Investigations launched after building demolition accident

**James** · #1 (**permalink**) 05-05-2008, 08:02 AM

Two investigations have been launched into an accident that sent part of a building spilling onto a Winnipeg road last week.

The Starland Theatre on Main Street was in the process of being demolished Thursday when the top of the building’s facade fell, sending debris overtop safety barricades and onto the roadway at about 6:30 p.m.

At the time, a large backhoe was working on the rear of the structure. No one was apparently injured in the building’s collapse.

The city is investigating to see if extra measures are needed “to make sure that any future demolitions occurring along that area are done so in safe and proper manner,” said Deepak Joshi, manager of development and inspections with the city’s planning, property and development department.

“The safety of the citizens and the workers is a top priority for us,” said Joshi.

Along with his department, Workplace Safety and Health has also launched an investigation to determine what caused the accident.

A private contractor was working at the site at the time.

Wolf · #2 (**permalink**) 05-05-2008, 04:58 PM

The whole block is coming down. Lots of cool old buildings up there.

This building that collapsed was built in 1909, and the Epic Theatre, a Grade 2 heritage structure which was one of Canada's first movie theatres -- once two of five theatres at Logan and Main. Then there is the Jack's Place building at 652 Main (1912), and the Weir Hardware building up the street at 666 Main (1899). To allow for demolition, the Starland and Jack's were removed from the Historical Buildings Inventory by the city's heritage buildings committee on March 20. The fate of the Epic and Weir's, meanwhile, will be decided at a later date.

For such a feat of perfidy and hypocrisy, the heritage buildings committee should congratulate themselves: Three historical buildings being approved for demolition in a single day probably hasn't happened since the 1970s.