‘Just can’t be done overnight’: area resident resigned to long-term rubble eyesore left by Logan Avenue blaze

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This article was published 08/08/2023 (1114 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A neighbourhood resident staring at the burned shell of a large commercial building on Logan Avenue doesn’t expect the rubble to be removed any time soon.

“It would be nice to see some clearance but that’s going to take a while… It’s going to take time,” said John, who did not want his last name published.

“These things just can’t be done overnight.”

A huge blaze early Sunday left the charred, twisted remnants of Anco Lumber at 960 Logan Ave.

John said he hopes the site is cleaned up within a year but expects that will require a lengthy and complicated effort.

Yvonne Bitz, who works at a nearby business, said the damage will only add to challenges linked to growing poverty and encampments in the surrounding area.

“The rubble, of course, that’s an eyesore,” said Bitz.

While the cause of this fire is not yet determined, she said break-ins and other safety risks do appear to be on the rise in the area.

Deemed a blight by some residents, there are now multiple sites full of rubble from demolished buildings in Winnipeg, some of which have already lingered in place for several months.

Last month, a blaze gutted the former Vulcan Iron Works foundry at Sutherland Avenue and Maple Street North. In February, massive piles of twisted metal and shards of glass were left behind after three businesses burned on the 800 block of Main Street.

And in February 2022 flames ripped through a vacant apartment block at 694 Sherbrook St., leading to demolition and another hefty pile of debris.

On Tuesday, massive rubble piles remained at all three of those sites, though work appeared to have begun to remove some debris on Main Street.

Such delays have led some Winnipeggers to call on the city to do more to ensure fire damage gets promptly cleaned up.

But the process required to deal with a fire can complicate that goal, said deputy mayor Janice Lukes.

“Sadly, I’ve had experience (with a) big fire. I grew up on a farm. Our family farm burned down. It’s not as easy as people think (to clean up). It’s really complicated. The inspectors have to come out, they have to go through it….It’s complex. The city works with people who experienced fires to try and facilitate and make this a rapid cleanup. But when you have big buildings like this (on Logan), that’s a lot of insurance-related items to deal with,” said Lukes.

The councillor said insurance adjusters can take a long time to determine what is covered and what isn’t, and property owners often need funds expected from their claims to pay for debris removal.

“It’s horrible. It’s a mess and then you’ve got to hire people to clean it up and that’s a big project. Big fires are big projects (to clean up).… (Meanwhile) what upsets people is the wait,” said Lukes.

City council has taken some recent steps to reduce the problem. New requirements aim to better secure vacant and/or derelict buildings to help prevent the risk of fire. Owners of sites that have been repeatedly set ablaze or used by squatters are now required to use stronger boarding materials, security fences, cameras, motion-sensor lighting and improved security patrols.

Council also ordered a report on having the city clean debris from demolition sites within a few months and charge lot owners for the work on their property tax bills. That report is expected back in the fall.

In an email, the city confirmed cleanup is underway at the 800 block of Main Street, though its timing is affected by Manitoba Workplace Safety and Health regulations. The province previously confirmed some work at that site was delayed due to the risk of asbestos exposure.

Spokesman Kalen Qually noted the city will award a tender for the demolition and cleanup of 694 Sherbrook St. and the city is exploring additional steps to combat the problem.

“Property owners are fully responsible for maintaining or tidying their properties. The length of time for the cleanup process to occur after demolition is in line with authorities provided under current bylaws and any changes to city bylaws would require council approval. The city is examining ways to have rubble piles removed more quickly following a fire when owners do not meet the standard or fail to respond to city orders,” wrote Qually.

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga

Joyanne Pursaga
Reporter

Joyanne is city hall reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press. A reporter since 2004, she began covering politics exclusively in 2012, writing on city hall and the Manitoba Legislature for the Winnipeg Sun before joining the Free Press in early 2020. Read more about Joyanne.

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