It is the end of the road for the former Purity Ice Cream building on City Road in Saint John.
Demolition began this week on the building at 111-115 City Road, which at one time was home to BJ’s Lounge and City Road Bakery.
Council approved the demolition of the building in August and awarded a $79,000 tender to Galbraith Construction Ltd. in September.
A city staff report said the dilapidated two-storey building had been vacant since at least February of 2018.
“The building is a hazard to the safety of the public by reason of being vacant, by reason of dilapidation and by reason of unsoundness of structural strength,” said the report.
Bylaw enforcement officer Benn Purinton told council they had been unable to contact the registered owner and suspect the property had been abandoned.
A local developer approached city council in September asking for a six-week delay so he could try and save the building.
In a letter to council, John Cushnie said he would use the extra time to resolve outstanding issues outlined in the inspection report.
“During this period, we will also remove the unsightly debris from the property, cut the grass, and ensure that the property is safe and secured. Signs of progress will be clearly visible to members of the public,” Cushnie wrote to council.
Cushnie said he had the support of the building’s owner, and a delay would also give him time to finalize the sale and undertake an engineering report.
He wanted to use the building as a corporate office for his company, Sterling Martinique, and to house the Saint John Tool Library. The building would also have had space for three other tenants, said Cushnie.
“The Inspection Report inadvertently implies that the building is in worse condition than it is. However, after careful review we have determined that the building is in good condition, with a new roof and solid structure, and redevelopment will be a worthwhile investment for us,” he wrote.
But council opted not to hear Cushnie’s request and pushed ahead with the demolition instead.
The work is expected to take three to four weeks to complete.
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