Two contracts have been awarded to a local company for the demolitions of the Liquidation World building and the Old Trail Hospital.
City Council approved two contracts totaling just over $1.75 million to Local Industrial from Genelle.
City Manager Colin McClure says that has paved the way for work to begin.
“Now that it’s been awarded the hope is that we will start (demolition) shortly after Silver City Days (May 7-11) is over,” he said, adding that the city and contractor will consult with area business operators.
“We are going to expect a number of months of heavy equipment and work being done in those areas, we are going to try to work with one building first and try to again minimize what disruption means on the street,” McClure explained.
“They (businesses) are going to be greatly affected by these projects and we want to try to make sure that, and hope that we can try to take these buildings down as safely and as efficiently as possible,” according to McClure, who pointed out that there is an initial plan in place, particularly for the Liquidation building space on Spokane St.
“We would level it, pack it and potentially make it available for parking, and I say that meaning that it’s just not going to be a parking lot, but it would allow for that being an option.”
McClure said the community would then have input into long-term development options including parking, retail and housing, or any combination of those three elements.
Mayor Colleen Jones said housing was the first priority when the Liquidation World building was donated to the city last August.
The long-abandoned Old Hospital building on Helena St was bought by the city for $9,200 in a 2017 tax sale.
The City is using part of the $3-million Growing Communities Grant received last year from the province for the work and the bid from Local Industrial came in under the tendered budget.
McClure feels good about the future of downtown Trail.
“This is a significant milestone for the City of Trail and really is the start and opportunity for the revitalization of downtown Trail,” McClure stated.
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