Large fire foils preparations for redevelopment at The Hopper in Cambridge
The listing agent for a historic downtown Preston building that burnt down earlier this month is defending himself and the property owners amidst rumors that the fire may have been a convenient way to make way for a proposed condo development.
The Hopper, a former dance club and sport bar, was destroyed by flames on May 6.
“It's been a landmark,” the property’s listing agent, Tony Schmidt, told CTV News on Tuesday. “It's been here since before I was born so seeing this corner open up like this, it was definitely a shock.”
The fire has been deemed suspicious and Waterloo regional police are leading the investigation.
What sparked the flames has not yet been determined.
PLANS FOR THE PROPERTY
The Hopper hadn’t been in business since a previous fire in 2015.
Schmidt said the group that owns the property was working to prepare it for a condo development.
A large fire in downtown Preston can be seen on Saturday, May 6, 2023. (Submitted: Darren Bondy)
“The intention was always to redevelop, bring something really special to the Preston core, about 10,000 sq. ft. of commercial, 48 residential units above,” Schmidt said.
Those plans are up in smoke – for now.
“Everything is just completely on a pause. We're waiting to see what the next steps are going to be through discussions with the city, the region, and everything else that now has to take place.”
Comments have been made online that the fire was a “convenient” way to clear the property.
“It's hard to not take some of those comments personally. I know the leg work that they've done – heritage impact studies, archaeological studies and all of these things they have to go through to navigate the process,” Schmidt said.
The building that formerly housed The Hopper was reduced to rubble on Monday, May 8, 2023. Demolition work began the evening before. (Spencer Turcotte/CTV Kitchener)
Not to mention, a stone wall from the original 19th century building was also destroyed. Schmidt said the plan was to incorporate the structure into the new development.
“The loss of that stone wall that was here, that was one of the pieces of the puzzle that would've been great to have had,” Schmidt said.
Navigating the process is uncharted territory for Schmidt. It’s also something Cambridge hasn’t seen at the corner of King and Lowther streets for nearly 200 years – an empty lot.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.