The demolition of Dow Chemical's Sarnia Canadian site will begin this spring, a company official says.

After the property has been cleared, it will be maintained at least until it's sold, said Dow's Catherine Creber, the site closing leader.

"If it's not sold, we'll put in long grasses, wildflowers and trees," she said. "It's our intention it will be esthetically pleasing. When you drive over the overpass, you won't see a mess."

Dow, which has been in Sarnia for 65 years, will cease local production in April 2009.

Much of the site will have been cleared long before then.

A demolition contractor will begin moving large amounts of equipment and workers onto the site late next month to start the first-phase work.

The demolition of units, buildings and services connected with polystyrene, low-density polyethylene, product development, epoxy resins, latex and biox treatment is to begin this spring or summer.

Office buildings, a maintenance shop, warehouse and firehall will be taken down in 2010, with all closing to be completed by spring 2011.

Ontario's Environment Ministry will be kept informed about Dow's environmental cleanup plans, Creber said.

Once cleared, the property will remain fenced off.

"I don't think the fences will ever go away," Creber said. "It will never be a recreational area, but it will be maintained so it's not an eyesore."

Dow hopes to sell the site but only if a responsible buyer is found, she said.

"We're not going to sell to a mom and pop developer who will . . . do something that's wrong."