The federal government's plans to gradually shut down coal operations during the 1970s were derailed by rising world energy prices and changes in political priorities.

SYSCO became a political football for economically depressed Industrial Cape Breton and no provincial government dared to shut it down, opting instead to use heavily subsidized federally produced DEVCO coal for coking fuel to continue running the antiquated mill.

In the mid-1980s the provincial government of premier John Buchanan decided to modernize the steel mill prior to selling it to the private sector.

The blast process fuelled by coke was mothballed in favour of using electricity to smelt the scrap recycled metal brought in by rail.

Numerous proposals for sale to foreign and domestic companies came and went, raising and lowering the hopes of Sydney and its surrounding area each time announcements were made and then promises broken.

[6] In July 2001, it was announced that SYSCO's mini mill was being sold to an Indian company named Zoom Developers who planned to dismantle it and ship it overseas.

Despite worker protests, SYSCO's steel production was shut down that year with the site remediation talking taking place over the next two decades.

Open Hearth Park features a playground and soccer field, and has hosted events such as a concert by international recording stars Aerosmith in September 2014.