(Radio Iowa) – Waterloo is moving forward with plans to spend roughly two million dollars removing asbestos from the remnants of the former Rath meatpacking plant. The city bought the building for almost three million dollars and council member Steve Simon says costs are adding up.
The historic Rath plant was once the largest meatpacking plant in the country. City planner Noel Anderson says the work could pay off if the site is redeveloped.
Much of the area has been redeveloped by food warehousing company Crystal Cold. Anderson says Crystal is a possible buyer.
Tax collections from redevelopment in the area, and an E-P-A grant, will fund the work. But the E-P-A grant funding for the work expires in March.
