Mayfair Hotel demolition now underway

Demolition of the formerMayfair Hotel has begun.

Officials had said earlier theyhoped the demolition would startWednesday, but chief building official Mike Seiling confirmed on Tuesdaythat demolition would begin a day earlier.

• Kitchener's former Mayfair Hotel to be demolished over structural deficiencies

• Building next to Kitchener's Mayfair Hotel also at risk of collapse, both will be demolished

Crews extended the fencing around the site to protect the surrounding area fromfalling debris and removed streetlight standards to prepare the area.

Seiling said the demolition contractor will work on taking down the building's topthree storeys first, which shouldtake around five business days. The entire demolition shouldtake about one month.

A sectionofKing StreetWest, between Ontario and Gaukel, has been closedfor safety as crews tear down the building. Seiling said the city hopes to re-open the section of road early next week.

According to a release from the city, contractors will remove the top three storeys from the Mayfair Hotel first. The goal is to protect surrounding buildings and salvage as many bricks from the hotel as possible for reuse.

If the weather cooperates,the demolition should be finished two weeks from now, around June 4. However,the condition of the building and the weather could affect that deadline.

After the demolition,the property owner will need to complete remedial work on the siteincluding laying grass, the release said.