It was the moment neighbours had been waiting for.
The first of two decrepit homes on David Street in Kitchener was demolished Thursday, with work set to begin Friday on the remaining structure.
“It’s a couple years too late,” said Marla Adamson, who rhymed off complaints – common among those who live near Victoria Park – about what they say they’d been seeing take place around the homes.
“They’ve been an eyesore and a fire hazard and everything else,” added Carl Smith.
The homes had officially been unoccupied for the past year and a half, but neighbours say people were nonetheless making use of them for temporary lodging.
Most recently, the homes had been painted – one entirely black, one entirely white – as an art project for the CAFKA festival.
Revel Development Corporation owns the properties, and had been given a demolition deadline of mid-spring by the city.
When that deadline came and went, the city moved in and began the work itself – planning to bill Revel for the $30,000 or so of work through property taxes.
Stephen Litt, Revel’s chief visionary officer, said the company had been working on getting the proper demolition permits, but had no issue with the city doing the work itself.
“We’re looking forward to cleaning up the site,” he told CTV News.
Revel is expected to build a 80-unit condo development on the site of the homes.
City officials say the demolition work should be wrapped up by the early part of next week.
