The Bowmanville Goodyear Site is facing additional municipal orders after Clarington staff and an engineering firm inspected the vacant industrial property amid continuing concerns about unsafe buildings and unauthorized access.
Municipal staff attended the former Goodyear lands on August 4 as part of ongoing enforcement efforts. Clarington said the inspection resulted in new orders addressing unsafe structural conditions, fire safety, property standards and site security.
The requirements include maintaining security at the property 24 hours a day. Earlier legal and enforcement proceedings involving the privately owned site also remain active.
Municipality responds to safety concerns
The former manufacturing property is located on Raynes Avenue near downtown Bowmanville. Goodyear operated at the site for nearly a century before the plant closed approximately a decade ago.
Clarington acknowledged that the vacant buildings continue to create public-safety concerns, particularly because of their deteriorating condition and the risk of people entering the property without authorization.
Municipal officials said specialists retained by the municipality are assessing the structures while staff continue using available enforcement tools to address safety, security and compliance issues.
Weekly inspections are being conducted at the property. Additional inspections take place on Mondays and Fridays to identify possible security breaches before and after weekends.
Residents who notice trespassing, damaged fencing or other safety concerns are being asked to report them through the Service Clarington portal.
Municipality corrects inaccurate fire reports
Clarington has also responded to inaccurate social media claims about fires at the property.
The municipality said no fire occurred at the site in June 2026, despite information circulated through local online groups.
A significant fire did occur in one of the vacant buildings in October 2025. The Ministry of the Environment attended following that incident to evaluate environmental conditions, test a nearby waterway and work with the property owner on any required follow-up.
Municipal officials said there have been no fires at the Bowmanville Goodyear Site since the October incident.
Clarington has temporarily disabled comments on its municipal social media channels during the election period. Chief Administrative Officer Mary-Anne Dempster said campaign materials and politically focused posts required extensive moderation and redirected staff resources away from regular services.
The municipality said its social media pages will continue providing public notices, emergency information and municipal updates.
Enforcement and demolition history
Clarington Fire has conducted inspections and issued several orders related to security and fire-code concerns at the property.
Charges were laid in 2023 over alleged non-compliance with a fire-code inspection order. The matter proceeded to trial in 2024, but the charges were dismissed after the court determined that the owner had taken reasonable steps to secure the building.
In November 2024, the municipality learned that unauthorized demolition activity was taking place and issued an order requiring the work to stop.
A demolition permit for the main industrial building was issued in February 2025. Following the October fire, Clarington issued another order involving an unsafe building that had already been approved for demolition.
The property owner appealed that order to the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, and the case remains before the court.
Redevelopment proposal under review
The 15.5-hectare former industrial property is considered a brownfield site and remains privately owned.
The Biglieri Group has submitted planning applications on behalf of Lifelong Group of Companies Inc. seeking a zoning amendment and draft subdivision approval.
The proposal would redevelop the Bowmanville Goodyear Site with several high-density, mixed-use blocks containing housing, employment opportunities and connections to surrounding natural areas and downtown Bowmanville.
A public meeting was held in May, but Clarington has not approved the proposal. The applications remain under municipal review.
Ontario rules require owners redeveloping brownfield properties to assess environmental conditions and demonstrate that the land meets applicable provincial standards. Clarington also regulates fill brought onto the site to verify that its source and quality are acceptable.
Municipal officials said monitoring and enforcement will continue while the legal, demolition and redevelopment processes move forward.
