As heritage advocates try to save the Mayfair Hotel, its owners may now be looking to demolish two adjoining properties on King Street.

Monday, Kitchener councillors will consider an application to remove heritage protections for 156 and 158 King Street.

If granted, the next step for the owners could well be to submit a demolition application.

Coun. Frank Etherington doesn’t want to see the buildings demolished, but says the new application may buy time for those looking to save them.

“I’m hoping that that additional wrinkle will worry councillors enough to at least pause for one week,” he told CTV News.

Talk of demolishing the 110-year-old Mayfair Hotel began last month, after an inspection revealed significant structural damage.

Ever since, Young Street has been closed off in front of the building as a precaution. Hoarding was also installed.

Although two engineers’ reports found that the building was at risk of collapse, heritage advocates have called for further study.

Architect John Clinckett says he doesn’t think the situation inside the Mayfair is serious enough that the structure can’t be preserved.

“If the basement’s collapsing, or on the verge of collapsing, fill the whole thing with concrete,” he said in an interview.

Etherington estimates that the cost of a review by someone with experience preserving heritage structures would be about $300.