Another building may have to go

Pub Date: May 2, 2008
By Erika Engel

Another building on King William Street just a few doors
down from the fallen Balfour building faces an uncertain future
as engineers have been called in to assess its integrity.

The Laborers' International Union of North America (LIUNA), owner of
the vacant building at 33-35 King William St., has been
given an order by Hamilton building officials to submit an
engineer's report.

The report is to say whether or not the building
is structurally sound and what may need to be done
to make it sound.

"We would like to keep it," said LIUNA vice-president Joe
Mancinelli, adding that the outcome depends on the results of
the engineering report.

"I have no idea at this point," said Mancinelli. "The
next step is to go through the building with a
fine toothed comb to make sure it's structurally sound."

Mancinelli added that the building may have to be torn
down if it cannot be fixed, but said LIUNA would
build another in its place.

Although they have no specific plans for the building, they
plan to restore it as storefront rental space if it
can be saved.

They have until May 6 to submit the engineering report,
according to acting director of building services John Spolnik.

Spolnik said this building and the one housing a Thai
restaurant are the only buildings on that block that received
orders from the city for engineering reports.

He said the city ordered the report because of concerns
about the structural integrity of the building after the Balfour
building collapsed more than two weeks ago.

Spolnik said if the owners apply for a demolition permit,
they will no longer be required to submit an engineering
report.

As of Thursday night, LIUNA had not applied for a
demolition permit. "I'm not sure what their intentions are," said
Spolnik.

Ward 2 Councillor Bob Bratina said he hopes the building
doesn't get torn down.

"I don't want to see any more buildings demolished on
that block," said Bratina.

LIUNA also owned the now collapsed Balfour Building, which was
just placed on Heritage Canada Foundation's worst losses list.