Mayfair demolition paused to stabilize 150 King St. West building

The demolition of the former Mayfair Hotel and the former Hymmen Hardware building in downtown Kitchener has paused for the contractor to shore up a thirdbuilding at 150 King St. West.

According to a release from the city ofKitchener, the structural engineer has submitted a revised plan for demolition after a site inspection last Thursday. The demolitioncontractor is now installing shoring to hold up the shared wall between the former Hymmen Hardware building at 156-158 King St. West and the building at 150 King St. West.

The front facade of 156-158 King St. W.will also be reinforced with steel beams, because it supports the 150 King St. W. facade, and will stay in place temporarily,until redevelopment takes place, the city said in the release.

The contractor is also cleaning and stacking bricks that have already come down in order to salvage them, the city said.

Once 150 King St. West has been shored up, the structural engineer will inspect the site again and then demolition can resume, which the city thinks is likely to happen late this week and on to Saturday.

The city plans to have King Street reopened by June 3, depending on the demolition and the weather. But work will still continue on the Mayfair site past that date, wil crews cleaning it up, laying sod and makingany other repairs.