Part of Hintonburg’s Magee House set to come down

By Mike Vlasveld

The City of Ottawa is partially demolishing the roof and a corner of the Magee House in Hintonburg due to public safety concerns.

Ottawa Fire Services was called to the site on Wellington Street West last Tuesday evening, after part of an exterior wall had crumbled on the west side of the building. 

The city has contracted Priestly Demolition to remove the southwest corner of the building and a portion of the roof. They are moving the necessary equipment to the site and work is expected to start as soon as it is set up on Friday, July 27.

After workers remove those portions that pose a public safety risk, the city will have experts conduct a further analysis on the remainder of the building. 

The city will also determine whether the affected portion of Wellington Street West can re-open to traffic. The north sidewalk will remain closed for now.

John Cooke and Associates, the engineering firm that assessed the structure following the collapse, will supervise the work.

The engineering report recommended the emergency demolition to allow for a more thorough assessment of the remaining building after the dangerous portions have been removed. 

City staff can then work with the property owner to determine a course of action for the remaining structure.

Magee House is a heritage building, and demolition work usually requires a heritage permit and the approval of City Council, but because the structure poses a significant public hazard, the Chief Building Official, acting in the interest of public safety, issued the emergency order to demolish, meaning no heritage permit is required.

A verbal update on the situation is planned as part of the Built Heritage Sub-Committee meeting scheduled for Thursday, August 2. 

City heritage planning staff will join staff from Building Code Services and By-law Services, as well as the engineer John Cooke, to provide additional information.

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