Province preventing city-ordered post-fire rubble cleanup, frustrated Main Street property owner says By: Joyanne Pursaga Posted: 6:43 PM CDT Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2023

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This article was published 30/08/2023 (786 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Unsightly rubble left by a fire that destroyed three Main Street businesses last February is finally being cleaned up at two of the properties.

The owner of the third, however, claims a dispute with Manitoba’s Labour Department is preventing work on his property.

Surplus Direct, Top Pro roofing and Lord Selkirk Furniture, all of which were located on the 800 block of Main, caught fire Feb. 11. The buildings were declared total losses.

While a Feb. 17 city order directed the buildings’ owners to demolish what was left of the structures and remove the rubble, that work was delayed soon after due to a potential health hazard. On Feb. 24, Manitoba Workplace Safety and Health issued stop work orders to the property owners due to the likelihood of asbestos at the site.

“We’re hoping to progress with the province and with the city and get this eyesore off me, for the people of the area, and also for myself. I don’t want to drive by here every day and see this stuff sitting here,” said Surplus Direct owner Robert McDonald.

While standing in front of the massive pile of twisted metal, shards of glass and broken walls that remain from his building Wednesday, McDonald said he got the property tested for asbestos 20 times. He said 19 came back negative, and one detected asbestos that was within allowable limits.

McDonald said he believes the province did its own tests that had different findings.

He said the province would only allow him to do a wet demolition due to its test results but that would cost twice the $200,000 price for a standard demolition process, which could force him to take out a loan.

“I’m getting pushed by the City of Winnipeg to do something and at the same time, I’m getting held back by a stop work order by the provincial government…. It’s very frustrating,” he said.

The city has decided to remove everything left above the structure’s first floor to reduce safety risks, then charge him for the work, he said, adding no further demolition is planned beyond that point.

McDonald said he may consider legal action if he can’t make progress on the matter soon.

“That’s my livelihood laying on the ground there and I have to drive by it almost every day and take a look at that. It’s disgraceful,” he said.

Rex Kyle Pressey, who works in the area, said he’s glad to “finally” see some of the rubble removed and hopes the rest can be cleared soon.

“It doesn’t look good. It’s bad enough (some people consider) the image of the North End (to be) poor. This makes it even more poor,” said Pressey.

“That’s my livelihood laying on the ground there and I have to drive by it almost every day and take a look at that. It’s disgraceful.”–Surplus Direct owner Robert McDonald

Another man, who did not want his name published, said the site attracts scavengers who pick through the debris for metal and other objects to sell.

“It’s kind of sad… It’s an eyesore. (They need) to get rid of it and start again. It’s just a hazard,” he said.

In an emailed statement, a provincial government spokesperson noted asbestos must be removed carefully to protect workers.

“When disturbed, asbestos dust can pose a health risk, so it is important to ensure that appropriate measures are in place to prevent asbestos from becoming airborne. The stop work orders were issued to ensure the employer and/or owner have an asbestos control plan in place that appropriately addresses the risk prior to any work commencing,” the statement said.

“Two of the stop work orders have since been lifted and work (has been) undertaken to remove the debris safely.”

The province said it took samples at the Surplus Direct site “and the presence of asbestos (was) detected.”

“The province takes asbestos management very seriously, as asbestos-linked disease is a leading cause of occupational illness and death. It is important to note that a single positive finding is sufficient to confirm the presence of asbestos,” the spokesperson wrote.

City efforts to demolish some walls will comply with Workplace Safety and Health requirements to reduce exposure, the provincial statement noted.

The city said the owner of 843 Main didn’t meet city-ordered demolition deadlines.

“As a result, the city will intervene and conduct demolition work at this property in the coming days to mitigate safety risks,” spokesman Kalen Qually said in an email.

The city confirmed its work will focus on demolition and doesn’t include clearing away rubble.

“It doesn’t look good. It’s bad enough (some people consider) the image of the North End (to be) poor. This makes it even more poor.”–Rex Kyle Pressey

Coun. Cindy Gilroy, who has pushed for the city to expedite the cleanup of all debris at demolition sites, said remediating such properties is critical to reducing neighbourhood blight and improving safety.

“(This site) is a life and safety issue for all those people around (it). It can bring rodents in. We don’t know if there is asbestos that is just sitting there, and another issue is just the uncleanliness and the unsightliness to it…. If we want to revitalize some of these older communities that have some of the challenges of aging buildings and boarded-up buildings, we have to make sure that we get rid of the really (problematic properties), which are just lying there in rubble,” said Gilroy.

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga