaters that inundated the former food plant in 2008, Widner noted.

But because of those hazards inside the four buildings at 1100 Third St. SE, code enforcement workers cannot enter to see if the site is structurally sound, he said.

Some type of remediation must be done whether or not the buildings are ultimately demolished, said Widner, who is examining cleanup options.

He added that the buildings don't pose a hazard to the general public because the pollutants are contained inside.

The site, which encompasses a city block in the New Bohemia district, is being considered for a year-round farmers market.

Sarah Ordover, board president of the Cedar Rapids City Market, said pollutants inside the buildings are not as big of a concern as those that might be in the ground that could make the site a brownfield.

Widner said soil tests were not a part of the report.

The farmers market board is keeping another site open as an option in New Bohemia, Ordover said, in case years of remediation are needed at the Quality Chef site.