The deadline for the owner to demolish the old Digby Academy has come and gone.
Digby town council ordered Questionable Ventures Incorporated to demolish the brick building at 117 Queen Street by Thursday, Feb. 28.
With that deadline gone, the town is now in a position to demolish the building themselves and apply those demolition costs to the tax bill of the property.
Mayor Ben Cleveland says they have spoken to a few contractors to get an idea of the cost but if they decide to proceed with demolition, they will issue a formal tender.
Meanwhile he says the town has had some discussions with what he calls interested parties – meaning parties interested in buying the property.
The mayor says for that reason there is no hurry at the moment to demolish the building. However those interested parties would need to speak to, and reach and agreement with, Ulrich Schlawitz, the agent for QVI.
The mayor says he hopes to have something more concrete to report in time for the town’s committee of the whole meeting on Monday, March 18.
The first dangerous and unsightly complaint against the property was filed in 1997 and listed broken windows, unkempt yard and building and a need for roof repairs.
The municipal building inspector reported in January 2011 that it was time to be “very firm” with the owner and recommended then that council call a meeting to issue a demolition order.
Council issued several more orders and finally called a meeting to order the demolition in September 2012.
They didn’t actually order the demolition then but sent the new building inspector, Alfred Doucet, in for one last inspection.
“The building is not safe to use because of the danger of falling through the floors and the potential of a ceiling collapse,” reads his report. “The exterior bricks […] are not secure and could fall given the right conditions.”
Digby town council voted unanimously at a special hearing on Monday, Jan. 7 to order the demolition of the old red school.
jriley@digbycourier.ca
